When buying beds, litter boxes and toys, one of the most essential purchases is a travel carrier. Carriers are essential, because it is unsafe for both you and the cat to travel without one.
A carrier can be bought from all good pet stores. However, it is wise to ensure that the carrier of your choice is secure and comfortable, with enough room to stand and turn around. The carrier can be used when traveling with your cat, but it may principally be used for trips to the vet.
Find a Good Vet
The first job of any new pet owner is to find a good local vet. This may seem simple enough, but you will find that many vets are overcrowded and perhaps understaffed, which means that your cat will not be offered the time and care that he, or she, needs.
In addition, when visiting prospective vets, it is wise to ensure that the premises are clean and sanitary. Moreover, it is a good idea to check the policy regarding dogs in the waiting room. If leashes are not mandatory, then a dog could intentionally, or unintentionally, harm another patient.
It may be helpful to speak to friends and/or relatives with pets to find out which vet they use and what their opinions of the service are.
Ensure Your Cat Has Regular Check Ups
Once you have found a good vet in your area, it is important that your cat has regular check ups. Usually, this should be carried out annually. Remember, even if your cat is an indoor pet and seems in tip-top condition, it is important that he, or she, gets the once over from the vet. Cats are very stoic creatures, which means illness may not be spotted until it is too advanced to treat effectively. Regular checks can indicate the early stages of illness or prevent possible health problems. Your cat probably will not thank you for it, but it is in the animal's best interests.
Keep Up to Date with Vaccinations
Cats will need to have annual booster vaccinations for a number of diseases, such as rabies, cat flu and distemper. It is important to ensure that these booster shots are given, because otherwise your cat has no protection against theses conditions. Bear in mind, even if your cat is kept indoors, bacteria and germs can be brought into the house by you and others. Therefore, it is crucial that all vaccinations are kept up-to-date.
When your cat is given a shot, it is always a good idea to ask the vet if there are any side effects that you may notice.
Don't Forget Your Cat's Teeth
When your vet checks the overall health of your cat, he, or she, will pay particular attention to the animal's mouth and teeth. If your cat's oral health is cause for concern, your vet may encourage you to brush your cat's teeth. If so, it is wise to follow his, or her, advice.
Make Note of Changes in Your Cat's Behavior
For any pet owner, it is a good idea to make note of any change in an animal's behavior. For example, is your cat scratching or grooming more than usual? Have you noticed a change in his, or her, eating habits? Any changes, no matter how small, should prompt you to consult with your vet. As mentioned above, cats are good at masking symptoms of illness, so any unusual behavior should be taken seriously.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of cat health care requirements. However, the above should give new or prospective owners a good idea of basic health care responsibilities.
Samantha Markham is a professional writer, she is currently composing articles for remmeer.com, a high quality supplier of unique pet products. Visit remmeer.com for a range of personalized cat name collars, cat frames & photo albums and much, much more.
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