The care

Outdoor possibilities

Cats aren't called pets for nothing. It's better to keep a cat indoors, and yes, some cats spend a lot of time outdoors, but it's strongly discouraged. Outside, all sorts of things can happen to your cat, such as being hit by a car, bitten by a dog, injured in a fight with another cat, contracting diseases, eating poisonous plants, and even being stolen. If you have a balcony or a garden, you can properly barricade both areas so your cat can't escape, or build a cat run in the garden with plenty of play, climbing, and scratching options. This way, your cat can be safe outdoors.

Litter box and supplies

When purchasing a litter box for your cat, it's important that it's large enough. This ensures your cat has enough room to move around and do its business properly. If you have two or more cats, get an extra litter box for each. One cat might not like using a litter box where others are doing their business. It's also possible your cat is a messy digger; in that case, don't use an open litter box, but a closed one. Now, you're wondering which litter should I buy? From my own experience, I find clumping litter to be the best! Specifically, tofu-based litter is best in my opinion; it absorbs odors and is also durable. Clumping litter allows you to easily scoop urine out of the litter box without it sinking to the bottom and getting your cat's paws wet. Make sure you scoop out the clumps of urine and feces daily, so your cat can eventually use a clean toilet again, which they'll appreciate. When you clean the litter box again, make sure there's at least six centimeters of litter in it, so there's plenty of room for digging.

It's important to know what constitutes urinary incontinence. This means your cat is no longer using the litter box but is relieving itself elsewhere. There are several reasons why your cat might do this. If your cat is picky and prefers its litter box in a specific location, or even has a preference for a particular litter, moving the litter box or using a different litter may cause your cat to eliminate elsewhere. Not scooping and cleaning the litter box often enough can also cause your cat to eliminate elsewhere. Stress and anxiety can also play a role, such as a move, a new cat, or other changes in the home. Urinary incontinence can also be a sign that your cat is ill or unwell. In this case, you should contact your veterinarian immediately before things get worse.

Power supply

As you know, there are many brands selling cat food, but which one is best for your cat? Every cat owner and cat has different preferences. Make sure the food your cat eats is of good quality. Cheap food isn't always better and often contains ingredients that aren't even good for your cat. Cats need high-quality proteins and fats because they are natural carnivores, so the best food for your cat is food that contains as much meat or fish as possible. You should also feed your cat raw meat, as it complements their natural diet and is also good for cleaning their teeth. Just make sure you do it correctly to prevent decay. Furthermore, some people don't know that cats can't eat milk, especially cow's milk, as it contains a high lactose content that most cats can't tolerate. If you want to give your cat milk, buy special milk with >0.1% lactose. But don't give it too often, as it contains a lot of sugar, which can be bad for their teeth.

When it's time to neuter or spay your cat, they're more likely to gain weight. It's important to feed your cat only as much as they need, and to encourage them to exercise more by buying attractive toys like hunting toys made from rabbit fur and bird feathers. Fat cats aren't cute, and this can have many negative consequences for their health, ultimately leading to illness. If you notice your cat gaining weight rapidly, contact your veterinarian, so they can determine whether it might be better to switch to a different diet.

Nail care

Cats generally take good care of their nails. If they have enough scratching posts available, they'll definitely stay off your furniture or other unwanted spots. Scratching on the scratching post grooms their nails and causes the cuticles to fall off, allowing the nail to grow back and become sharper. As an owner, I understand that sharp nails can sometimes be unpleasant. Trimming the tips with good nail clippers will certainly not harm your cat, and it's also beneficial for you as an owner. Be careful not to cut the pink part, as this is the living part where blood flows. If you accidentally cut it, it will certainly bleed, but I would recommend taking it to the vet to rule out any infection.

Ear care

Even though cats are very clean animals, it's always a good idea to clean your cat's ears once a week with special ear cleaning wipes or milk/lotion. Never insert a cotton swab into your cat's ear yourself, as this can only cause the dirt to penetrate deeper into the ear and eventually cause an infection. If you notice your cat's ears smelling and dark brown or black specks appear in the ear, this could be a sign of ear mites, and you should take your cat to the vet immediately to address the problem.

Eye care

Eye care is often unnecessary; if you see dirt in the corner of the eye, you can remove it with a cotton ball and boiled water or a special eye cleaner. Sometimes cats also suffer from tear stains, which are brown streaks around the eyes. Special eye cleaners are also available to reduce this.

Dental care

Most people find it strange, but my advice is to brush your cat's teeth once a day after the baby teeth come in. This prevents plaque and tartar, but it's always a good idea to have your cat's teeth checked by the vet every so often. There are also treats, toys, and matatabi sticks that are good for teeth as a supplement.

Coat care

The great thing about the British Shorthair is that it doesn't require much grooming. Their short, close-fitting coat always looks beautiful and well-groomed. However, you can brush their coat weekly with a simple hairbrush (for cats, of course). During shedding season, you can purchase a hairbrush that easily removes loose hair, reducing the amount of hair in your home. This also makes it easier for your cat, who can develop hairballs from excessive licking. You can also reduce hairballs with special pastes or food. Sometimes people recommend bathing your cat to remove all the loose hair with water, but it's not necessary, as this can be detrimental to their skin's pH and natural oils. Only bathe your cat if it's so dirty that you can't wipe it clean.

Deworming and defleaing

Besides caring for their appearance, they also need to care for their internal health. This means that cats should be dewormed and defleaed four times a year. These products are available from your vet, and most vets will even send you a reminder when it's time to deworm or deflea your cat. Be careful with topical flea treatments, as some cats can have an allergic reaction. There are natural flea preventative solutions available that are just as effective as chemical ones. Deworming is a simple, small tablet that cats often readily accept. If your cat does get fleas, take them to the vet and ensure that other pets and your entire home are treated for fleas.

Heat and spraying

We've covered a little bit of everything now, but there's still something important you should know as a new owner: heat and spraying. This happens when your kitten reaches adulthood, or sexual maturity. It's different for every cat, but the average age at which your female or male cat reaches sexual maturity is between 6 and 14 months old. Of course, it can stick out either up or down, so keep that in mind. When a female cat goes into heat, you might notice her being noisier, especially at night, more affectionate, rolling around on the floor or rubbing against things, kicking her paws backward, and throwing her bottom up. When male cats reach sexual maturity, they mark their territory by spraying. Their tails vibrate slightly and a small amount of urine is released. This type of urine smells much stronger than usual, and I can understand that it's unpleasant for the owner as well. Therefore, we recommend having your male or female cat spayed or neutered by your veterinarian from the age of six months to prevent this. Our cattery has a breeding ban on all kittens, meaning you are not allowed to breed our kittens and, as a new owner, you are obligated to have them spayed or neutered.

Disease

I've saved the most important thing for last, and that's the topic of illness. Unfortunately, this can happen to any (new) owner and become a part of your life, which I certainly hope and don't want to assume. But if you notice your cat eating less, drinking poorly, urinating too much, little, or a lot, has diarrhea, is peeing frequently, or is suddenly less active and sleeping more than usual, I would definitely take her to the vet just to be sure. These are often signs that your cat is suffering from something that you can't explain, so it's always a good idea to have it checked out.

As a new cat owner, you'll likely have a lot of questions and be lost, and we completely understand! Feel free to message us with any questions or if you're unsure about anything—that's what we're here for :)