September is cat month. And while not everyone has room in their lives for a cat, they are versatile creatures that can be great companions (when they deem you worthy) and superb mousers (when they’re motivated). The folks in our pet department put together some cat essentials, whether you’re looking for an outdoor feline or one that spends most days inside.
Cats Have Very Few Needs
Those needs include food, water, places to sleep, places to scratch, and a place to do their business. That means a litter box and litter if they’ll be inside a majority of the time.
- Food (high-quality wet and dry food)
- When you’re picking up a bag of food, look for meat as one of the main ingredients.
- Dishware
- Litter box (one per indoor cat) and litter
- Scratching post
Keep Tabs on Your Tabby
Whether your cat lives a sheltered indoor life or wanders the great outdoors removing mice and other rodents from your property, microchips are a good idea. Known as chipping, the process involves a hypodermic needle and a small microchip enclosed in a rice-sized glass cylinder. That small chip is painlessly injected between the shoulder blades.
Once installed by your veterinarian, the chip contains a unique identification number that is registered with a nationwide database at petmicrochiplookup.org. That number can be used to reunite you with your pet, should they show up at a pound or other cat facility.
Keep Your Cat Healthy
Vaccines are vital for any animal, cats included. Talk to your vet about proper vaccinations. While you’re at the vet, ask about flea and tick control options, as well. This is especially important for outdoor cats that come across parasites regularly.
Get Your Cat Fixed
Spaying (female cats) or neutering (male cats) at around 5-months cuts down on the unwanted pet population, can add to the health and happiness of your pet, and keep you from working to find homes for a litter of kittens.
Coastal Likes Cats
Cats are a wonderful addition to any family home. Your West Coast-owned and operated Coastal has all of the food, toys, feeders, beds, crates, collars, medication, and expert advice you need to keep your feline friend happy and healthy for years to come.