Looking after a pet...
Under the new Animal Welfare Act, which came into force at the end of March 2007, anyone who is responsible for a pet has a legal responsibility to meet the five basic welfare needs of pets. These are:
a proper diet, including fresh water 
somewhere suitable to live
any need to be housed with or apart from, other animals
allowing animals to express normal behaviour
protect from and treatment of, illness and injury
Visit the Animal Welfare Act advice pages for answers to a variety of tricky problems - including what to do if your cat gets stuck up a tree, help on finding a lost pet, reporting animal cruelty and more.
What do dogs need?
Companionship - to be with other dogs or people and not to be left alone for too long.
A balanced diet.
A constant supply of fresh, clean water.
A bed and blanket.
A well-fenced garden to play and exercise in.
To be brushed every day, especially if they have long hair.
Help to clean their teeth. They also need to have their teeth checked regularly by the vet.
Regular walks and a lead for walking near traffic or farm animals.
Someone to clean up after them with a pooper-scooper.
Never to be left in a car in warm weather, even with the window open.
A collar and identity tag.
To be properly trained.
To be microchipped.
To be neutered.
To be taken to a vet if they are ill.
Injections to prevent serious diseases.
Worming and regular flea treatments.
To be looked after when you are on holiday.
What do cats need?
Companionship - to be with other cats or people for at least part of the day.
A balanced diet - make sure there are no bones in your cat's food.
A constant supply of fresh, clean water.
A garden or safe place to play and exercise every day, away from busy roads.
Somewhere warm and cosy to sleep.
To be brushed regularly, particularly when shedding their coats. Long-haired cats need to be brushed every day.
A scratching post.
Help to clean their teeth. You can brush or rub their teeth with special toothpaste.
To come and go as they please - a cat flap is ideal. To be trained to use a litter tray.
To be microchipped in case they get lost.
Cat neutering should be carried out as early as possible in order to avoid unwanted litters. Most cats are sexually mature at six months, but some cats can become pregnant as early as five months.
Therefore, the ideal age to neuter your cat is between four and five months. To be taken to a vet if they are ill or injured.
Injections to prevent certain serious diseases.
Worming and regular flea treatments.
To be looked after when you are away on holiday.