On 8 May, Triple s Local invited Emily, the manager of PETSO, a chain pet store in the area, to hold a mini lecture and share with novice owners some basic science-based knowledge about raising pets.
To first-time cat owners
Cats are usually brought to your side at about 8 weeks old. Please prepare some goat milk powder, litter boxes and soft beds for them. Start with kitten cat food; when switching cat food, be aware of the need to mix both the current food with the new cat food together and give your kitten a 7-day adaptation period.
Use a covered litter box and clean it in a timely manner to reduce odor. If it is too dirty, kittens may want to relieve themselves in other places.
To first-time dog owners
In addition to providing basic needs, you also need to prepare puppy diapers, barriers, and train your puppy to release in a designated spot. Offering your puppy treats can help her learn some basic instructions or you can seek help from professionals. A course at puppy school breaks down to about 4-5 lessons and the cost is $200-$300; dogs must be accompanied by their owners in class.
It is recommended to raise small breeds when living in apartments, such as poodles that don’t shed, but you need to groom them regularly. French bulldogs and pugs are also popular breeds, but they have rather sensitive skin and stomachs.
Other pet options
Other recommended small pets include rabbits, birds, fish and reptiles.
It is important to note that reptile licences are required for raising any turtles in NSW and different licences are available depending on the species and numbers.
Vaccination
Any vet can implant microchips and give vaccines to your pets. The first shot is usually given at 6 weeks of age, the second shot is given one month after the first shot, and the third shot is given two months after the second shot. Do not let your pets come into contact with other animals before they receive all of the three shots. After that, one booster vaccination shall be given every year.
Sexual maturity of pets
Taking cats as an example, sexual maturity of female cats occurs as early as 4-5 months and as late as 18 months. Male cats become sexually mature relatively late. If male cats have problems such as being underweight, low ranking in the cat family and psychological barriers, they cannot breed even if they are physiologically mature.
When cats have their estrous cycle, they will yowl in the middle of the night and urinate at random places to mark their territory. For female cats, their eyes brighten, their voice changes, their appetite diminishes, but they become more active; they like to roll and twist, rub against people or objects with their bodies, raise their hips and tails and become restless at night.
Sterilisation
The best time for sterilisation is before your pets enter their estrous stage as it is better not to sterilise your pets during their estrous cycle. Your pets need to fast before surgery for sterilisation and you will need to pay attention to their wound condition after the surgery. Try not to make them too excited or have them run or jump. Put Elizabethan collars on your pets to prevent them from licking their wounds. Male sterilisation and postoperative care are relatively simple; however, females need more care.
Deworming
Cats and dogs need to be dewormed regularly. Insects in vivo refer to gastrointestinal worms; insects in vitro refer to fleas and ticks in the environment. Milbemax and Drontal can be selected for in vivo deworming, which can be fed directly or ground to put into canned food. Advocate can be used for in vitro deworming, which is applied around the neck as fleas are most likely to hide there.
We will continue to release more mini lectures covering various topics.
