Pet Chat - Choosing your pet

Bringing home your new pet cat.

This can be a wonderful time for all involved and even better to have all things on hand before your arrival moves in. If you’re out all day, or keep irregular hours, a cat is a better choice than a dog . Cats are very low maintenance in comparison to dogs. They make good pets for a people who have full time jobs or are not home for most of the day. However, if this is the case, you might want to consider getting two cats to keep each other company when you’re away.

Be sure you have the following to hand

Cat carrier Litter box Cat litter, Litter scoop, Food and water dishes, and Good quality foods appropriate for your cat's age and health status. Kittens, overweight cat, older cats, and cats with kidney or other health problems require special foods. A scratch post to protect your furniture Cat toys, A water spray bottle for disciplining, Grooming tools, A bed, or blanket in a box, and A cat collar and identification tag.

Although slightly more expensive, quick-release collars are much safer than traditional collars, as they protect your cat from choking and strangulation. Quick-release collars are the only ones petchat recommends

Cats with long hair require daily grooming to prevent their fur from matting. Cats with shorter hair can groom themselves. However, try to occasionally brush their fur to get rid of loose hairs. Cats tend to be very clean and can easily be house broken. This can usually be done by bringing them to the litterbox after meals or by scratching their paws in it. If a cat all of a sudden stops using the litter box, it could be caused by a medical problem. It may be painful when the cat tries to relieve himself and associates the pain with the litterbox. You should take it to the vet as soon as possible.

Cats occasionally have the need to sharpen their claws. A common problem is they choose to sharpen them on furniture. Cats that are let out often do not usually have this problem because they can use trees. However, if you cannot let your cat out, try buying a scratching post. You may have to try a few of these posts until you find one your cat likes. Many cat owners decide to have their cats declawed. This is not suggested because if the cat ever gets loose, it cannot defend itself from other animals.