How To Determine Whether To Keep Your Cat Indoors Or Not

how to determine whether to keep your cat indoors or not

Cats must be occupied when they aren’t asleep. Every time you turn your back, you can guarantee that your cats will be climbing somewhere they are not allowed. You can use many things to prevent this like cat toys. Learn about those and additional cat tips from the article below.

Any drape cords should be hidden so the cat cannot grab hold of them. Do not allow your cat to play with these. The cords may be looped and a cat may get them wound around their neck. This could even choke them to death. It is highly recommended that you keep all drape cords pinned in such a way that the cat can’t see them so as to prevent any accidents.

Flea Prevention

Cats enjoy getting into small spaces. Cats that wear collars are at risk should they become stuck somewhere cramped. A breakaway collar will let go if it is pulled on too tightly. This can keep your cat alive.

Never use something that is intended for a canine on your feline. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs. This definitely applies to flea products. Products used for flea prevention in dogs can be very harmful to your cat. Once you use flea prevention products on your dog, it should be kept separately from the cat for hours.

Make sure your cat has a collar if it goes outside. The collar and tag will make it easier to find the cat if it gets lost. At the very least, you should include your contact info and the name of your cat on the tag.

If a cat is outdoors frequently, they need a collar that has a tag. Understand that cats may travel a long distance; therefore, if it gets lost, this tag will assist you and others in finding it. You have to be sure you have your pet’s name and number written on the tag.

Your home furnishings can fall victim to your cat’s sharp claws. If you find your cat tearing up things around your home, buy a scratching post or cat tower. Redirect your cat to the scratching post when they start to go after your furniture. Catnip can be put in the posts or on the tower to help train the cat to use it. It may take some time and some corrections, but it can usually eliminate the problem.

When you get a kitten for kids, you have to set up a few rules first. Let your kids know which rooms your cat is allowed in. If your have an indoor-only cat, be sure the kids understand that the cat is not to go outside. Make sure your children understand the rules from the get go.

Cats are generally nocturnal. This means that they’re going to be running around more when it gets dark. One way to deal with a kitten’s playful activity at night is just to shut your door. This way, they can’t disturb you while you sleep.

Speak to your peers about your cat issues. You can often get great advice from friends and family. Participate in online discussion boards for cat owners, or pick up the telephone and speak with your vet.

Cats frequently groom themselves. If the cats hair is too long, this is what causes hairballs. One way to alleviate this condition in your cat is by feeding him special food. Some foods are in fact formulated specifically to reduce hairballs, and that is a good idea for your cat and you too.

Never try to teach a cat to use a litter box. This is not something that needs to be taught. In fact, it comes naturally for them. A lot of people think that they can take their cat and try to rub their cat’s paws on the litter, but this may just traumatize the cat.

Cats can be great pets for children, but some younger children may be a bit too rough with cats. Make sure your child knows how to pet a cat. Show them what activities are appropriate and how to pick them up. Cats have weaker bones than dogs and need more gentle treatment.

Make sure to give your cats different types of food so that they aren’t as finicky. When you give the same thing day after day, it becomes boring.

Think hard before allowing your cat outside. Your cat might not be safe outside. Fleas can infest your cat, or something worse can happen. There’s the chance that your pet could be harmed by other animals or passing vehicles. When your cats go outside, keep an eye out to make sure they do not wander too far away.

Give your cat a water fountain. Cats that live in the wild like drinking from running water, and they have the same desires in a home. They are more likely to get plenty of water when it is running. In fact, the running water in a sink garnishes more attention from a cat than their water bowl usually does. This is a more natural way for them to drink.

Be careful if you leave a kitten with a young child. Younger children, especially under 5, cannot be left alone with your cat. Their immaturity prevents them from understanding how easily they could hurt the kitten. As children grow, it will be easier to see if they’re mature enough to handle a cat.

If your cat or kitten begins to urinate frequently or in places other than his litter box, a trip to the vet may be in order. Cats sometimes exhibit this type of behavior when they have a urinary tract infection or other health concern. A potentially serious illness can be prevented with some inexpensive antibiotics.

Never punish a cat for a mess outside of its box. Often, this happens when the litter box is dirty. If you punish your cat for this, it will fear you later in the future.

Think about extra care before you take home a cat with long hair. The hair may be a gorgeous thing to behold, but it will require a lot of maintenance. Don’t get a long haired cat unless you’re prepared to do a little extra cleaning. Not to mention cats that have long hair are more prone to getting issues with hairballs.

Don’t get rid of an old scratching post. To your cat the post is just right. By throwing away an old scratching post and replacing it with a newer one, your cat will likely look for older items to scratch, such as your furniture.

The best way to make sure that you have a healthy cat is to keep up to date with vaccinations and trips to the vet. Kids need shots, and so do cats. Your cat will be a part of your home and that means it should be treated as good as you would treat a family member.

Feed your cat quality cat food. Beef, fish or chicken, all great protein sources, should head the list of main ingredients. Look for foods that do not have corn or elements that aren’t protein. Because cats are carnivores, their diet need only consist of a good source of protein.

When your cat is close to giving birth, provide a spacious area for her. This process can take up to five hours. If six hours have gone by and you think there are still more kitten inside the cat, take her to a vet immediately.

Feed canned food to your cat. Dry food is less expensive, but canned food provides more benefits. Canned food gives your cat more protein and the water content helps with hydration. If your cat is getting older, canned food is easier to chew as well. You should listen to what your vet recommends, though.

Put a collar your cat with your contact information on it. This should be done even with an indoors cat. The animal could get out. If your cat does get out, make sure that it can get home.

A collar and tags are a great way that your cat can be identified if it is found stray. This is essential, even for indoor cats. Cats love to explore, and if they see an opportunity to go outside, they will take it. The identification tags should contain your home phone number and the number for your veterinarian. This is very critical if your feline has specific medical issues.

If your cat gets hairballs often and you have been brushing her regularly, there are other things that may help. Add one teaspoon of pumpkin to your cat’s food. You can also mix in a little water from a tuna can with the pumpkin. Anti-hairball foods are available commercially as well.

Does it feel like your home is overrun with your cat’s hair? Since cats shed so much, they need to be frequently brushed. The more hair you see on the ground, the more you should pull out the brush. This can also stop their coats from becoming tangled up.

Use sticky tape on your furniture. If your cat is ruining your upholstery, tape can be a good way to stop your cat from doing so. Certain pet stores even sell this type of tape for this reason. You should also give your cat a favorable alternative by purchasing a scratching post.

Confine a sanitary area of the house for your cat to give birth. It will take about three to four hours for all of the kittens to come out, so be patient. If six hours have gone by and you think there are still more kitten inside the cat, take her to a vet immediately.

Your kitty may love table scraps, but they aren’t cat friendly. People food is bad for cats, given its ingredients, preservatives and common cooking techniques utilized. If you wish to treat them, try giving them a tablespoon of cooked beef or chicken, or even a bit of egg. If you go by the feeding instructions that are on your cat’s food based on their weight and age, then they have a complete diet.

Some foods are not permissible to serve to your cat. Common foods that are poisonous to cats include: garlic, grapes, onions and tomatoes. If your cat eats these things, they could become very sick. In addition, milk can also upset your cat’s stomach.

Cats can be very energetic and using things like toys can help them channel that energy. Keeping cats busy can keep them from tearing up your house. The recommendations in this article can keep your cat as happy as can be.

Never allow your cat to be exposed to phenol chemicals. Phenol is found in common products such as Pine-Sol, Lysol, and various other cleaners. Your little friends find this smell completely offensive. Even worse it can cause liver damage over time.