Cats By Noah Brock
Feeding Guidelines
With the unique nutritional requirements and feeding behavior of the domestic cat in mind, it is easy to appreciate practical recommendations for feeding. In all cases, your cat should have access to fresh, clean drinking water.Young kittens need to eat frequently. Although they need relatively large quantities of food because they are growing rapidly, they have limited space in their tiny stomachs.at eight weeks of age, they need to be fed about 5 meals a day.By 6 months, the need for food is decreased as kittens are about 75% of their adult size and can be fed 2 meals a day.A good quality kitten food has advantages over adult cat food since it has been specially formulated for a kitten's demanding nutritional requirements. Because of their rapid growth, any nutritional "mistakes" made during kittenhood will have severe, even irreversible, consequences. For most kittens, growth is almost complete by six months of age. They can be changed to "adult" cat food at 8-10 months of age."Kittens and adult cats do not need milk."Contrary to popular myth, kittens and adult cats do not need milk. In fact, by about 12 weeks of age most kittens lose the ability to digest milk sugar (lactose). Therefore, while small amounts may be tolerated, too much milk can lead to intestinal upset and diarrhea because the cat cannot digest it properly!
Feeding the adult cat
A high-quality commercial adult cat food should always be fed because these diets have been specially formulated to contain all the nutrients that a cat requires. Dry or wet food can be used but care should be taken to feed the correct amount, especially when feeding canned diets since it is easy to overfeed a cat. Once a cat becomes overweight or obese, it is much harder to lose the excess weight than it is to prevent them becoming overweight in the first place. Many owners prefer to feed small meals of moist food once or twice a day and provide dry food in between meals. This is fine as long as you ensure that your cat is receiving the proper number of calories and getting enough physical activity.It is important to remember that when it comes to diet and feeding behaviors, each cat is an individual with unique needs and characteristics. The number of meals offered and the amount and type of food used will vary with individual preferences and activity levels. For example, outdoor cats may need more calories than less active indoor cats. In addition, nutritional requirements and dietary preferences change over the course of the cat's lifetime. Kittens, adults and senior cats all have different nutritional needs. Your cat should be fed a diet specially formulated for these life stages. Cats with certain illnesses will benefit from a special therapeutic or "prescription" diet that may control symptoms and delay progression of disease.Choosing a high quality food from the hundreds of available brands can be challenging. The pet nutrition industry is very competitive and relies on persuasive advertising to sell their products. Not all pet foods are created equally, although many commercially available foods are good balanced diets. However, the quality of ingredients can vary, and it can be difficult to determine their quality based strictly on reading the label. Our staff at the veterinary clinic can help you interpret the information, based on scientific principles, and can help you choose a diet that meets your cat's specific needs.
Grooming
Regular sessions with a brush or comb will help keep your pet’s hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading natural oils throughout her coat, preventing tangles and keeping her skin clean and irritant-free.
If your cat has short hair, you only need to brush once a week:
First, use a metal comb and work through her fur from head to tail.
Next, use a bristle or rubber brush to remove dead and loose hair.
Be extra-gentle near her chest and belly.
If your cat has long hair, you will need to brush every day:
Start by combing her belly and legs; be sure to untangle any knots.
Next, brush her fur in an upward motion with a bristle or rubber brush.
To brush her tail, make a part down the middle and brush the fur out on either side.
Nail Clipping
Most people really don’t handle their cats’ feet until they are about to clip the nails and then...watch out! Some animals can get very upset at this totally foreign feeling. That’s why it’s a good idea to get your cat used to having her feet touched before you attempt a nail trim. Rub your hand up and down her leg and then gently press each individual toe-and be sure to give her lots of praise and some food treats as you do this. Every animal is different, but chances are that within a week or two of daily foot massage, your cat will accept nail clipping without too much fuss. Here’s how to do it:
- Begin by applying gentle pressure to the top of the foot and cushiony pad underneath-this will cause her to extend her claws.
- Use sharp, high-quality cat nail scissors to cut off the white tip of each nail, just before the point where it begins to curl.
- Take care to avoid the quick, a vein that runs into the nail. This pink area can be seen through the nail.
- If you do accidentally cut into this pink area, it may bleed, in which case you can apply some styptic powder to stop the bleeding.
Reproduction
Puberty (the age at which animals can reproduce) in the cat ranges from 4 to 12 months, with the average being 6 to 9 months. At puberty, cats are generally about 75% of their mature body weight. Domestic shorthair cats, as a breed, generally reach puberty earlier than domestic longhair cats.
Can a cat breed at any time during the year?
Female cats are unusual in that their heats are influenced by seasonal changes in the amount of daylight. Cats usually 'cycle' and are bred between January and September.
How often does a cat come into heat?
A female cat is also unusual in that she basically will keep coming back into heat every 14-21 days or so until she is bred or the amount of daylight decreases (October).
How can I tell if a cat is in heat?
You will know. A cat in heat is very vocal, calling and calling for a male cat. She will roll and roll on the ground and constantly rub against furniture or your leg. She will assume a breeding posture with her head and front legs near the ground and the rump area held high. She will become very affectionate. You may notice her urinating frequently. She will be in heat and accept a male for 3 to 16 days.
How long is pregnancy in the cat?
Cats generally have their kittens 58 to 65 days after they are bred.
How many kittens are in the average litter?
Generally, a cat has 4 to 6 kittens in each litter.
How many litters can a cat have in a year?
The average cat could have 3 litters a year.
