How can you protect cats?

Answer 1

You can protect your cat by regularly taking it in to your veterinarian, so it can get all of it's vaccinations, and so they can check for, and if needed, properly treat and diagnose your cat.

It is also important to feed your cat the proper cat food. Cats are strict carnivores, so the TYPE of food is very important. Foods with a very high meat content (usually named as Turkey, Chicken, Beef, Rabbit, Lamb, etc.) and little or no ingredients such as Corn, Wheat, Cereals, Gluten and Sugars. If you see those on the list, stay away from them if you can. These foods are cheap "filler" and do not offer the cat any nutrients. Wet food is easier to find with higher meat content and less filler.

Water is important for cats. Always leave out fresh water for your cat (change it every 1-2 days), so it can stay healthy and hydrated. However, many cats are terrible drinkers. This is where wet food should be fed as part of a cat's main diet. Domestic cats are very much like their wild cousins; they get all their moisture needs from their food. Wet food alone provides a cat with all the water they need each day.

Some owners have a "pet fountain" that keeps the water fresh and moving, which entices cats to drink.

Dry food, contrary to popular belief, is not good for a cat's teeth. Cat biscuits are very similar to human biscuits, in which they are so hard and brittle they break apart with very little pressure. Kibble have minimal contact with the teeth, so offers no cleaning benefits whatsoever.

Also, DO NOT de-claw your cat! It is a very painful procedure for your cat, and the pain lasts. Your cat also needs its claws for protection (especially if it is an outdoor cat) and to be able to stretch and exercise the muscles in its back, shoulders and legs.

Provide your cat with an ideal shelter, and let it get regular exercise. Safely playing with your cat can also be a good experience, for both you and your cat!

Lastly - spay and neuter your cats. This stops unwanted behaviours such as spraying and being aggressive, and the non-stop yowling of female cats in heat. This also saves the female cat the stress of being in heat and going through pregnancy, and greatly lessens the risk of catching or developing diseases.

Cat shelters are full, and letting your cat breed will worsen this. Many hundreds of cats are put down each day due to lack of space, neutering and spaying will help protect your own cats, but possibly help save the lives of other cats living in shelters.