Taking Care of Your Feline

Caring for a cat comes with a lot of responsibility because you have to provide her with everything she needs to live a healthy and happy life. You'll need to give your new feline friend food, water, a litter box, shelter, environmental enrichment, medical care and plenty of love and affection. Fortunately, the love and companionship you'll get in return make it all worth it.

Give the Cat Litter Boxes
Provide your cat with her own litter box and at least one additional box. In multiple-cat households, have one litter box more than the number of cats. Place the boxes in quiet locations, away from noisy appliances and high-traffic areas. Have at least one litter box on each floor of your home. Use clumping litter and scoop the boxes daily. Doing so keeps the stink down and limits risk of infection.

Provide Fresh Food and Water
Provide each cat with her own food and water dishes, accessible to her at all times. Place them away from her litter box. Feed dry kibble, canned food or a combination of both, one to two times per day. Commercially prepared cat food diets are nutritionally balanced for cats. Follow the feeding recommendations provided on the label of the food you choose so you don't underfeed or overfeed your kitty. The average cat needs about a quarter-cup of dry cat food per day for each 5 pounds of weight, according to the petMD website. Don't forget to change your cat's water a few times daily so that it's fresh and clean.

Visit the Vet Regularly
Bring your cat to the vet at least once per year to make sure she's healthy. Senior cats, 7 years old or older, may need two visits each year. During the visit, your vet will give your cat any necessary vaccinations, check your cat's weight, give her a full physical exam and possibly take blood, urine or fecal samples. In addition to her normal checkups, any time your cat appears ill, lethargic or otherwise unhealthy, get her to the vet right away for an exam.

Groom Your Cat Regularly
Brush your cat's coat daily to prevent her from developing hairballs, improve her skin and coat and keep her coat free of mats. Long-haired breeds may require longer grooming sessions and even the occasional professional trim near the hindquarters. While most cats groom themselves, if you need to bathe your kitty, do so with a cat-safe shampoo and warm water, or schedule a session with a professional groomer. Check her nails weekly and have them trimmed when necessary -- it's a good idea for indoors cats, despite that they sharpen them on everything in sight.

Provide Plenty of Human-Cat Interaction and Exercise
Spend time with your cat daily, letting her snuggle near you in a comfy cat bed. Interact with her using laser cat toys and feather cat wand toys to exercise her. Exercise is necessary to keep your cat physically active and prevent her from becoming obese. Provide her with plenty of da bird cat toys to keep her busy during the day and even when you're at home. The toys will help keep her active and prevent boredom.

Keep Your Cat Indoors
Keep your kitty inside and provide her with scratching posts, cat trees and a window perch or screened enclosure to enrich her environment. Indoor-only cats live longer than those allowed to go outside, according to the Humane Society of the United States. To expose your cat to the outside safely, take her for walks on a leash.