HOW TO KEEP AN INDOOR CAT HAPPY

My attitude, to owning cats changed a few years ago. I was brought up, like so many people of my age, in the belief, that 'cats went out with the milk bottles'. But milk no longer comes in glass bottles. Times have changed and like wise we should not remain in dinosaur land.

 When we lost Sophie, our first Tonkinese, we started to realise, that many more cat owners were keeping their cats in.

So What Can We Do To Keep Our Cats Happy?

The A-Z of keeping an indoor cat happy

Aerobic Centres

 There are many types of aerobic centres on the market, but if you are a handy man, why not build one yourself. It is essential that indoor cats should be able to use their natural hunting skills in games of hunting for prey.

Baskets/Beds

Tonkinese are very clever at finding the most comfortable chair or lap to sit on. But there are many commercialised cat beds on the market these days. But come bed time and you will find your Tonkinese happy to sleep, under the duvet, with their little heads on the pillow, or just lying in your arms. Just try keeping him out.

Carriers

An essential piece of equipment to have before you even pick up your kitten is a carrier. You will need this for taking your kitten to the vets.They come in many shapes and sizes, I have one that has wheels and I can pull along, but if you are hoping to show, your cat, a top opening one is recommended. Most of the equipment can be brought from  purrsonaltouch.com

Doors

I would suggest that you never fit, a cat flap to an external door,

but it can be a good idea to fit one to an interior door, when you want a cat to go to another room to use the litter tray.

Elimination

 There are many cat litters on the market. Fullers earth, Wood Pellets, recycled newspaper and crystal pearl drops to name but a few.  But at the end of the day, the choice is really up to the new owner. Each litter has its own advantage, but word of warning, change from the litter the breeder was using gradually, by using a little more of desired litter every day.

Feeding

It is important that your cat has a balanced diet. There are a lot of, good quality, well known pet foods on the market. It does not matter whether you intend to feed your cat, with a completely dry or wet food. Or even a combination of the two. I personally, as we have a few cats, leave dry food down all the time, as Tonkinese are very active cats and tend to nibble.  My adult cats have tin food morning and night . Occasionally they have a treat of fresh chicken, fish or tuna. Cats generally need grass to aid digestion, so a small container with grass or cat nip  would be acceptable. Word of caution If you feed all dry food make sure your cat has access to water at all times. Water should be readily available at all times and changed twice a day.

Grooming

 It is important that you groom your cat, especially the long hairs, knotted fur or hairballs can cause a great deal of distress to the cat and a large vet bill for you. For the short haired cat like the Tonkinese , a loving hand, is all you will need, for most of the time.

Heating

Most homes now have central heating, but it must be remembered, that open fires should have fireguards. Advantage to the centrally heated home is that you can purchase hammocks that fit over the radiators. Cats love them.

Inoculations / Insurance

As with all cats, it is important to inoculate your cats for flu and enteritis annually, even though they are indoor cats. When going on holiday these will definitely be required by the boarding cattery.

When you purchased your kitten, most breeders, would have supplied you, with six weeks of insurance, it is wise to carrying on with this. You could be the unlucky one. i.e. your kitten has an accident, believe me this can happen whilst the kitten is still maturing.

Jumping

It is important to give indoor cats the opportunity to build up their muscles, by jumping. Any of the aerobic trees will help exercise muscles and they love nothing better than chasing and jumping up and down stairs. But Tonkinese have this habit of leaping on you, when you least expect them. Dangerous for the poor unsuspecting person the cat leaps onto. A great game, for them, especially when they very quickly learn that you shout for glee, when their talons cling onto your back to stop them falling. Tonkinese love to be draped like a scarf around your neck if you let them.

Kitchens

One of the most dangerous rooms in a house for humans and felines. Cats especially love to get into warm places, what better place than a pile of washing in the washing machine or dryer. Check Before Turning On.  Kitchen services hold such dangers as knives and hot hobs. Along with these dangers are all the detergents and disinfectants [especially disinfectants that turn white in water. I once had a very sick kitten following a spillage when they were playing near one of my cleaning products. The poor kitten either inhaled or licked her fur. Luckily I have a very good vet. She was given a clean bill of health, but that could have been a very different story.

Litter Trays

There are various types of litter trays on the marketFrom the most simplest to sophisticated covered litter trays.  All of my cats /kittens prefer to use a covered litter tray, with a flap door. These have charcoaled filters to eliminate smells. . Some litters you can scoop and throw unwanted  !!!!!!!!! away Whilst others you throw away everything each time.

Male Cats

 All male cats should be neutered, to stop them fighting, spraying or wanting to roam. Only pedigreed Tom cats should be kept entire. With special facilities to keep them happy.

Neuters

 In my opinion there is no difference, in the temperament between a male or female neutered cat

Over weight

If an indoor cat does not get enough exercise it can become overweight. There are special foods [lights] for cats that will help reduce their weight without the cat feeling hungry.

Pests

Worms usually appear in cats that, go out and kill  prey. But indoor cats that have fleas can also get worms. Therefore regular treatment for worms and fleas should be given. Worming tablets will also keep Giardia at bay.

Queens

The term used to describe an entire female cat.

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Sleeping

If you have a Tonkinese, you will find that, they will soon adapt to your life style. They wake with you, to spend an hour or two having breakfast and trying to find out what is going on in the home today.  When they realise it is just 'another day' , they will settle down for a couple of hours cat -napping. Lunch time means another snack and sniffing out that favourite toy they hid yesterday. After a couple of hours its back to the cat-naps. They wake just before dinner time and then live in the fast lane until bedtime. [ We call it the ducking and diving hour] At approximately 22:00 -23:00 your Tonkinese will tell you its bed time. You will have no peace until you follow them up to bed.                          

Toys

It is very important that indoor cats have plenty of stimulation. There should be a large variety of toys, from those that they can climb into and  over. Toys that can be chased carried and battered . Tonkinese particular like to retrieve. Cats love to play with balls of all types, hard small balls or ping pong balls that they can chase, but there are several very soft spongy glittery balls on the market that Tonkinese love to retrieve. But these balls need more supervision, as I do know of a cat that swallows them.   

Utensils

It is better to use ceramic or stainless steel for your cat, as plastic can eventually harbour germs.

Ventilation

Just because, cats are indoors, does not mean that they do not need fresh air. Windows may be opened using a mesh screen called cataire. It is increasingly common, now a days, to build structures using chicken wire and wood, to form an enclosed garden, which both you and your cat can enjoy.

Water

Water should be changed twice a day.

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Kisses for you from your cat

 You 

Reward your cat with love and affection, never scold her and you will be given a life time of love and companionship back , three fold.

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