Cat husbandry
The text below is reproduced verbatim from the first-hand source (Merck Veterinary Manual).
> It’s much safer for cats to stay indoors than to be allowed outside. > Outdoor cats can get into fights, eat harmful substances, get hit by cars, and face predators and other dangers. > Once a cat gets used to being outside, it can be hard to keep it indoors, so keep your cat indoors from the start. > Cats that don’t get enough exercise can become overweight and develop health problems. > You can also divide a cat’s meal into several smaller meals in multiple bowls spread out around the house to encourage the cat to get up and move to find them. > Keep harmful items that are easy to eat, such as cleaning supplies, electrical cords, and small items (like sewing needles and dental floss), out of reach. > Keep cats away from dangerous plants (such as lilies). > Be careful with open windows and balconies, because cats can fall and get hurt. > Never give your cat human medications, unless a vet says it’s okay. > Litter box training is generally easy with cats, because they are naturally clean animals that seek a place to bury their waste. > You should scoop every day and clean the entire box at least once a week. > A general rule is that there should be at least one more litter box than the number of cats in the household. > The litter box should be placed in a secluded, low-traffic area that your cat can easily access. > Keep the litter box away from the cat’s food and water. > Straining in the litter box can be a sign of a life-threatening emergency, especially in a male cat.
Source: pdf-raw/companion-care/companion_cat_husbandry_src.txt (first-hand professional veterinary reference, tag-stripped).
Claims (verified C1 substrings of source_file)
It’s much safer for cats to stay indoors than to be allowed outside.Outdoor cats can get into fights, eat harmful substances, get hit by cars, and face predators and other dangers.Once a cat gets used to being outside, it can be hard to keep it indoors, so keep your cat indoors from the start.Cats that don’t get enough exercise can become overweight and develop health problems.You can also divide a cat’s meal into several smaller meals in multiple bowls spread out around the house to encourage the cat to get up and move to find them.Keep harmful items that are easy to eat, such as cleaning supplies, electrical cords, and small items (like sewing needles and dental floss), out of reach.Keep cats away from dangerous plants (such as lilies).Be careful with open windows and balconies, because cats can fall and get hurt.Never give your cat human medications, unless a vet says it’s okay.Litter box training is generally easy with cats, because they are naturally clean animals that seek a place to bury their waste.You should scoop every day and clean the entire box at least once a week.A general rule is that there should be at least one more litter box than the number of cats in the household.The litter box should be placed in a secluded, low-traffic area that your cat can easily access.Keep the litter box away from the cat’s food and water.Straining in the litter box can be a sign of a life-threatening emergency, especially in a male cat.