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- Housing
- Nutrition
- Identification
- Grooming
- Veterinary Care
- Desexing
- A New Cat in the Family
- Exercise
- Breed Concerns
- FAQs

Cats have been our companions for centuries, as evidenced by mummified cats in the tombs of ancient Egypt. Since this time, human and feline interaction has continued to develop, along with our understanding of their needs and the benefits of forging a cat-human relationship.

Housing

The RSPCA advocates keeping cats indoors. Indoor cats are less likely to:

• Wander into unfriendly territory
• Encounter risks
• Be exposed to cruelty
• Sustain injuries from fighting
• Catch diseases from fighting with other cats
• Be injured in car accidents

For those cats that live both indoors and outdoors, one management strategy is to keep them inside from dusk until dawn.

Cats need access to the outside or a litter tray, which will then need to be cleaned regularly. They need to be fed a balanced diet daily and have fresh water freely available at all times. Cats can be very independent but many pet cats enjoy company and playtime.

Nutrition

Cats are obligate or true carnivores, meaning that they need a source of animal protein to survive. Cats should be fed a combination of a high quality commercial food and fresh food:

• Fresh raw meat
• Raw meaty bones

Many human foods cause illness, so avoid:

• Cooked bones
• Chocolate
• Garlic
• Avocado
• Grapes
• Onions

Adult cats tend to graze and prefer to eat several smaller meals throughout the day/night. Food that takes a while to chew is a good idea, such as raw chicken wings.

Ensure that your cat always has an adequate supply of fresh, clean water.

Cats are true carnivores so they have a specific need for high quantities of animal based proteins and fats. They have unique dietary requirements for certain vitamins, fatty acids and also certain amino acids such as taurine, which can only be supplied by animal tissue (meat) – these requirements must be included to provided a balanced diet.

There are many balanced dry and moist foods on the market. Although rich in iron, Liver can become addictive and because of its high Vitamin A causes disease. Feeding fish exclusively can induce dietary deficiencies unless supplemented with the correct fatty acids.

Kittens should be fed special kitten formulas four times daily until eight weeks of age, three times daily from eight weeks to three months and twice daily from three to six months of age.

Identification

In NSW, you are legally required to have your pet microchipped and registered. Costs for registration vary according to whether your cat is desexed or not. Check with your local council for further details.

If you move, it is important to update your details with the local council.

It is also a good idea to have a tag on your cat’s collar with your contact details, and a bell to warn birds and native animals that your cat is near.

Grooming

Regular grooming is essential. If you establish this habit early in your cat’s life:
• Grooming will be an enjoyable activity
• Provide bonding time
• Become part of routine

Long haired cats will require grooming at all times of the year to avoid:

• Hair becoming matted
• Furniture and clothing being covered

While your cat is grooming themselves, they can ingest fur resulting in fur balls in the stomach.

Short haired cats need no brushing and, given a place to sharpen their nails, can take care of their grooming needs themselves. Longer haired breeds usually need daily grooming and some of the flatter faced cats need their faces cleaned a little too.  Not all long haired cats will allow themselves to be brushed and so these may have to be sedated for clipping.  If you need to groom your cat it is a very good idea to start doing so when they are young.

Veterinary Care

Your cat will require annual visits to the vet for vaccinations, boosters and general health checks.
Some commonly found plants, such as lillies, are toxic to cats and it is important that you familiarise yourself with these and remove them from your garden and house.

All cats need regular health checks and need to keep their vaccinations up to date.  Minimum health care should include regular worming, flea control and something to clean their teeth. There are lots of treats and some dry foods that clean teeth. Any changes in eating, drinking, urination, defecation or weight loss or gain should be checked out with a visit to the vet. Theses days there are treatments available for many problems ranging from diabetes to arthritis.

Caution is needed when tackling fleas in cats as they are much more susceptible to insecticide toxicity than dogs. You cannot use dog products on cats or kittens. Please be sure to read the label to confirm that it is a safe preparation for cats and that you are using it at the recommended dilution.

Desexing

RSPCA recommends early age desexing. Desexed animals:

• Will generally live a longer and healthier life
• Have less risk of getting cancer
• Have less risk of getting diseases such as uterine infections and prostate problems
• Are less likely to roam and wander
• Display less aggression
• Are less likely to display anti social mating behaviours.

Keeping your Indoor Cat Happy

• Provide plenty of toys to keep your cat amused
• Cardboard boxes with holes cut into them are great for hide and seek games
• Your cat’s favourite games will be the ones that involve you as she will be able to use her instinctive pouncing behaviour and will release pent up energy by chasing
• Make sure your cat has a scratching post to distract her from sharpening her claws on your furniture
• Provide plants such as cat grass to interest your cat and distract her from your pot plants
• Play with your cat and give them plenty of love and attention
• Cats love to bask in the sun; make sure your cat has a nice sunny spot to lie in (however, sun can be dangerous for white cats so be sure to check with your vet)
• Make sure that your cat always has access to clean litter and fresh water.

A New Cat in the Family

For cats that are left on their own for long periods each day, it is a good idea to consider providing another cat for company. Sociable interaction with another cat can greatly enrich their daily lives.

The younger they are when introduced, the greater the chances of them getting on amicably most of the time. However, even older cats will very rarely totally reject another cat in the long-term.

Exercise

Cats should be encouraged to exercise. Contrary to common belief many cats will happily play fetch and chase bright and moving objects and toys. This is good for their weight control and health.

Breed Concerns

All breeds have breed societies so it is wise to find out about a breed’s characteristics before you acquire one to make sure the pet is appropriate to your lifestyle. Remember that pets can live well over 10 years so it is a long term commitment. A Domestic Short Hair (DSH) is the breed we usually see and is friendly, robust and often has the best of all the breeds.

FAQs

1. Can I feed my kitten or cat puppy or dog food?

No. Cats need to get taurine from their diet which is not always included in dog foods.

2. Should I get my cat desexed?

Yes. Cats have a  breeding season.  During that time all the males gather to compete so most males end up with cat fight abcesses.  The females keep cycling till they get pregnant and can even have more than one litter in a breeding season.  So it is to stop unwanted pregnancies and fighting that are the best reasons for getting all cats desexed.

3. Can I keep my cat totally indoors?

Yes. Cats are quite adaptable and you can easily make an enriched environment for them indoors. They will need a separate place to sleep, eat and toilet, something for them to sharpen their claws and lots of play to keep them fit.  If you have an outdoors cat it should be brought in after dusk to prevent hunting of wildlife.

4. Can I feed my kitten and cat milk?

Cows milk is not very good for cats as the level of lactose is too high for cats and excess consumption may result in bloating and diarrhoea. Lactose free milk, as found in the kitten milks, is fine.

For more information please consult the RSPCA Knowledge Base.

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