Cats

Descended from the African hawk cat, today’s domestic cat developed into a domesticated species around 10,000 years ago. The hunting instinct for mice and rats, which multiplied rapidly due to the sedentary lifestyle of humans, lured cats further and further into the cities.
Humans and animals increasingly lost their shyness towards each other.
Over time, the wild loner became a social pet.

The purchase of a cat should always be carefully considered and discussed with all the people living in the household, because when you buy a cat you are taking on the responsibility for a cat’s life that can last up to 20 years.

Prerequisites

There are certain requirements for keeping a cat in a species-appropriate environment.
In order to be able to give a cat a home, the following points should be considered in advance:

• Regulations regarding the keeping of pets by the landlord
• Can enough time be spent on care and activities
• Planning the financial resources to meet the cat’s needs
• Regulation of vacations and emergency care
• Determine primary responsibility

If all the requirements can be met, it is just as important to familiarize yourself with the different breeds and to study them intensively.
Among the approximately 70 different cat breeds, there are sometimes considerable differences in appearance and character.
When choosing your cat, you should pay attention to which typical breed characteristics are best suited to your expectations and capabilities.

There are many ways to get a cat:

• Animal shelter: Actively protect animals by adopting a cat from an animal shelter and giving a cat a new chance.
  The staff are on hand to advise you in your search for a new family member.
• Breeding: Serious breeders are particularly promising if you are interested in a pedigree cat.
• Private individuals: Many private individuals offer their cats in classified ads or on farms.
  When buying a cat, make sure it has good medical and social conditions.
• From abroad: Foreign animal welfare organizations are a good place to start and can help you to introduce a cat from abroad in a species-appropriate manner.

You should always pay attention to this when buying a cat, especially from a breeder or a private individual:

• Environment: The cat’s environment should make a good impression and be tidy and clean.
• Mother animal: When purchasing a kitten, the mother animal should always be available for inspection and make a good health impression, except in exceptional cases (e.g. in an animal shelter).
• Delivery age: Kittens should be at least 12 weeks old when they are delivered so that they have been able to detach from their mother and have been socialized sufficiently.
• Proof of health: Cats should always be fully vaccinated, wormed and handed over with their pet passport.

Apartment keeping:

It is generally more difficult to meet a cat’s basic needs if it is only kept indoors.
If, for example, the living situation or the potential dangers in the environment do not allow the cat to run free on a regular basis, attention must be paid to daily activity and social contact with other cats of the same species.
The cat should be given enough space in the home and be provided with sufficient opportunities for activity (cat trees, toys and retreats).
If a second-hand outdoor cat is adopted, it should never be kept exclusively as an indoor cat, as this can lead to behavioral problems and excessive frustration.

Free-range husbandry:

When kept outdoors, cats can satisfy their basic needs and be physically and socially active.
If a garden is available, it can also be made cat-proof in order to avoid potential dangers in the immediate vicinity.
Free-range housing should always be preferred to keeping cats indoors if the conditions are right.

The basic equipment includes in all cases:

• Food and water bowls
• Litter box
• Activities (toys, scratching post)
• Retreats
• Transport box

Health and care:

A species-appropriate and balanced diet is important for a cat’s health.
As cats are carnivores, their diet should consist primarily of meat.
In principle, it is possible to provide cats with dry or wet food, depending primarily on the cat’s preferences.
In both cases, however, it is important to ensure that the food contains all the necessary nutrients.

In addition, your cat’s coat should be groomed regularly and consistently, depending on the length and condition of the coat.

To ensure the health of your furry friend, in addition to the prescribed vaccinations (feline enteritis, cat flu and leukosis), regular treatment for parasites should also be carried out.
Your vet will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the right time to vaccinate and the appropriate parasite treatment and can provide detailed information.

Your vet will also be able to advise you on the question of neutering.
In principle, cats can be neutered at the age of 4 – 6 months.