Cat lovers everywhere attest to the sheer joy that is brought to them by their beloved pets. Those who also want to experience such blissful companionship should, however, first learn how to responsibly raise these lovely creatures in Wesley Chapel 33544, Hillsborough County, Tampa 33647 and Pasco County. They should do their homework on proper cat pet care, including their veterinary needs and training needs.
All cats are naturally clean. They lick themselves and their kittens clean. When defecating outdoors, they cover their waste with dirt. A pet owner who intends to keep a cat indoors should, therefore, train the cat how to use a litter box. This should be done while the cat is still a kitten. It should be brought to the litter box a minimum of four to five times a day, based on the times when the kitten is expected to go. Lavish praise should be showered on the kitten whenever it successfully uses the litter box. To encourage compliance, the litter box should be placed away from busy areas and far from the feeding and drinking area. The litter box should then be emptied twice a day or more and thoroughly washed with soap and water once a week or more.
The cat should be brought to a veterinarian for its shots as soon as the pet owner receives it. The veterinarian will prescribe the necessary vaccines and their schedules. Strict compliance is necessary to protect the cat from rabies, feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, distemper and other deadly diseases.
If the cat has fleas, ticks or other parasites, the veterinarian can prescribe the appropriate repellants that are safe to use. The veterinarian should also be consulted on how to keep the cat and the home free from any future infestations. Commercial repellants should not be used indiscriminately because they can be toxic to the cat.
Unless the cat owner is a licensed professional breeder, the veterinarian should also be consulted on the proper time to schedule spaying or neutering for the cat. This is usually done between the ages of six to eight weeks. Spaying or neutering prevents the overpopulation of cats and is believed to prevent cancer. The pet owner will be taught proper home care after the procedure.
The new pet owner can make sure that all the health care needs of the cat are met properly by finding a reliable veterinarian working at a reputable full service animal hospital or veterinary clinic in Wesley Chapel 33544, Hillsborough County, Tampa 33647 and Pasco County and establishing a long term working relationship with them. If a large animal hospital is chosen, it will expectedly have complete facilities to treat various types of pets such as dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, rodents, fish and rabbits.
The ideal veterinary clinic should be able to offer not only routine check ups and medical consultations but also emergency services, medical diagnostics and laboratory analysis. This veterinary clinic should be able to do surgical procedures in case this becomes necessary, including laser surgery.
Aside from veterinary care, it would be good if the veterinary clinic also provides pet boarding. This way, both the cat and the pet owner will not feel anxious whenever the owner has to go out of town. Pet boarding in the same animal clinic will ensure that the cat is in familiar surroundings with familiar people who can give the best possible care.
With the proper information on cat pet care, veterinary care and training, any cat lover in Wesley Chapel 33544, Hillsborough County, Tampa 33647 and Pasco County can be ready to take on the responsibility of raising his or her very own cat.
