Basic guide for keeping a cat as a pet at home

Keeping a cat as a pet can be a rewarding experience, but it is important to ensure that your furry friend is properly taken care of. Here is a basic guide for keeping a cat as a pet at home:

1. Provide a balanced diet: Cats require taurine, an essential amino acid, for heart and eye health. The food you choose should be balanced for the life stage of your cat or kitten. Properly balanced foods will contain taurine [1]. Make sure to feed your cat healthy food and choose suitable food dishes and water bowls [2].

2. Give your cat access to fresh water: Provide fresh, clean water at all times, and wash and refill your cat's water bowls daily. Proper hydration can keep your cat comfortable and happy by helping to prevent common cat health issues like urinary tract infections and kidney disease [5].

3. Provide a clean litter box: Provide a litter tray in a quiet place and clean it regularly. Cats are often reluctant to use a dirty tray or one located in a busy area [7]. As a guide, for one cat, you will need two litter trays [9].

4. Give your cat a space of its own: Provide your cat with its own special place to get some alone time. This little space could be a cat bed, or a cat tree that the cat can curl up inside of [6]. Also, give them at least two types of resting places - one at floor level, enclosed, and one at a higher level [7].

5. Keep your cat entertained: Keep your cats entertained with fun toys [10]. Also, provide a scratching post for your cat to prevent them from scratching furniture [6].

6. Regular grooming: Brush your cat regularly to keep their coat in good condition and also to help remove fleas and other parasites. Bathe your cat but not too often [2].

7. Regular check-ups: Take your cat to the vet for regular check-ups. Healthcare costs, including check-ups, vaccinations, and dental care, can range from $75-11,000 per year depending on your cat's needs [4].

8. Keep your cat safe: For extra insurance, consider having your cat microchipped and keep your contact information with the microchip registry up to date. If you do lose your cat, contact your local animal shelter immediately to file a report [3].

In summary, keeping a cat at home requires providing a balanced diet, access to fresh water, a clean litter box, a space of their own and some entertainment for him.