One of the animals that many people are interested in as pets is cats. His sometimes funny and adorable behavior can serve as entertainment for the owner. In addition, cats can also be playmates or help relieve boredom while at home.
This can also be seen during the COVID-19 pandemic where there is an increase in the cat population. During the pandemic, people's activities were more at home and one of the ways chosen by people to overcome boredom was to have a cat.
There are many things to consider when starting a cat. It is important to know the characteristics and what is needed by the cat when it is a pet. Here are some things to consider before raising a cat so that it can feel comfortable living with you.
Commitment Before Raising A Cat
The first step that needs to be prepared when you want to keep a cat is commitment. Commitment is needed because after raising a cat then indirectly the needs of the cat will depend on the owner for life. There are several basic needs that need to be met such as food, health, shelter to routine care (grooming). In addition, another important thing is the need for time to meet these needs. The time spent is a sign of attention and affection for your pet cat. This whole commitment is the key to the fulfillment of pet welfare.
Provide a safe resting place
Cats are at a vulnerable state when they are resting / sleeping, so they need a safe place. If in one house there are many cats, usually each cat has its own favorite place that is considered safe because cats are also territorial animals. Here are some places that can make cats feel safe and comfortable :
- Quiet and not much traversed by people
- Be at a height so that the cat can monitor more of the surrounding area
- Easily accessible to cats and easy to escape when the cat feels threatened
- Not close to the litter box
Cat owners can make their own special resting place for cats such as those made from box boxes and given blankets so that they can provide warmth and add comfort. However, sometimes cats choose their own resting place such as on top of a closet, under a bed/chair, a pile of clothes or in a plant pot.
Meet Nutritional Needs
Cats are animals that belong to obligate carnivores, so they need animal protein as their main nutrient. However, other nutritional needs still need to be met through feeding such as carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins. Each cat has different nutritional needs depending on age, breed or health condition so that the feed given needs to be adjusted to some of these things.
Generally, for kittens, feeding is done 3-4 times a day, while for adult cats it is given 1-2 times a day. Avoid overfeeding or always available (ad libitum) because it can lead to overweight (obesity). In addition to feed, drinking water is also very important for cats. Always provide (ad libitum) clean and fresh drinking water every day for your pet cat.
There are a number of different types of food that can be used to treat dry mouth (Delicats, Kadofu), wet food, dan semi moist food. There is also a snackKadofu Creamy Delights) that can be given as an addition to food in between meals. In addition, there are also cat keepers who still give processed foods made by themselves such as boiled chicken meat.
The important thing to note also when feeding and drinking water is the place and location. Although many forms of feed and drinking water are combined, you should give the cat feed and drinking water in separate containers. In addition, also note the location of the feed and drinking water. The ideal location is a quiet area, not passed by many people and not adjacent to the litter box.
Create a clean environment
Cats are animals that love cleanliness both themselves and their environment. It can be seen that cats often clean themselves (self grooming) such as by licking their bodies. This can also be a sign of a cat's health condition, if the cat does not do or too often do self-grooming then it can indicate the cat is experiencing health problems.
A clean environment is also a place that cats like. One of them is characterized by the behavior of cats that tend to just throw their feces (feces) in a certain clean place. Therefore, for cats that are kept indoors need to be provided a place to dispose of waste such as litter boxes that have been filled with cat sand (cat litter).
The location of the litter box needs to be placed in a quiet, safe and easily accessible area. Do not place the litter box close to the feeding place. If there are a lot of cats in the house, you need to provide a litter box for each cat. Also make sure the litter box is always clean.
The use of litter boxes and cat sand will make it easier for cat keepers to clean their feces. In addition, the natural instinct of cats will bury their feces to cover the aroma. Some things to consider in choosing cat sand are soft on the cat's feet, clumping quickly, not dusty, scented enough and effectively absorb odors. There are various types of cat litter that are commonly used, here are some examples :
1. Zeolite Sand
Zeolite sand is made from rocks that are broken into grains of sand with a rough texture. The use of this sand can be washed again, but it has poor absorption.
2. Bentonite Sand
Bentonite sand has a smooth texture and is made of clay. This sand has a scent, high absorption and easily clumps when exposed to cat litter, making it more practical when cleaning it because it can be immediately discarded. Examples of litter paints made from bentonite sand are Sirku or Dr. Litter.
3. Organic Sand (Tofu)
Tofu sand is made from natural ingredients by utilizing residual materials, namely soybean dregs. This type of sand can also clump when exposed to cat litter.
Examples of litter paints made from organic sand (tofu) are Dr. Litter Premium Tofu Soya. This cat sand has the ability to agglomerate and quickly absorb odors. Its wide and long granules are not sticky to the cat's palm and do not produce dust. How to clean it is easy because it is soluble in water it can be directly discharged into the toilet drain so it does not pollute the surrounding environment.
Take a place and time to play
Cats are active animals, like to play and have a high curiosity. Playtime is not only a fun activity for cats, but an important part of animal welfare. Cats also need enough movement / play to stay physically and mentally healthy. Some benefits of playing for cats such as:
- Fulfill her natural instincts such as stalking, chasing and pouncing
- Maintain muscle or body condition to stay fit and prevent obesity or other health problems
- Mencegah stres/cemas/bosan
- Prevent abnormal behavior such as excessive self-grooming
Cat owners need to take the time to play with their pet several times a day with a duration of 10-15 minutes. It is better to play short but can be done many times than just playing one time for a long time.
When playing for too long there is a possibility that the cat feels bored or loses interest in playing. Of course, playing time is also influenced by the age, breed, and personality of each cat. Examples of play activities can use toys such as rat toys for hunting, balls, sticks with feathers, or arenas for climbing/jumping and scratching.
Medical Examination
It is important for a cat breeder to pay attention to the state of health of his pet. If the cat shows any symptoms of the disease then it needs to be quickly examined by a veterinarian. Control of the cat's health needs to be done regularly and also apply health programs, such as deworming, anti-ectoparasites and vaccinations.
The quality of life of a pet cat will depend on the owner. Therefore, it needs commitment from animal owners to meet the needs of their pets so that they can live comfortably and prosper. Thus the cat will be happy and live with the affection of its owner.
