Pet Care - North West SPCA

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Caring for your Pets

A litter tray, litter and scoops are vital. Get a nice covered litter tray that will give your cat privacy and keep odours to a minimum. It is a good idea to get the clumping type of litter because it's so easy to scoop out and throw away

Your cat will require 2 bowls that won't tip over. The food dish should be relatively shallow and the water bowl should be a bit deeper. It is a good idea to feed your cat twice a day - both dry and canned food. Water should be available at all times and double the amount on hot days.

Your cat will also need plenty of toys to keep him/her stimulated. There's a wide variety of great cat toys on the market and most are pretty cheap - just try out a few and you'll find what suits your kitty best. You don't have to spend lots of money to keep them happy either, as homemade toys such as a string on a stick, a cardboard box or even scrunched up paper that you just throw like a ball, will also give them great delight.

A scratching post is very important as cats have an inborn need to stretch and sharpen their claws. If you don't provide them with a suitable place to scratch, then they'll end up doing it on your furniture or carpet. A homemade scratching post could be as simple as a piece of wood! Even with a scratching post, they'll probably still scratch where you don't want them to. So you might want to spray cat deterrent or put double sided tape on your best furniture.

Of course a collar and ID tag is important whether you have an indoor or outdoor cat. An indoor cat can slip out the door in a flash and without some form of identification - you might never see her again.

Cat beds are optional as most cats like to seek and find their own places to nap - and it usually varies from day to day. One day it may be on your bed; one day it may be on your couch; one day it may be on the floor; and one day it may be in a kitchen chair.

Flea and tick prevention are extremely important too. The liquid flea solution that you place between your cat's shoulder blades works well and doesn't cause any problems for your cat.

Be sure and schedule a visit to your veterinarian. The vet will let you know if there are any underlying health problems or conditions that you should be aware of and get your cat started on a good regimen of disease prevention.

Get your cat neutered. Cats left to breed add greatly to the number of unwanted animals on our streets. . But there are other advantages to neutering your cat. Male cats become very territorial when they reach sexual maturity. They begin to spray their territory with urine (often indoors) which is very strong smelling and not pleasant. Male cats also roam in search of mates and often get into bad fights with other cats causing disease and infections. Female cats begin to call when they reach maturity, which is a very noisy affair. Neutering can also reduce aggressive behaviour in your cat, which makes for a happier pet. The old mantra that you should let a cat have "its first litter" has no benefit whatsoever to the animal. Some cats can be pregnant at 5months - and serious complications can occur. Cats can have many litters in one year, and one cat can become 20 or 30 cats in record time!

All cats should be vaccinated against serious diseases such as cat flu, which is caused by two types of viruses (Feline Calicivirus and Feline Rhinotracheitis), Feline Enteritis (Panleukopaenia) and Feline Leukaemia. Your kitten or cat can get these viruses from other cats or simply by going outside for their regular exercise and walks. The best time to vaccinate your cat is when it is a kitten at 9 weeks old followed by a second injection 2-3 weeks later.

All cats can get worms and there are different types of worms too. These worms live in the cat's stomach and intestine and can make your cat very sick if not treated. Kittens should be wormed once a month until they are six months old. Adult cats should be wormed every three months. Your vet will recommend the best type of worming tablets for your cat. If your cat hunts, it can pick up tapeworms from eating small animals which means it must be given a special dose every month to keep it free from tapeworms

Collar your dog and attach an ID to it, with the dog's name and your telephone number written on it. The ID will prove to be a great help if, and when, your dog ends up getting lost.

It is necessary to undertake a proper physical examination of your dog on a monthly basis. Check the pad of its feet for any injuries and also undertake an oral examination of its mouth. At the same time, make sure to keep its ears as well as teeth clean. You need to take your dog for regular veterinarian check-ups as well.

One of the main points that you need to keep in mind, while taking care of your dog, comprises of its diet. Remember, a nutritionally balanced diet, with constant access to fresh water, is as good for your dog as it is for you. Before deciding on the proper diet for your dog, it is advisable to consult a veterinary doctor.

If you want your dog to remain fit and healthy, then you need to make sure that it gets a lot of exercise. Keeping its busy physically will also help keep behavioral problems at bay. You can take him for walk twice a day or play with him. In this context, remember that the level of exercise that your dog should get depends upon its breed and age.

While some people prefer to keep their dog free throughout the day, others prefer to keep it tied for majority of the time. It is advisable NOT to keep your dog constantly tied up, as this will lead to boredom and result in bad temper of the dog as well. As much as possible, keep your dog free of the leash.

Get your dog neutered. Dogs left to breed unnecessarily add greatly to the number of unwanted animals on our streets. Many of these animals die, as there are not enough homes for them. Therefore controlling unwanted breeding is essential to the care of our animals. But there are other advantages to neutering your dog. Dogs that are neutered are less likely to develop several types of cancer; also it reduces the desire to roam in search of a mate. Neutering can also reduce aggressive behaviour in your dog, which makes for a happier pet.

You need to provide proper shelter for your dog. Whilst we at the NWSPCA prefer a dog to sleep in the house, some people use a dog kennel. However, most dogs crave companionship and do not like to be alone for long periods. So, try to spend as much time with your dog as possible and if using a kennel make it go in only at night.

All dogs get worms and there are different types of worms too. These worms live in the dog's stomach and intestine. These worms can make your dog very sick if not treated, but puppies are especially prone to worms, therefore, puppies must be wormed once every two weeks until twelve weeks old. Then they need worming once a month until they are six months old. Adult dogs must be wormed at least every three months consistently.

Check their coat for signs of skin problems or fleas. Fleas can be picked up from other animals or even from carpets, furniture and bedding which were not properly disinfected after flea infestation. Ask your vet what the best product is for treating fleas. The liquid flea solution that you place between your dog’s shoulder blades works well and doesn't cause any problems for your dog.