Week 6: Cat Welfare

Welcome back to the blog and the next instalment of our #EightPreciousWeeks campaign!

We hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

 

Onyx

 

It's now week 6 of our kittens' Eight Precious Weeks, and it's the perfect time to go into a little more detail about cat welfare. As you know, we've been following our kittens and learning about why they need to stay with their mum during the first eight weeks of life. But did you know that cats have five basic welfare needs?

 

They are:

• Diet: to have food and fresh water

• Environment: to have a place to live

• Health: to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

• Behaviour: to be able to exhibit normal behaviour

• Company: to be housed with, or apart from, other animals

 

These five welfare needs are the elements that make a cat's life a happy one, so when you're thinking of bringing a cat into your home, these 5 needs must be considered.  Before making a decision, you should ask yourself if you can meet these requirements, so that your new furry friend can be content in their new home. After all, cats provide us with companionship and happiness, so we need to make sure we are providing them the same in return!

So, what do these five welfare needs mean? Let's look at them in a bit more depth...

 

Diet:  

A cat needs a diet that will provide enough satisfaction, so they are not hungry! Your cat's diet needs to meet all of their nutritional needs, including any special requirements they may need, as prescribed by your vet (for example, if they are diagnosed with a medical condition).

Environment: 

This means a suitable environment that is safe for your cat, providing them with shelter, warmth, and also stimulation. 

Health: 

It's really important that your cat is registered with a vet and receives regular checkups, as well as vaccinations to protect them from potentially fatal diseases. They also need to be protected from (and treated for) fleas and worms. Veterinary treatment should always be sought in the event of illness, injury, or accident, and for treatments like pain relief or dietary issues. As we know from our journey following Precious and her kittens, unexpected costs can sometimes arise! Taking out pet insurance can help provide financial protection and peace of mind. 

Behaviour: 

Cats have a natural hunting instinct, which should be replicated in play, particularly if your cat is living indoors. They also need to be able to go to the toilet in a safe and private area, so indoor cats should be provided with a clean litter tray. It's also important that a cat can groom and scratch itself, so its claws should be kept in good condition and at a healthy length. This also ensures it can climb too, which is a natural coping mechanism for cats in times of stress. 

Company: 

You should always consider other pets in your household before bringing a cat into the family, and cats should not be forced to live with other animals, as this may increase their stress levels. They should have the choice to spend time alone, away from other animals. Bringing a new cat into your home is a decision that should be made with all your animals in mind, and all your pets should be able to live happily together!

That's it for this week! We hope this has been a useful guide and has provided you with some helpful tips about everything to do with cat welfare. Don't forget to follow us on social media and keep visiting the blog for more updates on Precious, her kittens and the important work we do here at Cats Protection.

 

-Bridgend Adoption Centre team