A cat moves in

Have you decided to add a velvet paw to your family? We have put together a few tips for you that you should consider before a cat moves in.

The cat-safe apartment

Cats are territorial animals and need space and their free spaces. If they already have one or more cats, they should be sure that the animals can also retreat and avoid stress.

Great care should be taken with windows. Cats are curious and want to explore the whole world. It can happen that cats can also jump out of open windows or get stuck in tilting windows. The same applies to your balcony, which should definitely be secured with a sturdy cat net. Many dangers can be hidden in your household, cleaning agents and chemicals often have a sweet scent or taste, and poisoning can occur here. Also make sure that you do not have any poisonous plants in the household. This also applies to flower bouquets, lilies in particular are highly toxic!

Cats love to climb and frolic. You should therefore store fragile and valuable things in a cat-safe way so that accidents do not occur here. Don't leave swallowable objects lying around; young cats in particular like to nibble on pieces of rubber and plastic parts. If swallowed, there is a risk of an intestinal obstruction. The same applies to strings and wool, the rough cat tongue catches on the fibers, the string is swallowed and can string and even cut in the intestine.
Washing machines can be dangerous for cats. Especially when there is already laundry in the drum, your four-legged friend sees this as a soft dark retreat. Be sure to check that your cat has not nested in it before switching on. Even heavy open toilet lids can become a trap for curious cats, so always keep the toilet lid closed.

The basic equipment

Cats need a litter box. In order to meet your cat's needs, there should be at least one toilet per cat in the household plus another toilet, as cats usually deposit faeces and urine in separate places. There are also differences in the design, for example with a roof or door, with an entry step or completely open. Here, as well as with cat litter, it's time to try it out to find out your cat's preferences.

You should provide your cat with a scratching post. This can be used to sharpen the claws, which can remove used shells. Depending on the model, scratching posts also offer your cat views, climbing opportunities and caves to safely retreat. Be sure to ensure good stability.
The culinary well-being of your new four-legged friend should also be taken care of. Ceramic, glass or stainless steel food bowls are recommended as they are particularly easy to clean. Plastic bowls often stick to residue and can give off a smell or taste to the food.

Wide, flat bowls are preferred so that the sensitive whiskers do not touch the edges of the napkin while eating. Cats have very different requirements for their drinking water, one likes it stale, one very fresh, some cats prefer running water. A drinking fountain can help here.

They should also have a transport box. Models that are easy to disassemble or have a large opening are recommended here. Plastic models are preferable to bags or wicker baskets, as your cat can hold onto them when visiting the vet and can therefore cause considerable stress when getting off/taking them out. So that your cat not only links the vet visit to your transport box, it is recommended to have the box open in your home at all times so that it can also be used as a den and retreat.

An animal health insurance

There is also animal health insurance for cats. Here, a distinction can be made between pure surgical costs insurance or comprehensive health insurance. Since insurance companies differ significantly in their benefits and prices, it is worthwhile to compare services under www.eisbaumtabelle.de.