Tips for the First 30 Days of Cat Adoption

Warmer weather brings kitten season, which is why The American Humane Association has designated June as Adopt-A-Cat-Month. Thousands of cats and kittens will be looking for a forever home not only for the month of June, but all year long. Start off on the right foot by being well-prepared for your furry new arrival by avoiding the rocky adjustment period and getting right down to the lovin'!

Make sure everyone in the house is prepared for a new cat. Visiting the shelter or animal control facility should be a family affair.  When adopting a new cat to join your existing pets, discuss with the adoption facility or your veterinarian how to make a proper introduction.

Spend time with a few kitties to determine which will be a good fit.  Ask to take the cat or kitten out of its cage and find an area at the shelter where you can spend some time with her.  Remember that animals in shelters can be nervous around new noises and smells so be prepared for the cat to take a little while to warm up to you.  Although, some cats are so friendly that they may begin bonding with you the moment they meet you!  Spending time petting and talking to the cat or kitten should give you insight into its personality to help you decide if it’s a good fit. 

Stock up on supplies before the cat arrives.  Try to create a “homelike” environment for your new cat right away.  You’ll need: a litter box, litter, food, treats and water bowls,  scratching posts, safe and stimulating toys, a cushy bed, a brush for grooming, a toothbrush, and nail clippers.

Kitten-proof Your Home. Kittens can get tangled or choked by anything swinging or hanging.  Keep your new pet safe by securely anchoring drape or blind cords out of reach. To prevent chewing on electric and phone cords, bundle them with a cord manager and fasten away from kittens' reach.  Rubber bands, jewelry, Christmas decorations, balloons and other small items are dangerous to kittens that may swallow them.  Remove poisonous plants and roach or ant traps and make sure the toilet lid is down.  Keep kitchen and bathroom cabinets closed so your kitten doesn't encounter bleach, detergent, dental floss and other household items when exploring.  In the laundry area, keep washer and dryer doors closed: A kitten may climb into a warm dryer for a nap.  Remember, if something would be harmful for a toddler, it's potentially harmful for your kitten.

Do see a vet ASAP.  Kittens seem indestructible, but can get sick easily.  A vet’s early diagnosis improves the chances of a speedy recovery.  Screening tests, preventive care,  vaccinations, flea prevention and worm medications, save lives and ensure that your kitten grows to healthy adulthood.

Slowly Introduce Other Family Members.  Everyone in the family will be anxious to get to know the new cat but she may not be ready to have several unfamiliar people crowded in her sanctuary room (a room you designate as her safe zone before letting her free into the rest of the house).  Do individual introductions slowly and see how she responds.  If she’s hiding and seems nervous, back off and let her gain confidence in her new surroundings.  There will be plenty of time later to make formal introductions.

Have you recently introduced a newly adopted cat or kitten into your home? Tell us about it @fetchpetcare

Things to Consider Before Adopting a Cat

This August Fetch! Pet Care is dedicating the month to rescue cats and cat adoption. It seems only fit that our fun feline friends have the whole month to themselves! There are millions of cats in shelters waiting to find a happy home. Adopting a cat is a big responsibility but with careful planning you can do it! Here are some things to consider to determine if you’re ready to add a kitty to your family.

First, make sure your home is cat friendly. If you rent your home or apartment, the first thing you need to do is see if you are permitted to have animals in the building. Going against your lease agreement can be a big headache! If your lease agreement does not allow for pets, you might call your landlord and see if they are flexible on the issue. Also, decide if you have room for a cat. While cats need less space than dogs, they still need their own area. Decide where you would put the cat’s litter box, and have his own play area once he arrives.

The second thing to consider is the other people in your home. Talk with your family or roommates and see how they feel about having a cat. Do they have any allergies, or other concerns? Don’t forget the other animals in your family too! If you have other pets it’s important to know how they will react to having a new brother or sister. Does your pet do well around others? When other pets are involved it may be a good idea to set up a trial visit, so you can gauge how both animals will get along. Animals are very in-tune with emotions, so it’s important to make sure you will be bringing your cat into a welcoming and loving home.

The third thing to consider is if your current lifestyle permits the time and money associated with caring for a cat. Be honest: are you constantly on the go, does your other pet require all of your attention? Not all cats are the same; research different breeds to see which would best suit your lifestyle. If you’re busy, roommates and family members can be a great resource for co-parenting too!

Your cat will also come with some added monthly expenditures. Put together a basic budget of what your cat will cost you per month. Make sure to include: food, toys, possible medical expenses, and other kitty services, like a Fetch! Pet Care cat sitter who can provide daily, or cat visits and playtime exercise. Be honest about what you can afford so you are prepared and your kitty will be well cared for.

Lastly, consider where you want to get a cat from. Remember, there are way too many cats in rescue and adoption shelters who need a home. Consider these sources first and help to change a furry one’s life for the better.

If having a pet is new for you, it’s a great idea to watch a friend’s pet for a while, so you know what to expect when you have your own. Your new cat will give you tons of unconditional love, attention and laughs! All of the responsibilities are well worth it and remember Fetch! Pet Care is always here to cover your tailand has your tail covered!

How to Help your Cat Lose Weight

Historically, before the advent of commercial pet foods, cats were sleek, agile, athletic and active felines. In contrast, most of today’s cats are disturbingly overweight, and many are dangerously obese. Risk factors include diabetes, cancer, hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver), arthritis, low energy, and rectal contamination from the inability of the cat to clean itself.

When you place your palm against your cat’s rib cage, you should be able to feel ribs readily. If you cannot feel ribs even when you rub your fingers back and forth along the rib cage, your cat is likely over the weight limit.

There could be many reasons for your cat’s weight gain, but there are also many solutions to get your feline back in shape.

The first thing that you should do before trying to get your pet to exercise is to take them to the vet. If they are overly skinny or overweight they may have health issues, ranging from a simple cold to a thyroid condition. Your vet can fully assess your cat, as well as recommend the level of exercise they need based on their current weight, age, breed and general disposition.

After your cat is assessed it’s time for the exercise to begin. A good way to get your pet actively moving is to play with them regularly. Find your cat a good toy that they enjoy, and make them chase it. You can use a simple piece of string, a small ball, or even a laser pointer. It’s fun for the whole family, and a lot of good laughs to watch your cat move like a playful kitten again! Like humans, cats require daily exercise, so a good 15-20 minute exercise routine once or twice a day should produce great results. If you don’t have the time, consider hiring a professional in-home pet sitter to provide daily exercise instead.

Cats are very similar to humans and dogs in the way that they need to get fit over time. An unhealthy cat is not immediately going to be ready to have a hard workout, but instead needs to be eased into their exercise routine. Start with a small amount of exercise, and then over time ease them into a longer, more active routine.

Another important aspect of keeping your cat’s weight down is feeding them healthy food. Many cats gain weight from being overfed, or by eating foods that are high in carbohydrates. Look for high protein foods that are low in carbohydrates and contain natural or organic ingredients. Ideal cat foods are grain-free with no fillers, with no rendered meats, no animal or plant meals, and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

Also, be sure not to exceed the recommended daily amount of food your vet prescribes for your pet. Even those little snacks add up, so consider giving them a little love and affection instead. If your cats are normally permitted to go outdoors, you may need to keep them inside more often to reduce their time grazing at the neighbor’s or hunting for birds and rodents.

If you have more than one cat you may need to feed them separately, especially if one of your cats often tries to eat the other cat’s food. Try keeping the cats in separate feeding rooms, which should help greatly in solving your pet’s weight problem.

You may think that your kitty’s weight is not that big of a problem but, if you notice that your cat is getting a bit heavier, it is good to try and get them to lean sooner than later so that your cat can be healthy and live a long fruitful life.

Helping Your Pet Lose Weight

Helping your pet to lose weight can sometimes be a challenging task, especially if you or your pet has bad eating or exercising habits. Over half of the pets in America are classified as overweight, and solving this dilemma can seem out of our reach sometimes.

But not addressing the issue is dangerous to pets, and more time consuming and costly to pet owners in the long run. Overweight pets have an increased incidence of fatigue, arthritis, torn ligaments, spinal disc problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and reduced liver function, just to name a few.

A great indicator of whether your pet is overweight is to feel their ribcage, although this does vary somewhat for each dog and cat breed. If you can feel your pets ribs that’s a good sign, but if the ribs are very pronounced that could mean that your pet is underweight. If you can’t feel your pet’s ribs that means they are most likely overweight.

No matter what the problem, it’s much better to see a professional then to try diagnosing the problem yourself. Your local vet can help you come up with a new plan for helping your pet lose weight, and can also tell you, depending on the age and breed of your pet, a good target weight. It’s also a good idea to always consult your vet before you change your pet’s exercise routine.

There are a few good tips to get you started on helping your pet to slim up. One easy way to prevent your pet from gaining, or to help your pet lose weight is to switch to a healthy weight management food. Make sure that the food that you are buying has lots of healthy, natural ingredients in it, typically marketed as premium or organic pet food. Avoid foods with fillers, additives and preservatives. Healthy pet foods may be more expensive, but they provide your pet with the energy and nutrition that they need and deserve.

Another easy way to help your pet lose a few pounds is to cut back on treats, or eliminate them altogether. Although it is nice to reward your dog or cat with a treat from time to time, many treats can be detrimental to your pet’s health. You could also switch over to a healthier premium or organic pet treat, or a different non-food reward system altogether.

The most important thing for your pet when you’re trying to help them lose weight is daily exercise. If you have a dog, try to walk them at least three times a day, or hire a professional dogwalker to take over if you simply don’t have the time. Regular leashed walks at a fast pace, or off-leash play at the local dog park, will help your dog to burn off those extra calories and excess energy. The key thing is to set a routine to get daily dog exercise for your pooch.

If you have a cat, try to get them out of the house regularly if they are an indoor/outdoor cat. If they are indoor only cats, a cat toy, a simple piece of string, or a laser pointer should get them up and moving. Two to three times a day of active play for 5-10 minutes should give cats the exercise they need. If you don’t have time to do this, hiring a professional pet sitter may be a great option. A simpler way to deal with your pet’s weight problem is to think about it like it was your own. A pet gets healthy just like a human does. If you help your pet eat healthier foods, and ensure a good exercise routine your pet will be fit and in tip top shape in no time.