Saving money on cat health problems means the proper care and maintenance of your cat. It means preventing the problems before they occur, feeding your cat right and keeping a watchful eye for any potential problems.
Maintaining Good Health
The easiest way to save money on cats' health problems is to simply keep a healthy cat. By properly caring for your cat, you will nip any problems before they occur and just might save a costly trip to the vet.
1. A Good Diet
A good diet will keep your cat fit and strong. Remember that not all cats are the same, and that different cats will need different diets depending on their age, species and pre-existing medical conditions. Indoor cats and outdoor cats likely eat differently, so a bit of research in this area will help you determine the best diet for your cat.
2. Fleas, Ticks and Mites
Investing in a good flea collar or other control medicine not only keeps those nasty biting things away but helps reduce the chance of contracting a debilitating or fatal disease. In addition you can add certain things like garlic and sulphur (once a week) to your cat's food.
3. Kitty Litter
Some advocate not buying cat litter and allowing your cat to go outside. If you don't want to take this route, however, always keep the litter clean and fresh to ensure no diseases are spread.
4. Healthy Claws
Declawing is not only unwise, but painful to the cat. Your cat needs her claws for a myriad of uses, so it's better to invest in a good scratching post and keep the claws lightly trimmed to reduce the chance of your cat hurting herself.
Likewise, if your cat does get scratched or cut, it's important to treat it immediately. Carefully clean it and apply pressure to stop any bleeding. Let your cat lick it, as this is a natural mechanism. If the wound won't stop bleeding, however, your cat will require immediate veterinary attention.
5. Aspirin and Human Drugs
Never feed your cat human drugs. Many of them are poisonous to cats. Aspirin should only be used with veterinarian approval and guidance.
6. Treating Worms
Tapeworms and roundworms are the most common enemy of your cat. Unfortunately, there are no home remedies for these, so go with the good stuff. Attempting to try folk cures or cheap things here may actually lead to a more serious problem, especially if the worms go untreated. So at the first sign, identify them and get them treated. (And get the fleas carrying them treated as well).
7. When to Visit the Vet
It doesn't hurt to have your cat examined from time to time. The vet may catch things you miss and be able to prescribe medicine if it's necessary. Having a routine checkup of once yearly can save you money by catching problems before they are serious.
Of course, don't be stingy when deciding whether or not to visit the vet. If you think your cat may have a serious problem and require medical attention, it's often wiser to spend the money and go, rather than wait until it may be too late.
Saving money on your cat begins with addressing her lifestyle and how best to keep her healthy, to avoid any costly problems altogether. By feeding her right and applying common sense care, you can keep your cat healthy, happy and inexpensive.