Cats are sweet, cuddly, and cute. However, as I know very well, cats can be a challenge to care for, especially if your cats are indoors all the time. Our little feline buddies are hunters by nature, and they bore easily. Therefore, they tend to be needy and curious.
That can often be an issue, especially when it is your curtain they get a wild hair to scale just to stare you down from the top. To understand a cat’s basic needs is not always so easy. However, it is vital that you do so.
Once you ace kitty 101, you can enjoy raising a healthy pet, and the two of you can live in harmony. Feeding your kitty the best canned cat food for indoor cats is the starting point.
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In this article, I am going to talk about kittens, indoor cats, older cats and the best food for your cat and much more.
Contents
Worst Mistakes Made by New Owners
Adopting your first kitten or cat is a huge step and one not to take lightly. While cats have the reputation of being independent by nature, that does not mean your new feline friend does not require care. Before you commit to buying that expensive pure-bred you found, take the time to do your homework on understanding cats and their behavoirs.
Gaining this knowledge will help you understand common mistakes made by both new and experienced owners. You need this understanding to live a happy and healthier companionship with a living being in your home.
We got our second cat to give our other cat something to play with and have as a buddy. Most of the time it works, but there are times they fight until one walks away or chase through the entire house becomes boring. By the way, be sure to check your local animal shelter if you are considering a pet. Here is the local shelter in my city.
Buying in Haste
When you buy an outfit or a purse in hast, most often you can return it if it turns out to be the wrong fit or color. No harm, no foul; neither will suffer from the rejection. However, when you choose to adopt a living, emotional animal such as a kitten or an older cat to join your family, this is an entirely different situation.
Adopting a new kitten or cat should never mean anything less than for keeps. Therefore you should think wisely of the commitment you are making if you bring one home to join your family. If you are adopting a cat because your young children promise they will help take care of it, that will not happen.
You should just turn around and leave the cat there. That may all sound like fun to a young child until it is time to clean the litter box. Suddenly-that promise is out the door, and it is your job now.
The Cost to Care for a Cat is Not Considered
When you adopt a cat, it is similar to adopting a child. No reputable or responsible agency would release something as precious as a child to someone who did not have the financial means to provide the best care.
Not all shelters or feline adoption groups have the means to conduct such investigations. The Shelter here where I live has you wait up to three days if you are a renter before you can have the cat. They check with the landlord to verify you have their permission to have pets.
Whatever the circumstance is, you owe it to your kitten or cat to take proper care of her basic needs as well as being responsible enough to prepare for emergencies.
Failure to Neuter or Spay
Every day I talk to people or read in group chats where an individual is in dire need of someone to take new kittens from his or her hands. Of course, that happened because the pet owner failed to neuter or spay their adult cat and it got outside.
Alternatively, they have a male cat that is now spraying on everything in the house or getting injured by going out and fighting with other males. Female cats during estrus are loud and can make a household very uncomfortable with their yowling.
Can you afford or want an entire litter of kittens? Some vets give discounts on these services. Do you and your pet a favor, make an appointment and neuter or spay asap.
Neglecting Necessary Vet Treatment
Although your cat may recover from minor illnesses, she may just as fast die if there is an unrecognized emergency. Cats need vaccinations, annual exams, and most importantly immediate care if they become injured or sick. Ask around to find a good, reputable vet in your area.
You Must Keep Cat’s Life Interesting
Your indoor cats that share your home have a life that is monotonous and humdrum. Therefore it is our job to keep them, and their naughty side occupied as much as our schedules allow. I do not know about your indoor cats, but, mine is very demanding of my time and attention.
Where we make mistakes is thinking that cats are “low-maintenance.” Thinking in this manner leads to kittens and cats stressed and bored. That leads to an epidemic of obesity and stress-associated diseases such a urinary tract infection.
Felines need interactive playtime that satisfies their natural hunting instincts while keeping them active. What this means for us cat owners is that we need to have a variety of exciting toys and plenty of one-on-one time to assist in keeping her slim and not pudgy.
My two cats love when we get the laser toys out. That is fun to them, and they are exercising while playing chase. Also, get a few of those toys that dangle from a pole. These toys offer hours of playtime for my two cats.
By the way, I have two cats. My oldest is 1 ½ years old while the baby is seven months old. I rescued the oldest from the shelter, and the baby is a story of her own. She was supposed to be human and food trained. However, it only took one second for her to attack me for me to see she was feral.
Give Them Their Own Space
While cats are often playful and mischievous, they want a little space for “me time.” I understand it is not possible to give your little feline friends a whole room, but, try to find an area that your cat can make his or her home.
In this space should be maybe a bed, food, water, a scratching post or two, and their litter box. Let’s talk about litter boxes. The location you choose to place a litter box is crucial. You want a place far enough away that you can avoid the smell.
However, if you seclude it too far away, your cat may very well stop using it. Also, if you choose an area that is noisy (washroom) or dark and scary to your cat like a basement, they just may avoid going there. I am terrified of my basement, so I get it.
Felines will not eat where their litter box is. You need to find a different area for his or her food and water. Pay attention to their poop while scooping. A litter box use or sometime non-use will help you know if there is something wrong, especially with older cats.
Signs to look for that may need medical attention are several trips to the little box but barely pees or if you find blood. Also, if you hear her make odd sounds or meows while in the litterbox, a trip to the vet needs to happen. That could be signs that he is suffering from kidney disease and needs urinary health checkups.
What Litter Works the Best?
With so many options of litter on the market, it is difficult to determine which brand and what type to buy for your cat. It is a formidable task I dread. Non-clumping or clumping? Clay or Silica? Scented? It is a total nightmare choosing the litter for your cat and you. Trust me; I know this struggle well.
Most importantly, keep in mind that your cat will have a huge say so in this matter. Cats have their own personal preference. Their litter of choice could stem from having sensitive claws, something they learned during kitty hood, or they just prefer a particular type.
Why your cat or kitten prefers one type of litter versus another, you may never know. However, what is most important is that it does not matter as long as he faithfully uses the litter box. It is important that she be comfortable otherwise she may reject the box altogether.
Non-clumping vs. Clumping
The most prominent characteristic of cat litter is if it clumps with liquids or not. There is a substance added to clumping litter called bentonite. That substance is what absorbs the urine and leaves you a solid clump to remove.
Once you scoop the clump out, along with the feces, the remaining litter is supposed to be dry and clean. I have bought clumping litter before that the latter is not necessarily true. That is why it is important to pay a little more to get the good stuff rather than pinching pennies and having a smelly home.
With non-clumping litter such as this Fresh Start product, the urine sifts through the litter while absorbing some of the smell through additives such as charcoal and baking soda. I put baking soda in my cat’s litter boxes no matter what type of litter I buy. I do use Clumping because it is much easier and I can control the smell better.
The only manner of cleaning the urine from the litter box with non-clumping is to change the entire box, typically once weekly. Some of the non-clumping products have silica crystals. These crystals are something resembling the ones in desiccants which are in those little packs you see in boxes or a product requiring freshness.
Their job is to absorb the urine faster than what clay would. That allows the water to evaporate slowly while keeping the stinky stuff inside them.
Poor Choices in Cat Food
Saving money by feeding your cat cheap food will be spent many times over on vet bills. Cats are obligate carnivores by nature and need a healthy source of meat protein. They do not, however, require large amounts of grain fillers, especially corn.
Proper food is so necessary to do diabetic cats and hyperthyroid cats. These illnesses are real, and they can kill your cat if not treated both medically and through their nutrition. Keep watch for weight loss as well.
If you cat starts slimming up for no logical reason, she could be suffering from digestive problems or sensitive stomach issues that will require proper medical attention and a healthy diet. If you notice your cat is not eating as much, try offering her a different flavor just to see if she is tired of the same taste or if there may be an underlying issue.
You can tell a lot about your cat buy his eating habits and litter box routine. Other than keeping vet checkups up-to-date, her diet is the next most important part of her life. Food choices need to offer the nutrition and the supplements she needs to maintain her health.
The following are the top five best-canned cat food for indoor cats. Be smart for you and your cat when choosing her food.
Buying the Best Canned Cat Food for Indoor Cats
So, how do you decide which canned food to feed your cat? That is a million dollar question with so many on the market today. Mine will eat one kind and one kind only. Lucky for both my cats and me, it is a good product.
Purina Pro Plan | - 3-Ounce - Real Chicken - Great Taste | |
Purina Fancy Feast Classic Feast | - 3 oz. Cans (24 pack) - High-quality beef - Vitamins and minerals | |
Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers | - 3 oz. Cans (24-Pack) - Vitamins and minerals - For adult cats | |
Purina Fancy Feast Classic Pate Feast | - (24) 3 oz. Cans - Made with real milk - High-quality | |
Purina Friskies Prime Filets Turkey Dinner | - (24) 5.5 oz. Cans - Real turkey - Balanced nutrition |
Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Urinary Tract Health Formula Adult Wet Cat Food
When it comes to animals, there is no bigger name than Purina. The Pro Plan Adult Urinary Tract Health Formula has real chicken which cats love to eat. The canned food product has a unique formula to help support cats urinary tract system.
Pro plan also boosts her digestive system, immune system, and coat and skin systems. The product meets all essential nutritional and energy needs of a healthy cat. For more information and special deals, be sure to read more about the product here:
Purina Fancy Feast Classic Feast Wet Cat Food
I cannot speak highly enough about the Purina Fancy Feast Wet Cat Food. My cats prefer the chicken flavor against the others. Here is a 24-3 oz. can deal on Amazon from Purina for their Classic Tender Beef flavor. Most cats gobble this flavor up.
That is a great thing being it provides 100 percent complete and balanced nutrition from the highest quality of beef providing cats with flavor they love. Even older cats with sensitive mouths can eat this thanks to its Pate’ recipe offering soft textures that your cat will love. Fancy Feast always provides all the essential vitamin and mineral that help support your feline’s health.
Go here for more info and how to order case deals from Amazon, the e-commerce you can always trust.
Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Wet Cat Food
It does not surprise me that the Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers is on this list. Once again, Purina goes above beyond and beyond providing cat owners with prime choices such as this Gravy Lovers for feeding your cat while providing all the nutrients she needs.
Again, this product is a chicken flavor. However, there are others to choose from if your cat prefers a different taste. These are:
- Salmon and Sole
- Turkey
- Ocean White Fish
- Tuna
- Chicken and Beef
- Chicken Hearts and Liver
Here is a wet food with rich, thick gravy that adds moisture and flavors that cats love. The chicken flavor is a top seller in the Purina Fancy Feast products due to its delicate small bites that provide a soft texture. Your cat will get all the essential mineral and vitamins she needs to help take care of her overall health and wellness.
Go here for more nutritional information for this product as well as the other flavors from Purina. Once again, Amazon is an online seller you can always trust.
Purina Fancy Feast Classic Pate Feast Wet Kitten Food
Kittens are special and unique. For that reason, they need exceptional wet food. Purina Fancy Feast Classic Pate Wet Kitten Food is just what your new kitten needs. This flavor, Ocean Whitefish, made with milk, cats love to eat the second they hear that top open.
The decadent recipe is especially for kittens and will no doubt please her delicate palate thanks to its tender texture. The product comes in bulk of 24-3 oz. pull-top cans for easy access. Give your kitten the finer foods in life with Purina.
Here are more details about Purina Classic Pate for Kittens:
Purina Friskies Prime Filets Turkey Dinner in Gravy Adult Wet Food
Friskies has always been a name cat owner trust. Again, Purina is the champion with their Purina Friskies Prime Filets Turkey Dinner in Gravy Adult Wet Food. Older cats can be finicky when it comes to what they eat and how often.
You will not have this problem with this adult wet food selection for your cat. That is due to it offering real turkey and a taste your cat loves.
It has a healthy amount of rich gravy that adds moisture and flavor perfect for your older feline. If your cat has denture issues, the shredded chunks will be easy for her to eat thanks to its unique texture. It has all the nutrients and vitamins an older cat needs for immune support.
This offer comes in 24 3-oz cans from Amazon-the E-commerce dealer you can trust. Get more information on how to order right here.
Kittens and cats pretty much live in a world of their own. Moreover, what is theirs, such as you, is theirs and theirs only. They love attention on their terms, make messes, cause chaos, but offer companionship like no other animal. [more]
I love my cats with all of me, and it is my job to keep them healthy in all ways. Be sure you can take proper care of a kitten or cat if you are looking for one. When you do find the one just for your family, give her love, give her space, and give her the proper nutrition such as one of the trusted products listed in this blog.
As always, thank you for reading my work. It is appreciated more than you know. Let’s talk about our cats through the message section below. Tell me about your cat and what they enjoy. My cat’s names are Emma and Naomi, what are yours?
While you are here, please share my article and the others from our site on your social media pages. We need it, we welcome it, and we appreciate it. Thanks, Malissa