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Cat possession might be arduous typically. To our dismay, cats don’t discuss, and each animal has distinctive, particular person needs, wants, and preferences. Thank the feline gods we’ve got vets!
Catster’s vet crew got here collectively and put forth the 11 mindless cat proprietor sins to stipulate some issues that cat homeowners ought to by no means do, try, and even take into consideration doing. It doesn’t matter what social media or your neighborhood cat girl says! These acts are harmful and will trigger hurt to your cat or, in uncommon instances, result in loss of life.
Click on to skip forward:
First up, meet our crew of worldwide vets!
Dr. Paola Cuevas – Catster’s Senior In-house Veterinarian
Dr. Amanda Charles – Catster Veterinarian Editor
Dr. Karyn Kanowski – Catster Veterinarian Editor
Dr. Lorna Whittemore – Catster’s Senior Veterinarian Editor
Dr. Luqman Javed – Catster In-Home Veterinarian
Dr. Maja Platisa – Catster In-Home Veterinarian
Dr. Marta Vidal-Abarca- Catster In-Home Veterinarian
The 11 Mindless Cat Proprietor Sins
![Senseless Cat Owner Sins Infographic](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Catster_Senseless-Cat-Owner-Sins-Infographic.jpg)
![Senseless Cat Owner Sins Infographic](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Catster_Senseless-Cat-Owner-Sins-Infographic.jpg)
The 11 Mindless Cat Proprietor Sins With Safer Alternate options
1. NEVER give your cat any human or different pet drugs.
Giving medicines not prescribed to your cat by your veterinarian might be harmful and even lethal.
INSTEAD:
- Converse to your veterinarian in case your cat shouldn’t be properly.
- Solely use the medicines your vet prescribes for the cat’s specific well being situation.
- Comply with the dosage, frequency, and route of administration rigorously.
- Maja Platisa, DVM MRCVS CertAVP
![vet giving medicine to white kitten](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/vet-giving-medicine-to-white-kitten_Elnur_Shutterstock.jpg)
![vet giving medicine to white kitten](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/vet-giving-medicine-to-white-kitten_Elnur_Shutterstock.jpg)
2. NEVER clip your cat’s enamel
Clipping a cat’s enamel shouldn’t be the identical as trimming their claws. Clipping enamel could cause everlasting injury and be very painful for them.
INSTEAD:
- If you’re involved about your kitten’s enamel being misaligned, go to your veterinarian, who will assess their enamel and provides skilled recommendation and assist.
- In case your cat is biting, get a check-up together with your vet to rule out well being issues, they usually can direct you to a professional behaviorist.
- Lorna Whittemore, BVMS, MRCVS, GPcertFELP
3. NEVER let your cat have entry to lilies
Lilies, amongst different vegetation, are poisonous to cats. Cats are curious and may chew on this plant in case you have it in your house.
INSTEAD:
- Analysis cat-safe vegetation and flowers to brighten up your own home and backyard.
- Know that every one elements of lilies, together with the pollen and vase water, are poisonous to cats.
- Contact your vet instantly in case your cat has eaten or come into contact with lilies.
- Amanda Charles, BVSc MRCVS GPcertDerm
4. NEVER make your cat go vegan or vegetarian
Notice that cats are obligate carnivores, and you will need to cater to their dietary wants. Feeding them a vegan or vegetarian eating regimen is unhealthy and places their life in danger.
INSTEAD:
- Undertake a herbivorous pet in case you’re eager on having a pet that follows such a dietary restriction.
- Contact your veterinarian for extra details about your cat’s dietary wants and acceptable meals for them.
5. NEVER play tough together with your kitten
It is likely to be cute once they’re little, but it surely teaches them that scratching and biting is okay. Plus, you might be a lot bigger than a kitten, so you can damage them.
INSTEAD:
- Refill on chaser toys, interactive toys, and wand-type toys.
- Two is healthier than one! Two kittens will get all their tough play, skirmishes, and mock preventing out of their system with one another, leaving cuddle time for you.
- In case your cat begins to play tough with you, simply stand up and stroll away.
- Karyn Kanowski, MRCVS, BVSc, BSc (Zoology)
![kitten looking up](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/kitten-looking-up_Kyryk-Ivan_Shutterstock.jpg)
![kitten looking up](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/kitten-looking-up_Kyryk-Ivan_Shutterstock.jpg)
6. NEVER gown your cat in costumes
It would make a terrific picture, however with only a few exceptions, they hate it and can resent you. Some costumes is likely to be uncomfortable for them.
INSTEAD:
- Use Photoshop so as to add some flare to a photograph.
- Create enjoyable props and dioramas for them to play in and get naturally posed reminiscences.
- Karyn Kanowski, MRCVS, BVSc, BSc (Zoology)
7. NEVER place your cat in a service you haven’t correctly checked
The danger of your cat working away or getting misplaced may be very excessive. This situation can be a nightmare for each you and your cat.
INSTEAD:
- Earlier than utilizing the service, test that the zippers work and all locks are in place.
- Examine that the lid and the bottom of the service match correctly.
- Buy a service that’s secure and match on your cat.
- Marta Vidal-Abarca, BVSc MRCVS GPCertOphthal
![woman holding a pet carrier](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/woman-holding-a-pet-carrier_NDanko_Shutterstock.jpg)
![woman holding a pet carrier](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/woman-holding-a-pet-carrier_NDanko_Shutterstock.jpg)
8. NEVER ignore your cat’s change of their urinating habits
Regardless of how refined, adjustments in urination might imply well being points.
INSTEAD:
- Watch your cat carefully in case you discover any abnormality round their toileting habits, similar to not utilizing the litter field in any respect, frequent journeys to the litter field, spending extra time than traditional of their litter field, urinating small quantities, or vocalizing whereas urinating.
- Be acquainted with your cat’s routine and understand how they present indicators of sickness.
- Contact your veterinarian once you discover any adjustments of their toileting habits.
- Marta Vidal-Abarca, BVSc MRCVS GPCertOphthal
9. NEVER feed your cat ONLY dry meals
Hydration is extraordinarily necessary for cats, and an solely dry meals eating regimen doesn’t supply sufficient moisture to assist them be wholesome.
INSTEAD:
- Supply your cat a moisture-rich eating regimen, similar to an entire and balanced contemporary or moist meals eating regimen. In case your cat prefers dry meals, supply not less than a 50/50 combine.
- Guarantee your cat’s eating regimen has sufficient proteins and moisture to imitate their pure meals.
- Supply your cat a water fountain and take into consideration inventive methods to entice them to ingest sufficient water.
- Paola Cuevas, MVZ, Behaviorist
![cat eating food from feeding bowl](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cat-eating-food-from-feeding-bowl_TarasBeletskiy_Shutterstock.jpg)
![cat eating food from feeding bowl](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cat-eating-food-from-feeding-bowl_TarasBeletskiy_Shutterstock.jpg)
10. NEVER put your cat on a sudden excessive calorie-restricted eating regimen
Limiting your cat’s caloric consumption in a single day might be very harmful. Cats can develop hepatic lipidosis, referred to as fatty liver syndrome.
INSTEAD:
- In case your cat must drop pounds, begin by lowering solely 10% to twenty% of their day by day calorie consumption. Weight in and recalculate each couple of weeks.
- A sluggish however constant eating regimen plan is most well-liked. Get your veterinarian concerned.
- Feed a wholesome, balanced eating regimen and improve your cat’s bodily exercise with day by day interactions.
- Paola Cuevas, MVZ, Behaviorist
11. NEVER depart your hair ties round the home
Ingestion of hair ties is a standard incidence in playful cats. Unaware cat homeowners normally solely discover out after emergency surgical procedure.
INSTEAD:
- Maintain your hair ties secure and away from the attain of your cats.
- If you happen to purchase a packet of hair ties, please solely use separately so you don’t depart it round the home the place your cat can seize it.
- By no means enable your cat to play with them or objects which are small and stringy, which they will ingest.
- Paola Cuevas, MVZ, Behaviorist
![bows, scrunchies, and headbands organized in a drawer](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bows-scrunchies-and-headbands-organized-in-a-drawer_Charise-Wilson_Shutterstock.jpg)
![bows, scrunchies, and headbands organized in a drawer](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bows-scrunchies-and-headbands-organized-in-a-drawer_Charise-Wilson_Shutterstock.jpg)
![cat paw divider](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cats-1-1.png)
Summing It All Up
Accountable pet homeowners by no means need to put their pets at risk deliberately. And a few of these sins can appear innocent—however that’s removed from the reality. Our vet crew hopes they’ve make clear some practices that folks may do to or with their pets, whether or not it entails their eating regimen, security across the dwelling, or enjoying with them. Now that you recognize about these sins, you may take steps to keep away from them.
Featured Picture Credit score: masary78, Shutterstock
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