Fundamental Cat Info Flashcards
Behavioural
Cat post
• Cats scratch for 2 reasons:
• to remove the outer husks from their claws
• to mark their territory through scent glands in their pads
•Providing the cat his own space for scratching will deter him from scratching the furniture
• It is a good idea to have at least one post or scratcher on every level in a home so the cat’s space is nearby
Behavioural
Cat bed
• Every cat has their favorite “spot” in the house to nap.
• A bed can be placed in these spots to control pet hair from ending up on furniture and bedding
Travel Carrier
• In many places having unrestrained animals in a car can result in a fine, so a carrier is needed for travel
• It allows a space for safety when in a stressful environment, such as the vet
• In the event of an emergency, it allows the cat to be safely confined
Nutritional
Cat Food vs Dog Food
• Cats are “obligate carnivores” which means they must have meat protein to survive.
• Meat protein contains taurine, which is an essential amino acid for cats
• Due to a cat’s strong meat protein requirement, they should not be fed dog food as an alternative
• Some cat foods are designed to meet a specific need. For example, hairball foods help prevent hairballs by adding additional fiber. A dog food will not be able to meet this need.
Nutritional
Taurine
An amino acid that can only be found in meat proteins.
This amino acid is essentail for a cat’s daily diet, and therefore they are obligate carnivores who cannot replace meat proteins from other sources
Quick
Where the nerves and blood vessels are located in the nail. This is a sensitive area that should not be cut when trimming cat nails.
Nutritional
Indoor Cat Food
• Cats who live primarily indoors may not receive the same level of exercise as those who live outside
• This cat food is designed to have fewer calories because the cat is not burning them off as quickly
Nutritional
Hairball Control Cat Food
• Cats naturally ingest loose fur when they meticulously clean themselves
• This cat food is designed to prevent hairballs from forming in the stomach by increasing the fiber content
Nutritional
Light Cat Food
• Cats can be prone to obesity if they do not participate in daily exercise
• This cat food is designed to have fewer calories to aid in losing weight
Nutritional
Kitten Food
• This cat food is designed to start a kitten off on the right foot as they develop by ensuring proper nutrient levels
Nutritional
Adult Food
• At approximately 1 year, a kitten has now become an adult
• At this point the cat should not be free fed as they are easily prone to obesity (may continue eating despite feeling full).
Follow the directions on the bag for proper feeding amounts
Nutritional
Mature Cat Food
• Cats become “seniors” when they reach 7 years of age
• This cat food is deigned to prevent weight gain and protect the joints as the cat ages and slows down
Nutritional
Canned Food
• Canned food should be a part of a cat’s daily diet
• The moisture in the food encourages water consumption, and most cats love the taste!
Nutritional
Treats
• Treats can be an excellent training tool and addition to a cat’s diet
• For example, treats reward the use of a scratching post, a bed, or coming when called
• Some treats can help with dental health, and others can help prevent hairballs
Behavioural
Toys
• Cats love to play! They often find amusement in regular household items, though they may pose a risk to the cat.
For example, toilet paper, long strings/ribbon, tinsel from a
Christmas tree, plastic wrap, twist ties, and rubber bands should be kept off limits.
• Toys from a pet store are guaranteed to be a safe alternative
- and many toys are interactive between the cat and his owner.
• Toys infused with cat nip are typically cat favourites.
Maintenance
Leash & Collar
• Petland recommends keeping cats indoors, as this ensures a long, happy, healthy life
• Sometimes, despite best efforts to keep the cat inside, it can escape.
There are a couple of products we can suggest for guests to protect their runaway:
• Use an breakaway collar to prevent strangulation in case the cat because entangled
• ID tag allows the cat to be retraced back to the owner without necessarily getting the city involved
• If a guest chooses to allow their cat to go outside, a lightweight leash and harness are the best options
Maintenance
Repellents
• Deterrents are commonly used to prevent a cat from scratching certain areas such as the carpet and furniture
• Sticky Paws comes either in a roll or a sheet format, and creates a sticky texture that cats dislike
• Deterrent sprays have an odour that is unappealing to cats, and very mild to humans
• Sound deterrents are motion-sensitive and will emit a high pitch frequency sound when a cat accesses an area he should not be
Maintenance
Hairball Paste
• Cats naturally accumulate lots of fur in their stomachs because they meticulously groom themselves every day
• Hairball paste is a preventative that is designed to prevent hairballs from forming
• If the cat is unwilling to lick the paste from your finger, you can put some on its paw where it will instinctively lick to get off
Other solutions for a cat who is coughing up hairballs include:
• Regular brushing
• Hairball treats
• Food that is high in fiber
Maintenance
Clippers and Coagulant
• Cats need to scratch to mark their territory and remove the outer husks of their nails.
• Routinely clipping a cat’s nails can help deter bad scratching habits.
• Every time nails are being clipped, coagulant (aka blood stopper) should be on hand in case the quick is cut.
Maintenance
Brushes
• A simple way to prevent hairballs in a cat is to brush it on a daily basis to remove loose and dead hairs
Short Haired: Rubber Brush, Comb
Medium Haired: Slicker Brush, Comb
Long Haired: Slicker Brush; Comb, De-matting Tool
Maintenance
Dishes
• Dishes will be needed for dry food, canned food, and water
• Cats have sensitive whiskers and do not like putting their face into a bowl. They may prefer a wider dish.
• Cat food dishes tend to be shallow so that their faces do not have to go far into the dish
• If not washed daily, plastic dishes can trap odours which might discourage the cat from drinking
• Cats are more willing to drink water if it is fresh, clean, and moving
• Fountains re-circulate the water so that it is more alluring for the cat
• A carbon filter eliminates odours and tastes in the water
Maintenance
Oral care
• 80% of cats show signs of Periodontal disease (infections of the structures around the teeth) by 5 years old
• The best way to prevent this disease is to brush the cat’s teeth with a pet toothbrush
• A water additive is like mouth wash for people, but is safe for the cat to consume. It will ensure the whole mouth receives attention
Maintenance
Litter Box
• There are many different styles of litter boxes available - self cleaning, sifting, hooded, and the traditional tray
• A cat may choose to stop using the litter box. A couple of easy potential solutions include:
• Purchasing a second litter box to keep on a different floor in the house
• Upgrading to a deeper box to allow the cat to dig
Encourage Litter Box Use
Cats may not use their box if they have to share, it is not deep enough to dig, or it smells. Other solutions for a cat who is not using his box include:
• Litter deodourizer
Maintenance
Clay Litter
• Well known litter type
• Generally better accepted by kittens
• Clumping or non-clumping (kittens should be on non-clumping until 3-6 months of age)
Maintenance
Flushable litter
• Non-clumping
• Scentless
• All natural
• Odour control
• Easy cleaning maintenance
Maintenance
Multi-Cat litter
• More powerful odour control
• Superior clumping compared to single-cat litters
Maintenance
Crystal litter
• Dust Free
• Superior odour control
• Easy cleaning maintenance
•Non-tracking
Maintenance
Walnut-Based
• Superior odour control from other litters
• Virtually dust-free
• Non-tracking
Maintenance
Recycled Newspaper
• Non-clumping
• Eco-friendly
• 99% dust free
• More absorbant than traditional clay litter
• Odour control
Maintenance
Litter Deodorizer
• Cats have sensitive noses who may be turned off by the odour from their litter box. This can cause them to stop using their box.
• Deodourizers are typically mixed in with the litter, though some formats absorb odours from the air
Maintenance
Litter scoop
• Litter boxes should be spot cleaned on a daily basis with a litter scoop
• Some litter boxes operate using a sifting layer instead of requiring a scoop
Maintenance
Litter Disposal System
• Disposal systems make litter maintenance a lot easier for guests
• The system locks odours and contaminants inside the container
. 1 refill can be used 60 times, instead of using grocery bags
