When one of your furry friends leaves your home, it can feel like the world has ended. But don't worry - there are plenty of ways to take care of an abandoned cat. This comprehensive guide will outline the basics of cat care and help you find the resources you need to make things easier for your feline friend.
Selecting The Right Cat
First and foremost, it's essential to consider whether or not you have the space and time for a cat. If you're not comfortable with pet cats, an abandoned cat may not be the best fit for your home. Many homeless cats could use a loving home - please don't overlook them!
If you adopt an abandoned cat, bring along food and water, a litter box, and a carrier or box for when you take him or her on walks. Many shelters will provide all of these items, plus vaccinations and deworming (if required).
The Basic Cat Care Guidelines
Cats require plenty of attention, but they're also naturally lazy creatures. Here are some basic guidelines to follow when taking care of your new feline friend:
1. Get your cat spayed or neutered. This will help control the population and make sure that your cat doesn't wind up homeless again in the future.
2. Make sure they have plenty of toys and playtime. A bored cat is a hungry cat, and abandoned cats often become obese due to lack of exercise. Please provide them with various toys, from plush animals to durable Kongs.
Many abandoned cats are malnourished and end up developing health problems.
3. Feed them high-quality, low-cost food. Try a brand like Hill's Science Diet or Purina Cat Chow instead of giving them cheap supermarket food. These brands have been specifically designed for cats, so they're sure to meet their nutritional needs without costing too much money.
4. Keep their environment clean and comfortable. An overcrowded environment is stressful for any pet, including an abandoned cat. Try to keep their living space as close to bare bones as possible without causing undue stress or discomfort. Suppose you must provide them with additional furniture, ornaments etc., to ensure they're safe. In that case, nothing is more frustrating than finding an expensive piece of furniture broken or chewed up by your kitty!
5. Stay in touch! Abandoned cats can become very lonely, so it's essential to do everything you can to help them find a new home and join the ranks of happy feline friends! If you can manage it, make regular visits to check on your cat and offer any assistance you can along the way – whether bringing them food when you go out or leaving out a litter box when you're away on vacation.
Hopefully, these tips will help you take care of an abandoned cat in the easiest and most rewarding way possible. Good luck!