Whether or not cats are easy to take care of is really a personal opinion and varies from person to person. However, taking care of cats is a lot easier than taking care of dogs as cats typically do not require as much affection as dogs, and use their litter box so there is no need to take them outside to use the bathroom as you would with a dog. Cats are also much more independent than dogs.
Here are a few tips for making taking care of your cat easy:
Feeding
Cats are very easy to feed. Basically all they need is fresh water, kibble, and wet cat food daily. Your cat’s water should be changed twice a day, their bowl of kibble should be filled up every morning, and they can be given some wet food in the evening. Usually your cat will clue you into what he does and does not like to eat, so eventually it shouldn’t be too hard to find him a food that he likes.
Litter
Choosing the right kind of litter to use with your cat is dependent upon what you prefer. The cheapest litters just lie in the litter box and fill up with urine and feces, while scoop able litter takes the urine and puts it into clumps. There are also organic litters that are a lot healthier for you and kitty as they do not contain dust and other added chemicals that can be harmful to your cat if he ingests litter from licking his paws. They are also better for your home as regular litters can make your house dusty. There are litters made out of recycled papers, sand, and pine. Feline Pine is a great alternative to your regular litter. It is made out of little pine pellets and turns to dust when it needs to be changed.
Once you have chosen the type of litter you would like to use, you should line kitty’s litter box with a litter bag or trash bag. Another easy option is to use a disposable bag and cut holes into it, or use a bag that already has holes in it. These are designed so that when you lift the bag, it will sift the unused litter away from the used litter. Simply throw away the used urine and feces and keep the unused litter that sifts through to the bag below it.
Your cat’s litter box should be scooped out at least once a day, and the bag should be changed once a week. In addition to this, fresh litter should be added to the litter everyday to help freshen things up a bit. Adding baking soda to the litter can also help keep things cleaner and smelling better.
Behavior
Since cats are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk, they can be found sleeping most of the day away and are typically most active at night. Cats in nature hunt at night, so they generally wake up just as you are heading to bed. This can be frustrating when you’re trying to get to sleep and kitty wants to play or beg for attention, and hey he wants some food and he wants it now! If you have an indoor cat, they might change their schedule around a little since they don’t actually have to hunt for their food as a wild cat would. Trying to play with kitty more during the day and keeping him awake longer during the day should help tire him out just enough for the both of you to get some shut eye come night fall.
Health And Wellbeing
Always make sure that your cat is vaccinated, spayed and/or neutered. Cats can contract feline leukemia and feline AIDS. It is also important to make sure that they get their yearly booster shots and rabies shots. Having your cats fixed is also one of the most beneficial things you can do as it will hopefully keep your cat from spraying and can also cut down his or her risk for disease and other illness significantly. It is important to get them spayed or neutered before they go into heat.
Declawing is a personal option, and there is a lot of ethical debate about it. Technically declawing a cat is like if you were to cut off a human’s knuckles. Cat’s use their claws for many things. Speak to your veterinarian to learn about the pros and cons to declawing your cat and decide whether or not it is something you will follow through with. In any case, a cat’s back claws should never be declawed as it leaves them completely defenseless against predators. Make appointments for your kitty at least once a year for a health checkup with your veterinarian just to ensure that your cat is still in good shape and does not have any medical issues or dental problems.
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