Cats are beloved pets in countless city apartments and country houses. Many people who get a cat believe it's impossible to make mistakes in its care—and so they harm their pets by overfeeding them or ignoring dangerous illnesses. What are the most common mistakes cat owners make, and how can they be avoided?
Leaving a lot of food in the bowl
Most pet owners work from dawn to dusk. To keep their cats fed throughout the day, they're typically left with a full bowl of food—dry or wet, or often both.
As a result, the cat overeats, becomes overweight and develops associated diseases.
Wet food left in a bowl for a long time will spoil and your cat may get food poisoning.
If the owner is at work all day, the furry pet should be accustomed to two meals a day. You can leave a little dry food or a small treat in the bowl as a one-time snack.
Not monitoring your cat's weight
A "fluffy bone" only looks cute and funny in pictures online. But overfeeding and spoiling a pet without limiting its food and treats is very selfish and unwise.
A cat is not a toy, but a living creature that requires attention and for which its owner is responsible. Excess weight in a pet poses a real health risk, so it's important to closely monitor its weight and well-being.
Don't take your pet to the vet
Even if the owner thinks that everything is fine with their pet and that it is not sick, it is recommended to visit the veterinarian from time to time for a checkup.
Even if a cat never goes outside or interacts with other animals, that doesn't mean it can't get sick. Ticks and fleas can be brought in by their owner on their clothes and shoes, and diseases related to infections and metabolism are not linked to infection by other animals.
To ensure that veterinary visits are not overwhelmingly stressful for your pet, it's important to acclimate them to them from an early age. A pet accustomed to being carried in a carrier in a car or on public transportation from infancy will not scream or struggle and will calmly allow itself to be examined by a specialist.
Not monitoring the litter box
Cats are very clean animals. They don't tolerate unpleasant odors and dirt well and won't use a dirty litter box.
Infrequent cleaning of the litter box can lead to two possible outcomes:
- the pet will restrain itself until the owner cleans and washes the tray, filling it with fresh filler;
- will start going to the toilet in places not intended for this.
In the first case, constantly holding back the urge to urinate will inevitably lead to health problems - infections associated with the bladder, or intoxication associated with irregular bowel movements.
Secondly, training your pet to use the litter box again will be much more difficult than cleaning and regularly washing the cat's toilet.
Don't skimp on quality litter—your pet's health and the cleanliness of your home are much more important.
Ignore your pet's appetite
For some reason, many owners believe their pets know what's best for them and ignore changes in their eating behavior. In fact, both an increase in appetite and a sudden decrease in it can indicate the onset of serious illnesses:
- the appearance of worms;
- infectious disease;
- kidney and liver problems;
- intestinal diseases.
If your cat's appetite has suddenly decreased, it might be time to change its food or add special vitamins. In any case, any sudden change in your pet's eating habits is a reason to visit the veterinarian.
There aren't many rules for caring for a furry pet—provide timely treatment, feed it properly, clean the litter box, and monitor its mood and behavior. With careful and attentive care, a cat will live a long, healthy, and happy life, bringing only joy to its owners.
