'I'm a vet – there are five things I would never do with my cat and you shouldn't either'
Getting a pet is a big decision, and knowing how to take care of your new companion is very important. To help, one vet has shared the common things she won't be doing with her cat, as well as the reasons behind her decisions.
Cat the Vet is a UK based veterinarian who has grown a following on social media by sharing tips and tricks helping owners to keep their pets happy and healthy. In one video, she showed off her new kitten, Mowgli, and revealed the five common things she won't be doing to him.
"I'm a vet and here are five things I won't be doing with my new kitten," Cat said in the beginning of the video, before moving on to explain her rationale.
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Feeding him the wrong things
"Number one, I won't be feeding him a raw food diet, he will be getting commercial kibble and wet food," she said. "For me, personally and professionally, the risk of bacterial infections, protentional parasite infections, and nutritional imbalances are far too much for me to want to risk my pets or my family.
"If you choose to raw feed, that's fine, but it's not for me."
Playing with laser pointers
Cat went on to explain that her kitten wouldn't be allowed to play with any laser pointers, saying: "They're an incredibly frustrating toy for cats, because although they're exciting to chase, there's nothing to catch when they pounce.
"And they can find that really irritating and annoying."
Feed him the same thing every day
Cat had more guidelines about what she would be feeding her pet, and said she's planning on adding variety to her kitten's diet. "Although he will always eat a commercially prepared kibble or wet, I will not keep that the same in [his] entire life," she said.
"It's really important for our cats to get used to different textures and different flavours. So we'll be switching up his meals on a very regular basis."
Not neuter him
Cat went on to explain that she would get her kitten neutered at a young age. "It's far better for the cats, both the girls and the boys, to be neutered," she said.
"They're far less likely to fight, to wander, to get themselves in trouble, and of course girls can't get pregnant. Because of course kittens are lovely and very cute, we have enough in the world already, and we do not have enough homes for the ones that we have.
"All responsible cat owners will have their cats neutered."
Keep him indoors
The final rule Cat had for her kitten was the way she was going to raise him as an outdoor cat, instead of as an indoor cat.
"Here in the UK, it's quite normal for our cats and I'm very lucky to live in an area which is pretty safe," she said. "You can give your cat everything they need just living in a house, but it is not as easy as them having outdoor access, so he will be going outside and meeting the big wide world."
She also wrote in the caption of the video: "It is a balancing act, deciding to let your cat out but for me and my pets the benefits outweigh any risks."
Despite Cat's informative video, people took to the comments to share their own opinions on her arguments.
"As a vet, you definitely should be keeping him indoors," one person argued, while a second person said: "I was surprised you said you’d be letting the kitty outside. So many negatives for letting an animal roam unattended."
A third person said: "My cat is outdoor (his choice)! I keep him in overnight. He is turning 5 this summer! I would recommend an AirTag for anyone worried to lose them."
