Q: Should I spay/neuter my cat?
A: If you think you are responsible enough to own a cat, you had better be responsible enough to take care of it. Every year millions of unwanted, homeless cats are put to death because shelters are overcrowded and cannot handle them all. Under no circumstances should you add to this problem! Even indoor cats need to be fixed, as animals wanting to mate will find ways to get out no matter what.
Q: Is it better to keep cats indoors or outdoors?A: Personally, my cats stay indoors. Outdoor cats face many dangers that indoor cats do not. There is always the risk of being hit by a car or stolen. There are some pretty sick people in the world who like to hurt stray cats, and I would not want my pets anywhere accessible to them. Also, other animals pose a significant risk to outdoor cats. They may fight with other cats or be injured by some other animal such as a dog. But probably the biggest danger is that of disease. Outdoor cats, even when given shots, have very little defense against the many types of disease and parasites out there. If they are catching and eating wild prey, the risk is enormous. And, some of these diseases can be passed to the unsuspecting owner. Fleas and ticks are very difficult to keep off an outdoor cat and to get rid of once established ondoors. Besides being pests themselves, fleas and ticks are vectors of diease and are not very choosy about what they feed on.
I choose to keep my cats strictly indoors, but not everyone agrees. If you do let your cats out, BE SURE they are neutered and up to date on their shots! They will need frequent worm medication from the vet and treatment for fleas and ticks. Please consider all this before making a decision.
Q: Do cats need variety in their diet? Should I switch cat food every once in a while or give them table scraps?
A: Cats are carnivores, and their bodies are made to handle one type of food only: meat. Constantly switching their food will only lead to gastro-intestinal problems. Find a good, high-quality, complete dry diet for your cats, and unless any problems develop, stick to it. Table scraps should not be fed regularly to cats. An occasional treat should be fine, just as the occasional can of moist food (preferably of the same formulation as their regular diet) should be fine also. Of course, circumstances may differ in each case, so check with your vet about your cat's individual needs.
