Cats can be pretty independent creatures, but they still need help from their humans to stay safe. There are lots of things that can hurt them, ranging from other cats to cars. When you have a cat, or more than one as is often the case, you want to make sure they live as long as possible and remain to be your companion and furry friend. Cats can live up to around 20 years old if they stay in good health, but many die before their time. If you want to protect your cat and ensure they don’t have to use any of their nine lives, take a look at these things that you should be doing.
Microchip Your Cat
Cats are usually pretty good at returning home, but they’re also well-known for sometimes getting lost. If your cat happens to not get home one day, you want to know that they can be identified. Microchipping your cat means that if someone finds it, they can be scanned and traced back to you. It also allows you to have a cat flap fitter put in a microchip cat flap. These keep your cat safe by only allowing your cat – and no stranger cats – into your home. Remember to keep your cat’s microchip information updated too.
Cat-proof Your Home
Your home can have a variety of different dangers that might hurt your cat. From things that your cat shouldn’t be chewing on to places where your cat could get trapped, you need to be careful about what your kitty could get up to. There are a few things that you can do around your home to prevent any accidents or illness for your cat. Keep electrical cables tidied away and block off any small spaces your cat could get trapped in. Make sure any plants you have are safe for cats and be sure that your cat can’t eat anything that they shouldn’t have.
Prevent Disease
Keeping your cat healthy means regular checkups at the vets. Some of the things that you should be doing include vaccinating your cat and regularly using worming treatments, as well as preventing fleas, ticks, and other parasites. It’s also smart to spay or neuter your cat if you want to prevent disease. It can help to prevent FIV, the feline version of HIV, and other STDs, as well as help to prevent cancer.
Keep Your Cat Indoors
If you want your cat to be as safe as possible, consider keeping them as a house cat. This is the norm in many countries, particularly where there are large predators. There might not be any mountain lions in the UK, but there are foxes, hawks, and dogs. Even when there are no predators to worry about, there are cars, other cats, and various other dangers outdoors. House cats tend to live longer than outdoor cats, plus keeping cats indoors helps to protect the environment.
Protect your cat by taking these smart steps and your kitty could have a long and healthy life.
