Disadvantages of keeping a cat in an apartment and how to get around them

Laws governing pet ownership

Every owner who gets a pet is immediately responsible for it; if his animal harms or interferes with someone, according to federal laws, the owner is obliged to pay a fine.

Responsibility for breaking laws

Each owner is responsible for his animal and its maintenance, so before purchasing it is important to create all veterinary and sanitary conditions.

Before getting a pet, ask your neighbors for permission or at least warn them.

They cannot be kept in public places, for example, in stairwells or attics, and they cannot be carried for a long time on public transport.

The owner bears full responsibility for damage to neighbors' property or for excessive noise from his pet.

Owners are prohibited from:

throw pets outside;
put to sleep without reason;
have a large number of pets in the apartment.

Count the number of cats in the room

Sanitary standards

Just like for people, cats must also comply with sanitary standards, which will guarantee him quality nutrition, health and the space in which he will live.

The premises should have enough space for both residents and pets.
Cannot be kept in a dormitory, only in apartment-type dormitories.
You must register and provide an identification number.
Should be vaccinated regularly.
Provide your pet with water and food daily.
It is worth showing your animal to veterinarians regularly.

Governing laws

In Russia, keeping pets is regulated by the following terms and conditions, which are in force on the basis of decrees and regulations at the federal level.

Federal Law of December 27, 2018 No. 498-FZ “On the responsible treatment of animals and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation.” The law is at the stage of consideration and approval and will finally come into force by 2021.

Resolution of the Moscow Government of February 8, 1994 No. 101 “On approval of the “temporary rules for keeping dogs and cats in Moscow” and “temporary regulations for the capture and maintenance of stray dogs and cats in Moscow.”

Federal Law No. 4979 “On Veterinary Medicine”, adopted on May 14, 1993.

No laws or bills have yet prescribed precise amendments for the types of animals domesticated as domestic animals. In other words, you can keep both a cat and a hedgehog.

Purchase from a nursery

You have decided to buy a cat, then buy it at a nursery, so you will definitely buy a purebred animal, with all the accompanying papers and vaccinations.

Thanks to proper breeding, the animal will be healthy, and the owner will get the pet he dreamed of.

In accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, when purchasing, draw up a purchase and sale agreement so that each party can guarantee its good faith.

Large cattery

What are the rules and laws regarding keeping pets in 2021?

When living in an apartment building, you have to take into account not only your neighbors, but also their legal rights. For example, anyone can have a pet, which is not against the law, but often creates inconvenience for people around them. We will tell you what rules and laws regarding keeping pets in an apartment building exist in 2021.

The main rule of living in an apartment building is to use the living space for its intended purpose. At the same time, it is prohibited to violate sanitary standards and the legitimate interests of other citizens. If your neighbor's dog endlessly barks or shits under your door, this is a violation. To stop such things, it is often necessary to enter into conflict with your neighbors.

Sleeping place for a cat

To ensure comfort, purchase a sleeping place, since the animal spends most of the day sleeping.

The main thing is that the place is soft and warm, then the pet will spend more time there, as it will be comfortable.

You can buy a hammock that is attached to a radiator or a house.

After the sleeping place has already been purchased, there is no need to force the animal to sit down, give it time to get used to it and sniff it. To show interest, you can put a little mint inside.

Favorite place

Cat sterilization

Veterinarian tips for caring for cats:

Neutering a cat means removing the ovaries. Cats can not only be spayed, but also neutered, removing all reproductive organs.
A cat’s sexual desire can be suppressed with special drops or tablets, but they are hormonal and can harm the cat.
Your cat needs to be spayed when she is 8 months old. Before surgery, it is better not to feed the animal for 5-6 hours, as veterinarians advise. It takes a long time for cats to recover from anesthesia, about a day.
If after two days the cat is lethargic and has no appetite, then it is better to call a veterinarian at home. Do not forget to treat the seam; if it begins to ooze, then lubricate it with brilliant green or fucorcin.
If your cat scratches or licks a stitch, distract her from doing so. A cat's sexual desire can last up to several weeks while sex hormones circulate through the body.
Read more on this topic in the articles: Favorable period for sterilization of a cat and castration of a cat. Preparing a cat for sterilization and methods of sterilization, care after sterilization. Is it worth spaying a cat and neutering a male cat? What complications can there be?

We are responsible for those we have tamed.

Cat toilet

Today there are many options for toilets, they differ in versatility, design and cost, the main thing when choosing this accessory is to take into account individuality and comfort.

When purchasing, you need to pay attention to:

material;
size, shape and depth;
ease of cleaning;
attractiveness;
price;
design.

Be sure to take the rules into account.

The tray should be made of lightweight plastic, but it should also be stable.
The entire surface should be smooth so that defects do not injure the paws.
The size should suit the size of the cat, it should fit in it and turn easily and quickly.

Types of toilets

A flat plastic tray with low sides.
Flat tray with a grid inside.
Tray with high sides.
Tray with replaceable bags.
Tray house.
Dry toilet with carbon cartridge.
Model Clean Paws.”
Self-sifting tray.
Automated toilet

You need to buy a litter box for the convenience of the cat, but the choice should come from the financial capabilities of the owner; read more about choosing a toilet here.

Organization of space for a cat

When deciding to bring a new family member into your home, you should carefully prepare. To keep an animal at home, you need to purchase the necessary equipment:

a house or a separate bed, which will be located in a quiet corner of the room;
scratching post;
bowls for food and drink made of glass or ceramics;
tray with sides for toilet;
accessories for hygiene procedures, toys, harness for walking.

Video “Cat House”

From the video you can learn how to properly organize space for your pet.

Caring for health and beauty

In order for a cat to be active and healthy, it is necessary to constantly care for it, feed it with quality food and constantly devote time to it.

Appearance of a cat

Even if she has short hair, she needs to be brushed, this will help reduce the amount of hair in the room and also reduce the possibility of vomiting in balls.

Long-haired dogs need to be brushed less than twice a week, while short-haired dogs can be brushed once every 7 days.

Long-haired dogs are usually combed with a special comb, all of which have thin teeth and are made of durable metal, thanks to which more hair can be removed.

Teeth

Often, pets develop dental diseases; in order to reduce the possibility of caries and other diseases, it is necessary to constantly brush the animal’s teeth.

To do this, buy a toothbrush with soft bristles and toothpaste, especially for animal teeth; you cannot use toothpaste that is designed for humans, as the cat may be poisoned.

Eyes

Cats take care of themselves, but they also need help; wipe their eyes and nose with a cotton pad every day; if discharge appears, take them to the veterinarian.

Claws

To prevent the cat from damaging the furniture and to make it comfortable for him to move around, it is necessary to trim his claws every two weeks.

When trimming, it is important to ensure that no blood vessels are touched; if an injury is accidentally caused, the wound should be treated.

Hygiene

Bathing is a pet's least favorite activity, so if they are clean, they should not be forced into a bath. Only if you are going to take him to an exhibition or he cannot take care of himself due to his advanced age, you can bathe him.

Clean your ears, but only if plugs appear or mites appear in your ears. In other cases, this manipulation should not be carried out.

State of mind

In order for a cat to be cheerful and playful and to treat the family well, it is necessary to constantly play with it. Then, when the owner appears, the pet will be glad to see him and will try in every possible way to show that she is comfortable spending time with him, playing toys or other games.

Cats on favorite shelves

The cat's attachment to its owner

Each cat is individual, some love to be petted, while others live separately, so expecting him to show his affection is sometimes stupid.

Often they choose one owner in the family and completely obey him, but they do not approach other family members, and in some cases they will not even approach food if it was not the owner who put it there.

What is caring for a domestic cat?

Caring for a cat requires a lot of effort and patience, but if you study all its requirements, it will not take much time. Still, a pet should not only look beautiful, but also be healthy, and this means everything needs to be provided for its comfortable living at home.

It is worth noting! Caring for domestic cats consists of regular inspection of the fur, claws, ears, eyes, nose, and paws. It is important to maintain all parts of the animal's body in frequency so that they are free from dirt, wounds and other unpleasant manifestations.

Caring for a domestic cat involves maintaining its body in frequency so that it looks healthy and beautiful. Also, special attention should be paid to nutrition; it should be balanced and contain all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. But it is still worth considering detailed information on caring for the animal.

Grooming

To ensure that your pet’s coat is always in perfect order and looks beautiful, you need to purchase special brushes or simple combs. You should not use brushes that a person uses in everyday life, they can cause serious harm to the skin and fur of the animal.

Choosing the right grooming tool can be a challenging task. His choice depends on various factors - the length of the coat, the thickness, the structure of the undercoat, and so on. The structure of the coat can largely depend on the breed of the pet.

Important! In order to choose the right brush for combing the fur of a cat, you should contact a pet store. In this place they will be able to tell you how to choose the right tool, what material it should be made of, what shape it should be, and with what frequency of teeth.

Before you start combing, you should prepare all the necessary tools for this. The following recommendations will help in this matter:

Many pet stores have brushes that are designed only for combing fur. They can also have a massage effect on the skin, thereby stimulating blood flow to the hair roots. When combing, they can remove dirt and particles of dead skin from the coat;
brushes that are intended for massage should have short, sparse, large teeth with rounded ends. You cannot use a brush with sharp teeth for massage; they can easily damage and injure the delicate skin of a cat;
If your pet has long fur, then it is worth purchasing a tangle cutter. Using this tool you can easily remove hairballs without causing accidental damage;
in order to cut off damaged areas of fur or separate tangles, you will need scissors with blunt ends;
powders can be used, but not for all cat breeds. For animals with dark coat color, powder should not be used. If you don’t have special products for cats on hand, you can use baby talcum powder.

Once all the means for combing have been prepared, you can begin the process itself. How to properly care for your cat's fur:

Using a massage brush, it is recommended to collect all shed hair;
Next, using a wide-toothed comb, you need to comb the coat well. They comb the entire coat along the hair growth;
At the end, you need to carefully comb the fur with a fine comb or brush, paying special attention to areas where the fur often gets tangled - the belly area and the pants on the hind legs;
It is advisable to accustom your pet to this procedure from childhood so that he reacts calmly to it and does not show aggression.

Care for eyes, ears and nose

Particular attention should be paid to the eyes, ears and nose. These parts of the head are considered the most important, for this reason they should always be clean. Animals often develop discharge from the eyes and nose, which dries out and turns into crusty, unsightly marks. Over time, bald patches form in place of the marks.

For this reason, it is necessary to regularly perform hygiene procedures for cleaning the eyes, nose, and ears. To ensure proper eye care for cats, it is worth remembering the following recommendations:

For cleaning you should use cotton swabs or balls;
It is recommended to moisten cotton wool with a special solution;
to wash your cat's eyes, you can use a 2% solution of boric acid, regular tea, and warm water;
the area around the eyes is wiped with light movements using tampons or balls in the direction from the inner corner of the eye to the outer;
After this, the treated areas can be wiped with dry cotton balls.

It is worth paying attention to your pet’s nose; the nostrils should be clean without traces of discharge. If suddenly he recently had a cold, during which he sneezed with snot, then in these cases it is necessary to clean the nose. For cleansing, you can also use a cotton swab or ball soaked in warm water. The nostrils are carefully wiped with light movements, it is important not to harm the animal.

Treating a cat's ears should be done correctly; to do this, you will need to study the following tips:

the animal’s head must be fixed in a straight position;
the ear is carefully turned inside out;
Using a cotton swab, which is pre-moistened in a special product, soapy water, hydrogen peroxide or lubricated with Vaseline, you need to carefully wipe the inner surface of the pet’s ear;
It is recommended to clean and inspect your cat's ears daily.

Features of dental care

For many, cleaning the teeth of cats and kittens will seem like a strange activity, but veterinarians advise carrying out this procedure regularly. It will help prevent such an unpleasant phenomenon as the formation of tartar deposits. This unpleasant condition, unlike caries, bothers cats quite often.

Interesting! Most often, stone formations appear on the surface of the lower and upper canines, on the first upper molars and small molars. For this reason, it is important to pay special attention to cleansing these areas.

The formation of stones on teeth can occur due to the following factors:

due to bacterial growth;
precipitation of calcium hydroxyapatite. This substance is part of cat saliva;
food residues that turn into plaques.

Preventing the formation of tartar on your teeth is not so difficult; the easiest way to clean it is to use special toys. The pet must constantly play with them and chew them. Good options would be products made from rubber, fabric, and rope. It is advisable to include hard food in the menu, for example, bones, pieces of meat, so that the animal can gnaw and actively chew them.

To clean your teeth yourself, you will need to prepare a toothbrush and a non-sharp wooden stick (for examining the oral cavity). The cleaning process works like this:

It is recommended to sit the cat on the table; it must be held by the scruff of the neck, and a second person must hold the front and hind legs;
Next, prepare your toothbrush;
Clean the upper and lower teeth on both sides. During this procedure, special attention is paid to the area around the gums;
When cleaning, movements can be done from top to bottom or from side to side;
If the animal begins to bleed sharply from the gums, it is recommended to stop this procedure;
If the cat refuses to clean its teeth with a toothbrush, then it can be replaced with a finger that is wrapped in a soft cloth.

Nail care

Caring for a cat's claws is considered important when keeping a cat at home. They should not be too long or sharp, because during active games the animal can harm the owner and children. For this reason, they need to be trimmed periodically.

Tips for trimming nails:

It is recommended to trim claws no more than twice a month;
for trimming you need to use a nail clipper or nail clippers;
Before starting the procedure, you need to thoroughly wash your hands and treat the instrument with an alcohol solution;
then lightly press on the area of the paw pads and force the cat to release its claws;
It is recommended to cut off the tip no more than 2 mm, otherwise important blood vessels may be damaged;
If necessary, the cut ends can be slightly filed with a nail file.

cat litter

Cat litter is an important requirement when keeping an animal in an apartment or house. The pet must know where to go to all its needs and fulfill them in only one place. Some cats quickly learn to use the litter box, while others, on the contrary, may not immediately understand where to go to the toilet.

Important! You should not hit or scold your pet if he has done his business in the wrong place. He may not know where the tray is installed. It’s better to show him his place of toilet, put a piece of paper in it, which you have previously soaked in the animal’s urine, and gently explain that this is where he will have to relieve himself next time.

In order for your cat to quickly get used to the tray, it is worth studying the following important recommendations:

It is worth setting up the animal’s toilet in a secluded place, but the pet must have free access to it;
Many cats have a habit of digging up litter in the litter box, which can spill around the litter box. In these cases, it is worth installing the tray in a closed box, for example, in a toilet;
You should choose the filler with special care. Cats with long hair will benefit from large granules that do not stick to the fur;
the height of the filler layer must be at least 5 centimeters;
Special fillers that absorb and retain moisture and also eliminate unpleasant odors will be especially convenient;
It is recommended to promptly clean the tray and change the filler;
When washing the tray, do not use detergents with a strong smell.

Nutritional Features

Pets are especially demanding when it comes to nutrition; nutrition is largely the basis of their health. If your pet doesn't like the food, he won't touch it, even if he's very hungry. For this reason, you should be especially careful when choosing food for your pet; it should not only be to the animal’s taste, but also contain many useful components.

The diet of an adult cat should contain the following healthy foods:

lean meats - chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef;
sea fish fillet;
the menu should include various offal products - liver, heart, kidneys;
fermented milk products - cottage cheese, kefir, natural yogurt;
Once a day you can feed your cat porridge made from corn, buckwheat, barley and millet cereals;
eggs can be given in limited quantities;
vegetables - zucchini, carrots.

But products from the following list should not be on your pet’s menu under any circumstances:

fatty meats - pork, duck, lamb;
freshwater fish, canned fish;
fresh milk;
food containing spices and salt;
potato;
sweets, baked goods;
smoked meats;
roast.

It is worth noting! The cat must have free access to water. It is worth placing a cup of water next to the bowl; the animal should drink every day, the liquid prevents kidney problems.

You should feed your pet strictly at the same time every day. To prevent overeating, which can subsequently cause obesity, he should eat no more than three times a day.

Nutrition rules

Feed her high-quality, balanced food that will keep her full and active. To diversify the diet, you can alternate between dry and wet food.

Completely avoid these foods:

milk;
fish;
other food that the owner eats.

The most important thing is to constantly change the water in the bowl; it is better for the cat to drink filtered water.

It is strictly forbidden to mix dry and wet food of the same or different brands; this can cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Cat food

Cats can be fed both professional and semi-professional food. At the same time, it is forbidden to give food from the table, since many of them are not suitable for the cat’s stomach and the body as a whole.

In nature, these animals feed on mice and birds, which means that the diet at home should contain meat, cereals, and by-products - these are precisely the components that are included in cat prey.

If you decide to cook your own food, you can add the following products to your diet:

boiled lean meat;
boiled vegetables;
dairy products;
boiled fish;
chicken eggs.

If it is not possible to prepare food for your pet, you can use industrial food. At the same time, it is important to realize that cheap options use low-quality products and their waste. Such food can cause serious harm to the health and shorten the life of cats.

If, with all the variety of feeds, it is not possible to choose the best option, you should seek help from a veterinarian. He will help you choose the brand and type of food that is right for your pet.

How many times a day should you feed?

The kitten needs to eat every 2-3 hours, which is 5-6 meals per day. At the same time, portions should not be large. With the right amount of food, the animal eats most of it in 5 minutes. In this case, it is recommended to remove any leftover food before taking it again.

As the kitten ages, the distance between meals will increase, as well as the volume of the portions themselves. At the same time, he no longer needs night feedings; it is enough to replenish the bowl of food 3-4 times a day. Upon reaching 1 year, the number of meals is reduced to 2-3 times.

Optimal portion sizes

Some owners measure the volume of a cat's serving using a kitchen scale, and some are guided by the rule “the portion should be such that it is eaten without a trace.”

At the same time, it is the second group of owners who are right for the most part. If there is a sufficient amount of food, the cat eats the entire portion and leaves the bowl satisfied, starting to wash itself. If the animal is malnourished, it will sit near an empty plate.

Walks

It is better to accustom your pet to walks outside from 6 months. But first, get him used to the collar. For the convenience and safety of the animal, it is better to buy a special harness that will secure the cat without causing inconvenience.

On the street, watch where he goes, what he eats, if he asks to go home, put him in a carrier or take him indoors.

Walking around the apartment is enough for cats; if they don’t want to go outside, there’s no need to force them.

What does a kitten need?

Before you bring your baby into the house, stock up on the following things:

Tray. Place it in an accessible and secluded place. The tray should be of such a size that the animal fits completely into it.
Toilet filler. It is not recommended to use sand, as it sticks to the paws and spreads throughout the apartment.
Two bowls - for food and for water.
A scratching post that you can buy or make yourself.
A house in which the cat could retire and relax.
A carrier in case you have to go to the vet.
Toys that can be driven around the rooms.

Large selection of pet products here

Difficulties of maintenance

Animals love to sharpen their claws, so they mercilessly damage furniture just because they want to sharpen their overgrown claws.

To prevent property damage, buy a nail sharpener.

Leave marks

To make the unpleasant smell from the marks disappear, during the process, go up to the pet, take him by the withers and start growling at him; if he starts waving his paws, gently hit them to show who is the boss in the family.

Afterwards, spray the mark with perfume to show that the territory is yours.

Don't go to the litter box

A cat may refuse to use the litter box if it is not comfortable there or if it does not like the filler.

Adviсe:

rearrange the tray until you find a comfortable place;
you need to choose the right size;
The tray should always be clean.

By following these simple rules, you can train your animal to use the litter box.

When is it clear that a dog is being abused?

Signs of such an attitude towards one or more dogs may include the following signs.

The dog is always on a short chain or leash - the owner will not lower the chain or leash so that it can stretch.
No dog kennel. The animal is open to the vagaries of bad weather and cannot hide from the heat, rain or snowfall. At the same time, the owner does not take any measures to protect the dog from this.
He deliberately poisons the animal with hunger, thirst, etc. , the dog’s suffering is unjustified.

If neighbors discover such tactics on the part of the owner, a written complaint is filed against him to the prosecutor's office or to the administration at the place of residence, certified by the signatures of persons who witnessed the incident. In this case, the legal adviser helps to draw up this document so that it has legal force. The case is accompanied by photo and video materials filmed by eyewitnesses of what was happening.

Quiet, unwitnessed, nighttime baiting of dogs with special drugs often takes place, causing the painful death of these animals. There are even dog hunters - people who use both drugs and throwing (or pneumatic) weapons against dogs. Their activities go beyond the law.

And yet, it is not a specific local resident or a group of random people who should control the number of stray dogs (and promptly get rid of excess dogs that pose a danger to people), but a special service. It is best to contact the administration of your neighborhood or city with this question. Administration representatives will call a team to the scene of the incident to catch stray dogs and cats in the region.

Whatever the subject of the dispute, the issue can be resolved without contacting any supervisory services . And only if a peaceful solution to the problem does not help, the offender will be called to order by the employees of these services.

In the following video, the lawyer answers all questions regarding the rules for keeping and walking dogs.

Veterinarian advice

Sterilize animals, then they live longer.
It is better to feed with special balanced food, then problems with the gastrointestinal tract are less likely to occur.
Regularly undergo preventive examinations by veterinarians, for young and old - twice a year, for adults once is enough.

Conditions for keeping cats in an apartment can be created quickly; the main thing is to learn the rules and be prepared for surprises that the animal may present in the first days of living with you.

Features of keeping dogs and cats

Before you get a dog or cat, consider the following.

The area of a city apartment may not be sufficient for a dog to live in, especially a large breed. Confinement in the same room, the inability to get out even for a short time outside the house can serve as an impetus for mental disorder. The fact is that the larger a particular individual (breed), the more living space it will require. As a result, it can become more aggressive and pose a danger to people living nearby. In addition, in an apartment a dog can bark often - such noise disturbs the neighbors: while during the day this may not be critical (most of them are at work), then with the onset of night (from 23 o'clock) the barking of a dog behind the wall will be annoying.

Grooming

Despite the fact that the cat often licks itself, its fur requires additional care. For short-haired breeds, brushing is recommended weekly, and for those with thick and long hair - every day.

It is worth accustoming to this procedure as early as possible, this is the only way the combing will take place quickly and without problems. For shedding periods, combs with metal teeth are suitable. They are able to penetrate deep into the undercoat and remove loose hair.