5 FAQ on Cat Care
We all love our cats and we want to take the best care of our cats as possible. For new and seasoned cat owners, it can be a time full of questions. Why is my cat throwing up? Should I feed my cat canned food or dried? The list goes on and on. Here we will discuss the 5 most common cat care questions I get on a regular basis.
1) When to Wean Kittens?
When kittens are born, they are completely dependent on the mother. If the newborn kitten is abandoned, then the kittens will rely completely on you for survival.
With a Mom – Kittens with moms will start weaning around 5 weeks. You can read more about kitten development and find out the answers to such questions as when do kittens open their eyes in our article Kitten Development Stages
Without a Mom – Kittens without a mom can start being weaned at 4 weeks of age. Read more about orphaned and abandoned kittens in How to Take Care of a Kitten Without a Mother
2) What Food is Best: Canned or Dried Cat Food?
For years, vets recommended dry cat food to help prevent gum disease and gingivitis. Now, vets are thinking canned cat food may provide more nutrition than dried. Therefore, my recommendation is to give your cats a combination of both canned and dried cat food, which is what I have done for years.
Dried cat food can sit around so your cats can graze throughout the day. This will also prevent your cat from eating too fast and getting sick. It is economical and a great way to get enough calories to your cat.
Canned cat food is a good “bonus” food. While I never gave my cats actual canned cat food, I did give them tuna and chicken from a can. They would always get the tuna water and part of a can when we ate either. The only time we gave them canned cat food was when they were sick.
3) Why Does My Cat Throw Up?
First, it could be hairballs. If your cat is regurgitation hairballs, then it is completely normal. When your cat grooms, it swallows a small amount of hair. The hair forms balls in the cat and then the cat throws them up. You can read our article How to Prevent Hairballs in Your Cat to learn more about reducing the amount of hairballs thrown up.
Second, it could be your cat is eating too fast. If you have multiple cats in your own, then competition for food can be high. This will cause the cat to rush in and chow down on the food. This makes the cat sick and ends with vomiting. You can help prevent this by keeping food down at all times.
Finally, your cat could have a gastrointestinal problem or kidney disease. If the above two cases do not seem to fit, then you need to take your cat to the vet. Blood work can be done to check for signs of any problems in your cat.
4) How Can I Get Rid of Fleas?
It has always been my opinion prevention is better than a cure. Therefore, I highly recommend using Frontline or Advantage on your cats. I have used both and they both work great for my cats. When money is tight, you can wait until you see the first flea of the summer and start putting the flea products on then. Then, keep the flea treatment going until winter.
If you are against putting chemicals on your cat each month, then you will need to give your cat a flea bath of some sort. Personally, I have used Dawn. It works great and kills the fleas fast. You can read more about giving your cat a bath in our article How to Give Your Cat a Bath. The other option is cedar tree oil. You rub it on your cat daily to kill fleas, which might be easier for cats who do not like baths.
How do I give my cat medicine? Scruff hold, no scruff hold, pillow hold
5) How Do I Give My Cat Medicine?
Scruff Hold - Grab your cat by the scruff of the neck. For many cats and kittens, this mimics the mother’s hold and the cat will naturally relax.
No Scruff Hold - Not all cats respond to the scruff hold. If your cat wants to claw you, then make a pocket by creating a v-shape between your ankles and knees. Then insert the cat into the pocket. Your ankles prevent the cat from backing out. Add pressure by “sitting” on the cat to keep the cat in place.
Pillow Hold - This technique works for cats who like to chainsaw claw. Similar to the no scruff hold, you will pin your cat down. This time pin your cat on top of a pillow. Then cover your cat with a towel. Now, gently “sit” on your cat pressing them into the soft comfort of a pillow.
Then, open the mouth and insert the medicine. Keep the mouth closed until the cat swallows.
