Caring For Your Cat

Cats have their daily routines.  They are perceived as an independent species, capable of caring for themselves.  Majority of cat owners have cats that are grazers.  Which means that their food and water is always available for them to eat and drink as they please.  They also have a litter box, or several litter boxes, available to relieve themselves when needed.

One of the biggest misconceptions people hear is that their cat is self sufficient and capable of being left alone for long periods of time.  Unfortunately, that statement is just that, a misconception.  Let’s explain why:

• Cats are renowned for hiding their illness.  They can be fine one day or just start to act a little “off”, and then their illness will surface.  Most cats during time of illness like to hide, so you may be missing a lot of what may actually be going on.  “Hiding” is often a symptom when a cat is sick.  If someone is not around to monitor your cats habits on a daily basis, they can quickly get worse.  Cats that do not eat can develop severe liver issues, any pet that does not drink for 24 hours can be considered an emergency too.  The reasons why your pet is not eating or drinking also needs to be discovered, this is occurring for a reason and it is always best to catch something early so you can start to help them.
• Cats can develop urinary tract infections.  They can occur for a variety of reasons and they can start out of no where.  What is even scarier is a cat that becomes blocked or the inability to urinate.  This can also occur for a few different reasons.  A cat that is “blocked” is an emergency, and if it is not addressed immediately can be deadly.
• Cats are also fastidiously clean creatures.  When their litter boxes are not up to their standards for the day, they may choose other places to start relieving (aka your couch or bed).
• Cats can be curious creatures, they may decide to get into your bag you left out or explore the countertops in your kitchen.  Maybe you have tylenol in your bag, for example.  One to two tablets of tylenol are deadly to cats.  Many human medications are deadly to cats if consumed.
• Cats love to jump to high places.  They can injure themselves by just jumping down the wrong way.

Recommendations:

• Cat boarding is a wonderful option for cat owners.  At the Village Veterinary Clinic of Hamburg we have cat boarding that allows for 24 hour monitoring and care.  If any medical issues arise we are able to address them on site.  We also offer webcam service so watch them during their stay as well.
• Finding a reliable family member or friend to come to your house daily or to stay at your house is another option.  They can then ensure that your cat is doing their normal daily routine and if any medical issues arise they can take them to the vet.  If ever needed they can also be prepared to take them to an emergency clinic, such as the Village Veterinary Clinic of Hamburg.