Cat possession could be arduous generally. To our dismay, cats don’t discuss, and each animal has distinctive, particular person needs, wants, and preferences. Thank the feline gods we have now vets!
Catster’s vet workforce got here collectively and put forth the 11 mindless cat proprietor sins to stipulate some issues that cat house owners ought to by no means do, try, and even take into consideration doing. It doesn’t matter what social media or your neighborhood cat girl says! These acts are harmful and will trigger hurt to your cat or, in uncommon instances, result in demise.
Click on to skip forward:
First up, meet our workforce of world vets!
Dr. Paola Cuevas – Catster’s Senior In-house Veterinarian
Dr. Amanda Charles – Catster Veterinarian Editor
Dr. Karyn Kanowski – Catster Veterinarian Editor
Dr. Lorna Whittemore – Catster’s Senior Veterinarian Editor
Dr. Luqman Javed – Catster In-Home Veterinarian
Dr. Maja Platisa – Catster In-Home Veterinarian
Dr. Marta Vidal-Abarca- Catster In-Home Veterinarian
The 11 Mindless Cat Proprietor Sins
The 11 Mindless Cat Proprietor Sins With Safer Alternate options
1. NEVER give your cat any human or different pet drugs.
Giving medicines not prescribed to your cat by your veterinarian could be harmful and even lethal.
INSTEAD:
- Communicate to your veterinarian in case your cat just isn’t properly.
- Solely use the medicines your vet prescribes for the cat’s specific well being challenge.
- Comply with the dosage, frequency, and route of administration rigorously.
- Maja Platisa, DVM MRCVS CertAVP
2. NEVER clip your cat’s enamel
Clipping a cat’s enamel just isn’t the identical as trimming their claws. Clipping enamel may cause everlasting harm and be very painful for them.
INSTEAD:
- In case you are involved about your kitten’s enamel being misaligned, go to your veterinarian, who will assess their enamel and provides skilled recommendation and assist.
- In case your cat is biting, get a check-up together with your vet to rule out well being issues, and so they can direct you to a certified behaviorist.
- Lorna Whittemore, BVMS, MRCVS, GPcertFELP
3. NEVER let your cat have entry to lilies
Lilies, amongst different crops, are poisonous to cats. Cats are curious and may chew on this plant when you’ve got it in your house.
INSTEAD:
- Analysis cat-safe crops and flowers to brighten up your property and backyard.
- Know that every one components of lilies, together with the pollen and vase water, are poisonous to cats.
- Contact your vet instantly in case your cat has eaten or come into contact with lilies.
- Amanda Charles, BVSc MRCVS GPcertDerm
4. NEVER make your cat go vegan or vegetarian
Understand that cats are obligate carnivores, and it’s essential to cater to their dietary wants. Feeding them a vegan or vegetarian weight loss program is unhealthy and places their life in danger.
INSTEAD:
- Undertake a herbivorous pet in case you’re eager on having a pet that follows such a dietary restriction.
- Contact your veterinarian for extra details about your cat’s dietary wants and acceptable meals for them.
5. NEVER play tough together with your kitten
It could be cute once they’re little, nevertheless it teaches them that scratching and biting is okay. Plus, you might be a lot bigger than a kitten, so you may damage them.
INSTEAD:
- Refill on chaser toys, interactive toys, and wand-type toys.
- Two is healthier than one! Two kittens will get all their tough play, skirmishes, and mock combating out of their system with one another, leaving cuddle time for you.
- In case your cat begins to play tough with you, simply rise up and stroll away.
- Karyn Kanowski, MRCVS, BVSc, BSc (Zoology)
6. NEVER gown your cat in costumes
It’d make an excellent picture, however with only a few exceptions, they hate it and can resent you. Some costumes could be uncomfortable for them.
INSTEAD:
- Use Photoshop so as to add some flare to a photograph.
- Create enjoyable props and dioramas for them to play in and get naturally posed reminiscences.
- Karyn Kanowski, MRCVS, BVSc, BSc (Zoology)
7. NEVER place your cat in a provider you haven’t correctly checked
The chance of your cat operating away or getting misplaced may be very excessive. This situation could be a nightmare for each you and your cat.
INSTEAD:
- Earlier than utilizing the provider, test that the zippers work and all locks are in place.
- Verify that the lid and the bottom of the provider match correctly.
- Buy a provider that’s secure and match on your cat.
- Marta Vidal-Abarca, BVSc MRCVS GPCertOphthal
8. NEVER ignore your cat’s change of their urinating habits
Regardless of how delicate, adjustments in urination may imply well being points.
INSTEAD:
- Watch your cat intently in case you discover any abnormality round their toileting conduct, corresponding to not utilizing the litter field in any respect, frequent journeys to the litter field, spending extra time than standard of their litter field, urinating small quantities, or vocalizing whereas urinating.
- Be accustomed to your cat’s routine and know the way they present indicators of sickness.
- Contact your veterinarian once you discover any adjustments of their toileting habits.
- Marta Vidal-Abarca, BVSc MRCVS GPCertOphthal
9. NEVER feed your cat ONLY dry meals
Hydration is extraordinarily vital for cats, and an completely dry meals weight loss program doesn’t supply sufficient moisture to assist them be wholesome.
INSTEAD:
- Provide your cat a moisture-rich weight loss program, corresponding to a whole and balanced recent or moist meals weight loss program. In case your cat prefers dry meals, supply not less than a 50/50 combine.
- Guarantee your cat’s weight loss program has sufficient proteins and moisture to imitate their pure meals.
- Provide your cat a water fountain and take into consideration inventive methods to entice them to ingest sufficient water.
- Paola Cuevas, MVZ, Behaviorist
10. NEVER put your cat on a sudden excessive calorie-restricted weight loss program
Limiting your cat’s caloric consumption in a single day could be very harmful. Cats can develop hepatic lipidosis, often called fatty liver syndrome.
INSTEAD:
- In case your cat must reduce weight, begin by lowering solely 10% to twenty% of their every day calorie consumption. Weight in and recalculate each couple of weeks.
- A sluggish however constant weight loss program plan is most well-liked. Get your veterinarian concerned.
- Feed a wholesome, balanced weight loss program and improve your cat’s bodily exercise with every day interactions.
- Paola Cuevas, MVZ, Behaviorist
11. NEVER go away your hair ties round the home
Ingestion of hair ties is a standard prevalence in playful cats. Unaware cat house owners often solely discover out after emergency surgical procedure.
INSTEAD:
- Preserve your hair ties secure and away from the attain of your cats.
- In case you purchase a packet of hair ties, please solely use separately so you don’t go away it round the home the place your cat can seize it.
- By no means enable your cat to play with them or objects which can be small and stringy, which they will ingest.
- Paola Cuevas, MVZ, Behaviorist
Summing It All Up
Accountable pet house owners by no means need to put their pets at risk deliberately. And a few of these sins can appear innocent—however that’s removed from the reality. Our vet workforce hopes they’ve make clear some practices that folks may do to or with their pets, whether or not it includes their weight loss program, security across the dwelling, or enjoying with them. Now that you already know about these sins, you may take steps to keep away from them.
Featured Picture Credit score: masary78, Shutterstock
