First-Time Cat Owner Guide for India: Everything You Need to Know

Here’s a thorough guide to being a first-time cat owner in India․

So you have decided to share your home with a cat. Good choice. Cats are quiet and sufficiently clean for flat living, and they'll run your house with the calm authority of one who pays no rent.

If this is your first kitten/cat in India, there is the question of which vet to trust and how to keep a soft creature comfortable when the heat of summer hits Chennai. This is what actually matters in an Indian home․

Before bringing home your new cat, you should have all supplies ready, including a litter box and litter, cat food and water bowls, a scratching post and a special place. Cats are territorial so it can take them a while to feel comfortable when they're introduced to a new environment. It is better to keep the cat confined to a small room for a few days than to let it have the run of the house․

If you're adopting a street or rescued Indian street cat (as you should), be patient. Indian street cats are tough and affectionate once they know you; they take time to warm up to people.

This step is where new pet parents stumble most․ Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they require meat protein to survive․ But they will not do well on a vegetarian diet, however much the family might prefer.

Don't feed your cat rice or milk from home. Cow's milk usually gives adult cats an upset stomach. Good quality wet or dry cat food with appropriately Balanced nutrition may be all the nutrition the cat needs, but many Indian owners feed packaged food mixed with boiled chicken or fish, and this seems to work well too. Always have fresh water available. Cats notoriously aren't good at drinking enough so go on to suffer from kidney and urinary problems.

Cats come almost pre-trained to use a litter box, which is one of the most valuable gifts of cat ownership. Just put it in a private place away from their food. Scoop it daily. Cats are fussy about cleanliness, and a dirty box is the single most common reason a cat starts going elsewhere in the house. The general rule is to have one litter box for each cat, plus one spare.

Seek a good veterinarian and take your kittens in for‌ regular examinations. Vaccinations against panleukopenia and respiratory viruses, usually given at 6-8 weeks, are repeated every three to four weeks until the kittens are 16 weeks old. Vaccines for rabies are given‌ at three months of age and annually thereafter. Deworming is especially important, as the climate is favourable to parasites.

Get your cat spayed‌ or neutered. There are many reasons‌ to do this. It will reduce spraying, roaming‌ and yowling, lower the risk of developing cancer of the ovaries and womb and will give you a calmer and healthier companion. It is one of the‌ kindest things you can do.

Heat is‌ the big one․ While cats are generally better at heat than dogs, most‌ Indian cities in the summer afternoons have extreme temperature spikes. Keep them indoors during the hottest hours‚ provide shade and good airflow‚‌ and ensure access to a bowl of fresh water at all times․

In humid coastal cities, fungal‌ skin infections and ear infections can be an issue, often with noticeable scratching, redness or a foul smell, requiring a vet's attention rather than a home remedy. Fleas and ticks‌ are a year-round concern․ Ask your vet for a product that‌ is safe for use on cats only․ Never use a product intended for dogs on a cat; ingredients intended for use on dogs can have serious side‌ effects in cats․

Cats groom themselves obsessively, but they can use your help. Weekly brushing reduces shedding and hairballs. Long-haired breeds should be brushed more often to avoid painful mats, but brushing is a good time to perform spot checks for lumps, scratches, or parasites. Almost all cats adapt to brushing and grow to love it. Clip your cat's nails every couple weeks, avoiding the pink quick, and give them a scratching post if you want your couch to be left alone.

The most significant adjustment for a first-time cat owner is that a cat will not behave like a small dog, will not come when called, and will not greet you at the front door. Instead, there are subtler ways in which cats show their love. A slow blink․ A warm weight on your lap․ A headbutt against your hand․ Learn to read those signals and you will find one of the most rewarding relationships a pet can offer․

Yes, and most Indian cats are usually better off indoors. Be sure to net your balconies and grilles before getting the cat.

The prominent exception is if the recipe is balanced by a veterinarian. The body requires taurine, lacking in most home-prepared foods. A deficiency causes heart and eye disease.

Two settle faster and keep each other entertained, which saves your furniture. If you're out all day, two is the kinder choice.