Raising a cat is not a simple matter. Since you choose to raise a cat, you must be responsible for this life. Before raising a cat, you must prepare cat food, cat snacks, food bowls, water bowls, cat litter boxes and other cat supplies. In addition, cats are relatively fragile and prone to diseases and parasites, so the owner should pay attention to the physical condition of the cat, and vaccinate the cat regularly to ensure scientific feeding.
1. Cat Vaccine
1. Cat Triple Vaccine
Prevent disease: The cat triple vaccine can prevent herpes virus, calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia virus at the same time.
Number of vaccinations: The cat triple vaccine requires three injections, with an interval of 21 to 28 days between each injection.
Rabies Vaccine
Prevent disease: The rabies vaccine can prevent cats from contracting rabies.
Number of vaccinations: The rabies vaccine only needs to be administered once, and it can be administered together with the last infectious disease vaccine.
3. Vaccination time
Cats should be vaccinated after two months (>8 weeks). Within 50 days after birth, cats will bring their own antibodies from their mothers to fight viruses. After 50 days, these antibodies will decrease, and vaccination will be effective only at this time.
Make sure the cat is vaccinated when it is completely healthy. It is recommended that cats who have just been brought home should be familiar with the environment for two weeks before being vaccinated in a healthy state.
2. Cat feeding
1. Cat food
Types:
Extruded cat food, low-temperature baked cat food, air-dried cat food
Purchase:
Choose cat food with meat as the first three ingredients, and clearly mark what meat is used. It is generally recommended to choose cat food that does not contain grains, and avoid harmful additives such as BHA, BHT, propylene glycol, flavorings, and flavor enhancers.
It is best to choose cat food with more than 36% crude protein, 13%~18% crude fat, and ≤5% crude fiber.
Feeding method:
Cats have specific feeding times, 3-4 times a day for kittens and 2 times a day for adult cats. Different brands of cat food have different feeding standards, and generally feed the corresponding amount according to age or weight.
Price: 4-50 yuan per catty, the moderate price range is 20 yuan per catty, and the high-priced cat food is more than 40 yuan per catty. It is not recommended to choose cat food below 10 yuan per catty.
Notes:
It is best to find a sealed cat food can after opening the cat food, otherwise it will easily deteriorate, and the cat may not eat it after the fragrance dissipates.
2. Canned cat food
Types:
Canned staple food, canned complementary food, canned adult cat food, canned kitten food
Purchase:
Choose the corresponding canned food according to cats of different ages. The crude protein content is generally above 8%, and the moisture content should be between 75%-85%. Avoid additives and attractants such as guar gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan, and choose regular brands.
Feeding method:
The first time feeding canned food, you can mix it in cat food and stir it evenly, and feed it to the cat together. Feed cat canned food every 2-3 days.
Price:
Mid-to-low-end is less than 10 yuan, general 10-20 yuan, and high-end 20-40 yuan.
Notes:
If the cat canned food has been opened and not finished, seal the opening with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. Do not feed too much canned cat food to prevent the cat from being picky.
3. Freeze-dried cat snacks
Types:
Duck, chicken, rabbit, beef, salmon, venison, quail
Purchase:
Kittens with sensitive stomachs must choose a single meat source. Choose irradiated and sterilized standardized products. It is recommended to buy a small portion first, and then buy a large portion after confirming that the cat likes it.
Feeding method:
It can be fed directly to the cat as a cat snack, mixed with cat food, ground into powder, and soaked in water. The staple food cat freeze-dried food is generally fed 1-2 times a week. Do not eat only one type of freeze-dried food for a long time, and need to alternate.
Price:
The price difference of freeze-dried food of different meats is large. Duck and chicken are cheaper, while beef, salmon and venison are more expensive.
Notes:
Overfeeding can cause indigestion in cats. Freeze-dried food cannot be fed at the same time as canned food.
4. Cat snacks
Types:
Cat strips, meat, dried fish, cat grass sticks, fresh food bags, hair-beautifying paste, nutritional paste, cat biscuits
Purchase:
Pay attention to the nutritional value of snacks. High-quality cat snacks should contain rich protein and other essential nutrients, and avoid high sugar, high starch and artificial additives. Check the recipe and ingredient list of the snacks, including the source of meat and protein content.
Feeding method:
Feeding 2 to 3 times a week is most appropriate.
Notes:
Even healthy and safe cat snacks should be fed in moderation to avoid excessive obesity or picky eating in cats.
5. Homemade cat meals
Recipes:
Chicken rice: Cut the chicken into small cubes and cook it, mix it with rice, and add appropriate amounts of vegetables and fish oil.
Fish porridge: Cook fresh fish and remove the fish, mix the fish soup with rice and cook it into porridge, and finally add the chopped fish.
Beef porridge: Cut fresh beef into small cubes and cook, add appropriate amount of vegetables and vitamin supplements and mix evenly.
Mixed meat porridge: Chop chicken, lean meat, fish and other meats, and cook them into porridge with rice, vegetables and bone broth.
Fish biscuits: Mix fresh fish into a paste, mix with appropriate amount of grains and cellulose to make biscuits, and bake until golden brown.
Boiled chicken breast: Boil the chicken breast and tear it into strips and feed it directly to the cat.
Animal offal: Steam animal offal such as chicken heart and duck liver with lean meat, pumpkin, carrot, etc. and feed it to the cat.
Note:
When making cat food, pay attention to the freshness and hygiene of the ingredients to ensure the health of the cat.
3. Common diseases of cats
1. Soft stool
Causes:
Eating indigestible food, unhygienic diet, infection with bacteria or viruses, sudden change of food, weak gastrointestinal function or indigestion.
Symptoms:
The stool is between normal stool and diarrhea, although it is formed but soft.
Treatment:
Adjust the diet, supplement electrolytes and water, keep the environment clean, regularly deworm the cat inside and outside, and pay attention to the cat's dietary hygiene. In severe cases, antidiarrheal drugs and probiotics can be taken.
2. Feline stomatitis
Causes:
Poor oral hygiene, viral infection, lack of vitamin B and vitamin A, and damage to the oral mucosa.
Symptoms:
Depression, loss of appetite, drooling, difficulty chewing, etc. In severe cases, the cat will be unable to eat.
Treatment:
Feed the cat liquid food or soft and sticky wet food, supplement vitamins, use antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, and take tooth extraction surgery if necessary.
3. Feline Panleukopenia
Causes:
Healthy cats come into direct contact with cats with feline panleukopenia, or come into contact with objects contaminated by the virus, and the mother cat transmits the virus to the kittens during pregnancy.
Symptoms:
Diarrhea, anorexia, vomiting, depression, fever, unkempt fur, weakness in limbs, love of sleep, etc.
Treatment:
Anti-feline panleukopenia virus high-immunity serum and interferon can be injected subcutaneously in the neck of the cat to reduce inflammation, prevent dehydration, stop bleeding, stop vomiting, replenish energy, balance electrolytes, etc. according to the specific symptoms of the cat.
The health care of cats requires the owner's care and patience. Regular vaccination, scientific and reasonable feeding, attention to food hygiene and prevention of common diseases are important links in raising cats. Ensuring that cats have a clean and comfortable living environment and giving them enough love and care can make cats grow up healthily and happily.
Post time: Aug-01-2024