Cats may seem independent, but their wellbeing depends a great deal on us. Complete nutrition, fresh water, a clean litter box, vet care, play and attention are the foundation of a healthy, happy life.
Cat care basics
A new cat brings plenty of questions. Here’s how to get your home ready, handle everyday care, and help your cat feel safe.
Everyday life with a cat
Food and water
Choose a complete and balanced cat food suited to your cat’s age and health. Your vet can help work out portion sizes and a feeding routine if needed.
Fresh drinking water should always be available. Wash the bowls regularly and introduce any new food gradually.
Brushing
Regular brushing removes loose hair and prevents mats. How often depends on the length and thickness of the coat: long-haired cats usually need more attention.
Start with short, calm sessions. Brushing also gives you a chance to spot skin irritation, small wounds, parasites, or unusual lumps early and get veterinary care if needed.
A clean, comfortable litter box
Most cats get used to the litter box quickly. Show your cat where it is and make sure they can always get to it.
Scoop it daily, wash the box from time to time with warm water and a mild, unscented cleaner, and rinse it well. Choose a quiet spot away from the food bowls and noisy appliances.
If your cat stops using the litter box, don’t scold them: the reason may be an awkward location, the litter, stress or a health problem.
Play and rest
Even if your cat can entertain themselves, they need to play with you. Play keeps them moving, satisfies their hunting instinct and builds trust.
You don’t need lots of expensive toys. Balls, cardboard boxes and paper bags without handles will do. Use toys with strings or small parts only under supervision.
Provide a sturdy scratching post, cozy hiding places and somewhere high to watch from. A cat tree with shelves lets your cat climb, stretch and rest. Give your cat space when they want to be alone. Being able to retreat to a hiding place helps them feel more secure.
Safety and health
A safe home
Take care of safety before your cat arrives:
- Install sturdy pet safety netting on windows and balconies. Standard insect screens may not support a cat’s weight.
- Keep your cat away from windows that tilt open at the top. They can get trapped in the gap.
- Use a carrier that closes securely for any trips.
- Keep washer and dryer doors closed, and check inside before starting a load.
- Before closing a closet or drawer, check that your cat isn’t hiding inside.
- Keep medicines, household chemicals, thread and small objects that could be swallowed out of reach.
Don’t let your cat roam outside on their own. For fresh air, a secure enclosure or a fully fenced area they can’t get out of works well.
A microchip with up-to-date contact details in the database helps bring a lost pet home. If your cat wears a collar with an ID tag, choose a breakaway collar that releases if it gets caught.
Health and vet care
Once your cat is home, work with your vet on a care plan for checkups, vaccinations, parasite treatment, and spaying or neutering. Bring your cat’s pet passport and the shelter’s paperwork so your vet knows what care they’ve already had.
Watch for changes in appetite, activity, habits and behavior. If your cat seems unwell, don’t put off seeing the vet.
Vaccination
Vaccinations help protect your cat from dangerous infections. Indoor cats that never go outside need them too.
Ask your vet to draw up a vaccination schedule that takes into account your cat’s age, health, previous vaccinations and current requirements in Latvia. Keep the vaccination records in the pet passport.
Spaying and neutering
Spaying and neutering prevent unwanted litters and help reduce the number of homeless cats in Latvia. For shelters this matters especially: every new litter means several more animals who will need care and a home. Discuss when to schedule the surgery and how to prepare with your vet.
The operation can also benefit your cat’s health and reduce behavior linked to looking for a mate:
- Female cats stop coming into heat, and diseases of the removed reproductive organs are prevented. Early spaying lowers the risk of mammary tumors.
- Male cats are protected from testicular disease, and they often roam, yowl and spray less.
After the operation your cat may need fewer calories. Keep an eye on portions, weight and activity, and adjust the diet with your vet if needed.
When to do it
For cats not intended for breeding, professional veterinary organizations recommend the operation by five months of age; the exact timing depends on the animal’s health and development. An adult cat can also be operated on after a check-up.
Good to know
A cat doesn’t need to have a litter before being spayed. And neutering doesn’t automatically solve every behavior problem: marking, conflicts or anxiety can be linked not only to sex hormones but also to stress, living conditions or illness.
Introducing a new cat to other cats
A new animal changes everyday life for everyone in the home. Some cats get used to a new companion quickly, others need more time. Don’t rush the introduction or expect instant friendship: living together calmly is a good result too.
Prepare a separate room
At first, give your new cat a quiet room with a litter box, bowls, a bed, a scratching post and a hiding place. Let them settle in, start eating calmly and use the litter box.
Before introducing them, ask your vet whether any tests are needed and whether the cats should be kept apart for a while to protect your other pets.
Start with scent
Swap bedding or small cloths carrying each cat’s scent between them. Put the item where the cat can approach it or walk away on their own. Don’t push it toward their face.
Once the cats react calmly to the new scents, you can move on to the next steps.
Build good associations
Offer food or treats on either side of a closed door. Start at a distance where both cats eat calmly. Move the bowls closer gradually, and only while there’s no tension.
Then let the cats take turns exploring the shared rooms while the other is in the separate room. This way they get to know each other’s scent without direct contact.
Arrange short meetings
For their first meeting, keep a secure mesh screen or another safe barrier between them. Each cat should always be able to move away and hide.
If both stay calm, move on to short supervised meetings and make them longer gradually. If either cat seems very scared, chases the other, or tries to attack, go back a step.
Give each cat their own space
Each cat needs easy access to bowls, resting places, hiding spots and scratching posts. For litter boxes, a useful rule of thumb is one per cat plus one extra. Place them in different spots so one cat can’t block the other’s way.
Keep the usual routine and give all your pets attention. Don’t make them approach each other or share a bed.
If a fight breaks out
Don’t try to separate fighting cats with your hands. If you can do it safely, block their view of each other with a large sheet of cardboard or another solid barrier and move them into separate rooms.
Don’t shout, throw things or spray water: punishment can increase fear and tension. Let the animals calm down, then restart the introduction from an easier step. If fights keep happening, see a vet or a cat behavior specialist.
Reach out whenever you need help
There’s no need to wait until a small difficulty becomes a serious problem. If you’re not sure what to do, write to us or give us a call.