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Hygiene
Cats are known for
their cleanliness. They groom themselves by
licking their fur. Their saliva is a powerful
cleaning agent, but it can provoke allergic
reactions in humans. Many cats also enjoy grooming
humans or other cats. Some cats occasionally
regurgitate hair balls of fur that have collected
in their stomachs as a result of their grooming.
Longhair cats are more prone to this than
shorthairs. Hairballs can be prevented with
certain cat foods and remedies that ease
elimination of the hair. Cats expend nearly as
much fluid grooming as they do urinating.
Indoor cats may
be provided a litter box containing sand or
similar commercial material (litter). This
arrangement serves the same purpose as a toilet
for humans. It should be cleaned daily and changed
often (depending on the type of litter—clumping
litter stays cleaner longer, but has been reported
to cause health problems in some cats. [11]) A
litter box is recommended for indoor-outdoor cats
as well. Letterboxes may pose a risk of
toxoplasmosis transmission to susceptible pregnant
women and immune-compromised individuals.
Transmission risk may be reduced by daily litter
box cleaning.
In addition, some cats may be toilet trained,
eliminating the litter box and its attending
expense and odor. Training involves two or three
weeks of incremental moves, such as moving and
elevating the litter box until it is near the
toilet. For a short time, an adapter, such as a
bowl or small box, may be used to suspend the
litter above the toilet bowl. When training is
complete, the cat uses the toilet by perching over
the bowl.
Indoor cats will also benefit from being provided
with a scratching post so they are less likely to
ruin furniture with their claws. Nails can be
trimmed, but care should be taken to avoid cutting
a vein in the quick of the claw. |
