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Cat Care: Am I the Pet For You?

Having a cat can be a lot of fun! However, a cat is a long-term commitment, not a part-time responsibility. Read below to learn how to take great care of Fluffy! By doing so, your cat will live a longer, healthier life!

How long can I live?

I have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years if you take good care of me every day!

What size am I?

I am about eight to 11 pounds, but some cats are bigger!

What colour am I?

I come in different colours since there are many breeds (types) of cats.

What's my personality like?

Cats' personalities vary. You will have to spend some one-on-one time with a cat to check out his 'catitude'!

What do I need to be healthy and happy?

Feed me! Make sure your cat has healthy food. A cat should be fed twice a day (breakfast & dinner). A cat needs dry food (kibble) and wet food (soft). A kitten needs a special kitten food until he is an adult. Please keep a cat’s dishes clean, too!

Water me! Always make sure that your cat has plenty of fresh water.

Shelter me! It’s best for a cat to live inside where he is safe.

Control and identify me!

• Don’t let a cat outside alone - keep him supervised. He can get lost, hurt or hit by a car. A cat needs to wear a leash and collar/harness to keep him safe and under your control if he goes outside.
• A cat needs an identification tag on his collar or harness.
• A cat needs a City of Ottawa licence tag every year. Licensing registers a cat and provides a way to have him identified and returned home if he gets lost. Believe it or not, only 5% of lost cats at the Ottawa Humane Society are returned to their owners!
• A cat also needs a microchip. A microchip is a small computer chip that is injected into the back of an animal’s neck between the shoulder blades. It has an identification number that is read with a scanner (just like at the grocery store). The number, when typed into the computer database, locates the address of the animal’s owner. If you move, keep your pet’s microchip information updated!

Groom me! A cat needs to be brushed once a week. It keeps his fur healthy and feels good, too! And don’t forget to trim your cat’s claws so they don’t get too long.

Keep me healthy! A yearly check-up and vaccinations (shots) at the veterinarian (animal doctor) will keep a cat healthy.  A female cat should also be spayed and a male cat should be neutered to stop them from breeding and reproducing. Spayed and neutered pets live longer, healthier lives and are less likely to get cancer. They are also calmer and better behaved.

Clean up after me!Please clean your cat’s litter box every day. Cats are very clean animals!

Help me! A cat sometimes has problems using the litter box and may go to the bathroom where he shouldn’t. This behaviour is often fixable, but you should see the veterinarian for help.

Love me! Cats are social animals and need lots of attention and love.