I'm looking after a friend's cat for a week while he's away, his normal person had to cancel at the last minute. I've not had a cat before so wondered what the basics of care are, as opposed to the other furry (and otherwise) critters I've had before! I assume it's quite simple but want to do the best I can.
She's a year old and full of beans, but seems pretty sensible.
I'm fine on the food and litter tray, I've made her up a bed area in a warm spot with a blanket and have hung a dangly toy for her to play with. Sadly, we can't let her out in this area (and I'm afraid she'd get lost anyway) but she has plenty of indoor space to run around in.
Anything else that might help? She's a little smelly, will a bath help or will it upset the balance of her skin?
What treats can I give her?
Thanks in advance!
2007-07-10 23:19:03 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Thanks for all the good tips already. She's not stressed at all - she's investigating the place, purring and 'talking' to us, she seems completely unfazed!
Thanks for the tuna advice, I'd wondered if it had additives in that were bad. How about plain chicken too?
2007-07-11 00:09:55 · update #1
You sound like you're doing a great job! Want to look after my cats when I go away?? ;-)
Keeping her indoors is great. If she went to a cattery or a professional pet boarder or sitter, she wouldn't be allowed outside anyway, so this is no different to that. She may very well get lost or attempt to get home, so you're right not to let her outside. So just make sure you keep the windows closed, or securely on the latch, or she'll be out in a dash!
As everyone has already said, no baths for kitty, she won't thank you for it :-) She'll clean herself up in no time, I'm sure. You can try brushing her a couple of times to help her coat stay clean (use a pet brush if your friend gave you one; or a soft-bristle brush of your own if you have one! - you can always wash it afterwards! hehe)
Just give her lots of play time and love and she'll probably not want to go home! If the dangly toy is on a string, make sure she doesn't get left alone with it whilst you are asleep or out of the house, as they can be a bit dangerous. It's great for when you are at home though and you can use it with her. A carboard box with a hole cut out each side (to play though and escape out of if the box tips upside down!) will be fun for her, as will scrunched up pieces of paper! You can leave these to amuse her when you're not at home - and any other safe toys like ping pong balls, rolled up socks, etc.
If you're worried about your furniture, you can get some anti-cat spray called Pet Behave which smells awful to kitties and thus keeps them away from wherever you spray it!
As for food and treats, make sure you don't give her any cow's milk as it upsets their stomach. You can buy special cat milk from the shop if you want to give her some. You can also buy cat treats, if your friend didn't give you any. Human food shouldn't be given too often, as you don't want to upset her stomach by varying her diet too much! Some cooked chicken breast would be nice, as would tuna in spring water (don't drain it though, leave the water in). Fresh cooked fish would be ok if it weren't for the bones, and as it's not your cat, I wouldn't give her fresh fish, just in case. Some cats like scrambled egg and it is nice and bland, so easy on their stomachs!
You can give her a few table scraps of pretty much anything if you want to, but give her cat food as her main meals. My cat loves a little bit of steak, sausage, chicken, beef, anything really!
Other than that, you should be home free! Cats are sociable but independent. She'll let you know when she wants fuss by coming up to you, she'll let you know when she wants feeding by taking you to her food bowl and jumping excitedly when you get the food out, and she'll let you know when she wants to play by miowing or doing something naughty like jumping up a wall!
Good luck! You'll have loads of fun this week! :-)
xx Emmie
2007-07-11 06:41:53 · answer #1 · answered by Sparklepop 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are doing perfectly - it would be best to keep her on the brand of cat food that she is used to and leave clean water available all the time. Treats are not necessary and you don't want to risk upsetting her tummy.
As for her being a little smelly I don't understand at a year old her breath cant smell too bad as she should not have a dental problem at this age. If you are talking about when she uses the dirt box, just remove the soiled area of litter every time she goes. At a year old she really shouldn't be smelling and should not need to be bathed. Cats don't like water accept for a couple of breeds. You will both find this very stressful and I would not advise it.
Just carry on the way you are, your a natural and should have a cat of your own.
2007-07-12 10:45:15 · answer #2 · answered by MAGINA & CAT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah i would agree with the no bath. cats are very clean and if she is a bit smelly she'll bathe herself. Cats are pretty much contented animals but I would suggest if she's normally an outdoor cat have plenty toys and play with her lots as she'll need to burn off all that energy. She will probably be a bit strange for a while but will come to you when she's ready, I'm sure a few little treats wouldn't go amiss either. I feed my cat tuna and he loves it - though he picks it out the bowl and eats it about 6 inches away making a mess on the carpet!!! Good luck and enjoy your little friend for the time you have her.
2007-07-11 00:34:44 · answer #3 · answered by gotmeridindirty 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are only watching her for a week I wouldn't bath her but you may want to suggest to your friend to get her bathed teh odor could just be because you aern't use to it or there could be a skin problem tht needs to be checked by a vet.
Yes a cat can have chisken my manx cat just LOVES chicken she won't touch tuna.
You can also if you want buy cat treats in the store but it's not neccesary.give her attension. make sure she ha food and water and keepteh litter box cleaned at least once a day and that's about it.
2007-07-11 02:48:42 · answer #4 · answered by Kit_kat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats and water dont mix.
If she is smelly is prolly cause she needs a dump, so expect a packet to be deposited somewhere in you hoses, even though your friends cat is only staying a short time, cats learn quick so where she goes, put the litter tray.
No treats, treats are bad, cat food and biscuites with a frersh bowl of water, Milk is bad, if you much, put enough milk in water just to colour it, milk has lactose in it which gives them the smell *** you prolly are aware of...
2007-07-11 01:05:39 · answer #5 · answered by cheek_of_it_all 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No to the bath, she's stressed enough and stressed animals tend to get diarrhea, drop a ton of hair and vomit, let her be...she will probably hide for a while. I don't really like to recommend Whiska's treat as they are not really a healthy treat, but most cats love them especially the dairy flavor. You are right about letting her outside, it would be a bad idea. You really are on the right track. Good luck and enjoy.
2007-07-10 23:34:05 · answer #6 · answered by Patio 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually cats pretty much take care of themselves, so you really don't have to do anything. Let her get used to your house, and she should come out and let you pet her and get used to you after a couple days. Clean the litter box once a day, make sure she has fresh water, and make sure to feed her. You can get special cat treats at the store. Don't wash the cat, cats wash themselves.
2007-07-10 23:25:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Leave her be, she'll clean herself once she's finished exploring and unless the regualr owners do it sometimes it would be a great shock to her system.
Make sure she has access to clean water all the time, feed her at set mealtime(s), keep the litter tray clean and as empty as possible and give her as much attention and love as she wants and you'll get on just fine!
Good Luck
2007-07-11 00:24:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
dont worry looking after a cat is really fun, dont worry about letting her out because you dont have her for long. you can give her munchie crunchies a cat biscuit thing which they love and it cleaners there teeth you seem to know a lot already putting a bed up and a toy to keep her ocupiyed i dont think you have anything to worry about good luck.
2007-07-11 20:46:45 · answer #9 · answered by Jess 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you are doing well as it is! Don't worry if she's a bit sick - our cats were sicky for the first few days - but don't withhold food like you do when dogs are sick.
I also agree with the others - no baths!!
I hope you enjoy your visting cat!
2007-07-10 23:45:10 · answer #10 · answered by Tigger B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋