Things You'll Need
- High-quality cat food
- Food dish
- Brush
- Triangle-shaped slicker brush
- Fine-tooth comb
- Guillotine-style clippers
- Styptic Powder
- Chamois cloth
- Cotton balls
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Cat carrier
Instructions
Feeding
Feed your cat a high-quality, healthy cat food. Canned and dry food can be alternated.
Schedule a time to feed your cat each day. Choose a non-hectic time that meets both your cat's schedule and yours. Adult short haired cats should be fed twice a day.
Pour the cat food into individual feeding containers if you own more than one cat. Feed different cats in different areas of the home to keep cats from eating each other's food.
Alternate dry and canned cat food at mealtimes if your tabby is a finicky eater. This will keep him from becoming attached to one food choice.
Grooming
Brush your shorthair cat with a brush sold specifically for shorthaired cats. Use a triangle-shaped slicker brush carefully around your cat's face and ears. Brush your cat from the head to the tail. Be gentle when brushing across the cat's tummy.
Remove the loose fur from the cat with a fine-toothed comb. Repeat the gentle brushing process as described in Step 1. Repeating combing, as this will remove debris and dirt loosened by brushing.
Clip the cat's nails with nail trimmers specifically designed for cats, such as guillotine-style clippers. Keep styptic powder on hand to treat your cat's nail if you accidentally snip the nail and cause bleeding.
Smooth your hands over the cat's coat. The smoothing process helps owners detect any injuries, parasites or unusual lumps. Smooth the fur with a chamois cloth for added shine.
Dampen a cotton ball with clean water and gently clean the corners of the eyes. Dampen two more cotton balls and clean each ear. Do not use the same cotton ball on both ears.
Clean the teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically designed for cats.
Vaccines, Surgeries and Medication
Visit the veterinarian regularly to remain up-to-date on the tabby's vaccinations. The first vaccination for kittens should be at 9 weeks of age.
Neuter or spay your tabby under a veterinarian's care. After the spaying or neutering process, the tabby will be unable to reproduce. This process typically lengthens a cat's life span by lowering the risk of contracting cancer.
Speak with your veterinarian before giving your cat sedatives or tranquilizers before traveling, as they could dangerously interfere with a cat's ability to balance, according to Tree.com.