Cats make affectionate and playful pets, but to help them live the happiest of feline lives, it’s important to have a good understanding of their needs.
Apart from the obvious, toys and space to play, most cats will want regular interaction with people and other animals too (despite what all the cat memes say!). Your cat will also need access to clean water, a meat-based diet and regular grooming; not to mention their own litter tray (which should be replaced at the very least once a week). Here are our top tips on caring for a pet cat:
A Balanced Diet
No matter the size, age or breed of your cat, it’s important they receive key nutrients every day from their food. We have an extensive range of cat food available in store, but for the time being we’d like to shine the spotlight on Applaws, Arden Grange, Fish4Cats, Harringtons and Royal Canin:
- Applaws canned wet food features over 20 great tasting recipes with specific varieties created to meet every stage of your cat’s life.
- Arden Grange kibble provide a complete dry food for cats that is naturally hypo-allergenic and grain free – perfect for cats with sensitivities.
- Fish4Cats Finest is a deliciously fishy range of premium wet cat food available in a huge variety of flavours. Rich in Omega 3 and with a highly digestible protein source, it makes a healthy and tasty meal!
- Harringtons dry kibble is carefully formulated to provide wholesome nutrition with no dairy, soya, added wheat or artificial colours or flavours.
- Royal Canin provides a nutritional range tailored to meet the needs of healthy cats of all sizes, ages and breeds. Plus, your cat will have the choice of Royal Canin complete dry kibble, or wet pouches in gravy, jelly or sauce.
A Game of Hide and Seek
Just like us, our cats need a combination of a varied diet and exercise to ultimately lead a well-balanced lifestyle. #RookesRecommends 30 minutes of exercise per day for cats (but some may need a little more convincing; especially if they are older or overweight).
In the wild, a cat’s exercise comes from hunting where they chase and pounce. The best way to recreate this behaviour at home is by playing with them. Obviously your cat isn’t going to hunt you, but they’ll no doubt enjoy a game of hide and seek where they can mimic the natural behaviour of pursuing prey.
Without regular exercise, cats can become bored, destructive, restless, withdrawn and even aggressive. But by playing with your cat every day, they’ll get the exercise they need in small spurts around the home… Simple, right? If you’re stuck for ideas then why not have some fun with toys such as the KONG tennis balls (they have bells inside them – your cat will be fascinated!), lasers, a toy wand for them to chase, or you could bring home the Rosewood Scratcher Double Tower from Rooke’s!
A Clean Cat is A Happy Cat
It’s best to start grooming your cat as early on in their life as possible as kittens are more accepting (it feels natural after being groomed by their mother). Handling your cat from a young age also gets them used to being touched, held and groomed throughout their life. You can train your older cat by starting to handle them more but, if you’re able to, it’ll be much easier to groom your feline friend from when they’re young.
#RookesRecommends working along the line of fur, brushing in the direction their coat grows. Brush all over your cat’s body, including their chest and abdomen, concentrating on one section at a time to remove dead hair and tangles. The Ancol Moulting Comb is especially effective for removing dead hair on cats with short fur, and the Ancol Ergo Slicker Brush is great for de-tangling knots to leave a glossy coat.
Regular grooming will help to remove loose hair, particularly when your cat is moulting. It will also lessen the amount of fur they ingest when grooming themselves (keeping the fur balls to a minimum!). For short-haired cats #RookesRecommend brushing them weekly, and 2 – 3 times a week for long-haired cats. If your cat squirms, keep the grooming sessions short, but regular. And before starting, make sure you have catnip, treats (Dreamies mix are very popular among our feline friends!), and toys in your arsenal to make the experience more enjoyable for you both!
Know your Boundaries
It’s easy to forget that under their warm, fuzzy and adorable exteriors cats are animals and, when they’re upset, they can bite, scratch, pounce and attack. You may have been in a situation with your cat where one moment they’re peacefully purring on your lap and the next they’re all claws and teeth! Believe it or not, this is normal behaviour for cats.
It’s also not unusual for your cat to creep up on you and playfully attack you (don’t be surprised to find your cat’s paw reaching out to grab you from under furniture as you walk by). Their pounce-like play is an extension of their predatory behaviour.
Even if your cat has been handled a lot from a young age, they can still become angry or frightened in certain situations which can make them aggressive. Maybe they don’t like being picked up by strangers or getting jabbed at the vets for their annual vaccination – can you blame them? That said, some cats won’t have any issues until it’s bath time! Every cat has their limits and you’re bound to find out what your cat’s are. Just remember, once your cat learns their aggression is successful at getting rid of a perceived threat, they’re more likely to do it again.
We have over 7,000 products in our High Street store (including those mentioned above), many of which your cat will love! From food and treats, litter trays and flea treatments, to collars, toys and grooming accessories, Rooke’s has got your Kitty care sorted! And, if you have any questions, our cat-friendly team are on hand to help, ensuring you find the right products for your cat.