| If
you are planning to bring a new cat or kitten into your home,
you will need the following supplies: |
| •
|
Food
– Cats, especially male cats, commonly come down
with “Feline Urologic Syndrome”, a build-up
of crystals in the urine caused by too much magnesium.
For this reason, it is important that you feed your cat
a premium food that is low in magnesium. If you choose
a dry food diet, be sure to supplement with some wet food;
the added moisture in wet food will reduce the risk of
urinary crystals. |
| •
|
Cat Box
– You will need one cat box for each cat in your
household, plus one extra. Cats prefer a
large open box without a top on it. |
| •
|
Cat Litter
– Cats have very strong surface preferences for elimination substrates.
There are a lot of choices out there. Studies have shown
that more cats prefer a fine-grained unscented clumping
cat litter. However, if you've adopted an adult cat, you may need to do some preference testing to find the type of litter your cat is already accustomed to. |
| •
|
Scratching
Posts – Cats need to scratch. Cats use scratching
posts to stretch their super flexible backs and to shuck
off their dead nail husks – not to sharpen their
claws, as many people think. Provide your cat with both
upright and flat scratch
pads. Scratching posts are best placed near favorite
resting places and in corners. |
| •
|
Collars
and tags – Even if your cat is indoor-only,
cats are crafty escape artists, so it is advisable to
buy both a collar and tag bearing your address and phone
number, or have your cat micro-chipped. When shopping
for a collar, avoid the break-away variety, usually the
first thing to go if your cat does get outside. Cat bells
can cause quite a bit of irritation to the cat’s
sensitive hearing, and are not recommended. |
| •
|
Nail
Clippers – You will need to trim your cat’s
nails on an average of every two weeks. There are several
types available. A non-guillotine type is usually easier
on you both. |
| •
|
Toys
– Cats are playful and inquisitive animals that require
mental stimulation. Provide toys, which are available
in a host of varieties. |
| |
|
|
|
Return to the
top
|
|
|
|
|
PURCHASE A HARD COPY