A Beginner’s Guide to Raising a Cat

1 Overview

Must-have checklist

1. Cat staple food

Dry food (lacks moisture, high starch; for water-drinking cats; buy offline, kibble over 30 yuan per 500g)

Staple cans (choose brands carefully; high moisture, rich protein, adaptable; for malnourished/uneven or non-drinking cats)

Raw meaty bones (raw meat, organs, bone mixed; after processing, digestible staple; high moisture, nutritious; not for senior cats)

2. Cat bowls

Bowl wider than the face is best; avoid whisker fatigue.

Ideal depth 3-5 cm

Stable, slightly heavy ceramic bowl is best

3. Litter box

1.5x the cat’s body length is best

Place away from water and food bowls

Number of boxes = number of cats + 1, not side by side

4. Cat litter

Choose mixed, tofu, or pine litter with low dust

5. Cat bed

In winter buy soft comfortable beds; cats find their own best rest spot, no clothes needed

6. Scratching post

For claw sharpening; without one, watch the bed and sofa get shredded!

7. Grooming comb

Long-haired cats need combing; long neglect causes chin, armpit, thigh, or tail mats, even skin disease

8. Carrier

On nice days carry the cat out for sun; quiet places, do not let it roam unless sure it will not flee; also for vaccines – in the bag it feels safer, less scared

9. Cat vaccine

Main vaccines are the FVRCP and rabies. FVRCP prevents panleukopenia (distemper), herpes, calicivirus; rabies prevents rabies. Under 1 year: three FVRCP plus one rabies; over 1 year: one FVRCP plus one rabies.

10. Cat deworming

Deworming is as important as vaccines; severe parasites threaten life, some are zoonotic. For prevention and treatment, buy big-brand internal/external meds from proper channels and use under a vet’s guidance.