National Cat Day: Top tips from Just Cats Veterinary Services in The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Oct. 29 is National Cat Day.

With that in mind, Dr. Cindy McManis of Just Cats Veterinary Services offers 5 tips on how to best take care of furry felines who yearn for wide open spaces.

"Outside time for cats is very stimulating and helps them control weight and reduce stress," McManis said. "Cats are very tactile and they love to explore their environment by chewing, touching and smelling."

Identification

If your cat even steps one paw out the door, he/she should be equipped with a microchip or a collar with an ID tag. Note: All kitties with collars, whether indoors or outdoors, should sport the breakaway version.

Vaccination

Rabies is an issue in Texas, which is why even indoor kitties are required to be vaccinated by state law.

But don't forget the other vaccinations.

"For cats who may have access to other cats, Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) vaccination is very important," McManis said. "Cats have to have relatively intimate contact with another cat to get that virus – through biting, licking or grooming – but if any other cats can access your yard, your cats should be vaccinated for feline leukemia."

Isolation

With early exposure and a little training, some cats take quite well to a harness and leash.

"I have neighbors that have done this, and it works fairly well," McManis said.

Other options include the purrfect fence or perhaps a catio.

Yes, these things exist.

"Basically, kitty can go out, but another kitty can't get in," McManis said. "The cat has a cat door, goes in and out quite freely without the danger of cars or contact with dogs and wildlife. The catios have all kinds of tunnels and enclosures so they can wander around outside without being in any danger."

Check it out at www.purrfectfence.com.

Celebration

We love our cats. They are our fur babies.

But that doesn't mean they are amenable to being treated like human babies.

"Sometimes people want to dress their cats in costumes," McManis said. "Some cats are quite laid back, but for others it’s very stressful and can lead to urinary tract issues."

Another note – if your cat is a chewer, make sure the cords leading to your outdoor decorative lights are out of reach. Ditto for decorations that include things like fake spider webbing.

Don't worry too much about outdoor pumpkins. In fact, McManis said, pumpkin is a great source of fiber for felines.

Adoption

At this time of year, adopting a black cat is more scrutinized, and for good reason.

"There's an increased risk of black kitties disappearing this time of year," McManis said. "We don't really want to think about why that is, but shelters tend to not adopt out black cats around Halloween."

For more information about Just Cats Veterinary Services, visit www.justcatsvets.com.