Ever wonder what Cats require?
Yes, cats are more independent but they still rely on you more than you think!
Cat’s require a clean litter box daily, otherwise it can result in them being rebellious and deciding your bed or a pile of clothes looks like a pretty good spot to do their business. They also can become picky with their food, so make sure you keep things interesting with different high-quality wet foods, and kibble
Should my cat be an outdoor cat? Salty Animal Rescue requires all adopted cats to remain indoors. The life expectancy of an outdoor cat is a quarter of the life expectancy of an indoor one. Regardless of where you live animals like coyotes and foxes are always looking for something to eat. Not to mention the high volume of cars that pass by your house. Cats can also get into fights with each other as they can be very territorial. Countless missing cat signs are regularly posted in every city and that could all be avoided by keeping your cats safe indoors. The potential of contracting certain feline infectious diseases like Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Leukemia and even Bordetella should give you that much more reason to keep your cats indoors.
Vetting for cats is something we find a lot of people don’t take as seriously as dogs, especially if they are indoor. Cats need to be seen by a vet at least once a year for wellness blood tests, checkups and vaccinations. A lot of the time cats suffer from thyroid or kidney issues which usually can only be confirmed by doing bloodwork. Believe it or not, indoor cats require vaccinations as well.
Rabies is a mandatory vaccination in Canada. This vaccination is good for 3 years. Cats should also get the FVRCP combination vaccine every year (unless said otherwise by a veterinarian). This vaccine provides immunity against Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper), Rhinotracheitis, and Calicivirus all in one! If your cat happens to be an outdoor cat (which again is not acceptable with a Salty Animal Rescue cat) or they are around other cats in the home that go outside, it is recommended that they also receive the Feline Leukemia vaccine. If you have dog’s in your house it is even more important to keep up to date with these vaccinations as dogs can “carry” diseases from outside into to your home with them.
Can I declaw my kitten/cat? Kittens or cats will scratch will most likely scratch at your furniture, carpets and curtains. They also love to jump up on counters, and knock off priceless items like glasses and picture frames. If you’re not okay with that, then you should reconsider getting a cat. We will never stand by an individual’s decisions to declaw their cat. In fact, it is part of our agreement that you will not do such a procedure, and if you do, it will result in Salty Animal Rescue reclaiming the kitten/cat. Declawing is equivalent to removing a human’s knuckles. If you are that worried about your furniture, they have claw covers or furniture protectors you can look into, cat towers, scratch poles etc. If that is not enough a cat may not be the pet for you.
Adopting a cat that is FIV+
Cat FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Infected cats who receive supportive medical care and are kept in a stress-free, indoor environment can live relatively comfortable lives for months to years before the disease reaches its chronic stages. FIV cannot be transmitted from cat to human, only from cat to cat. This cat will have to live in a cat free household. Although any feline is susceptible, free-roaming, outdoor intact male cats who fight most frequently contract the disease. Cats who live indoors are the least likely to be infected. This is another reason as to why we are advocates for your cats to remain indoor pets. Overall your cat will be able to live a happy life. They will require to see a vet twice a year for wellness check up, blood count, and urine analysis.
Cat’s also require exercise and regular grooming. Engaging your cat a couple times a day with a laser pointer, or a game of chase the feather will help give them the exercise they need! Regularly brushing your cat can help prevent those pesky hairballs and uncomfortable knots in their fur. Clipping your cat’s nails is another thing that helps keep your cat healthy. If their nails are too long or sharp, they can get them caught in something and actually rip them out. Here we go again about that dental care. Just like with dogs, proper dental care is very important for your cat’s overall health. We do not expect you to brush your cat’s teeth every day, but finding different dental products to use can help with your cat’s oral health.