Famous poet T.S Elliot. T.S. Eliot stated cats make a home and there is evidence that this opinion is well-deserved. A cat that is healthy, well-mannered, and happy can make an excellent addition to your home. If you’ve spent any amount of time browsing the Internet, you probably know that cats aren’t always that agreeable. Here are some tips on how you and your pet can better co-exist.
Shop at your local pet shelter for your next cat. Shelters always have plenty of cats available and adoption fees are usually very affordable. You’re literally saving their life.
To safely help an old cat feel comfortable, place a heated tile under its bed. Use a terra cotta tile to help relieve your cat’s aches and pains; put it in the oven on low heat – 200 degrees or so – for 15 minutes. Place it in an older towel and place it underneath of the feline’s bed. Switch towels every few hours if you need to.
When your female cat is old enough, you should have her spayed. You may not think it’s necessary if you have an indoor cat, but your cat may escape. Having your cat spayed helps to control the pet population and will save you time and trouble.
Never use something that is intended for a canine on your feline. Cats will react very negatively to any products intended for dogs. Flea products are a prime example. Your cat can die when exposed to flea prevention items made for dogs. Keep your cat away from your puppy after treating it with some flea products.
Taking your cat to the vet is part of being a responsible pet owner. Cats should go to a vet at least once each year for a check up, and more frequently for required shots. Cats must see their vet right away if they start having health issues, injuries or other problems.
Cats are known for spending inordinate amounts of time grooming themselves. In long-haired cats, hairballs can result from excess grooming. If your cat has this issue, try changing his food. Some food are produced specifically for hairball reduction, which will help.
Do not allow your cat to be bored frequently. They need exercise and they get it through play. But, too many cat owners fail to realize this. A bored cat runs the risk of developing depression and obsessive compulsive disorders that may harm them or something in your home. Therefore, ensure your cat has enough space for exercising and playing. If they are indoors, give them a scratching post or something to climb on.
Be especially mindful of your cat’s ears when you take them on a trip. You and your cat probably have different ideas about the ideal volume for the car stereo, for instance: Remember that your cat’s hearing is more sensitive than yours. Try turning down your tunes or keeping it off to make your cat’s trip better.
Avoid the chance that your male cat will develop crystals in his system that will come out in his urine by feeding a high quality diet. These are very painful and expensive to treat. Give your cat foods that are low in magnesium. Look over the label. Products including fish have a higher magnesium content then poultry based products.
Sometimes children get too excited when playing with a new cat and may mishandle them. Teach your children how to handle a cat. Demonstrate the proper way to pick up a cat and what they can do with the cat. The bones of a cat are weaker than a dogs, therefore, they should be handled with care.
When your cat accompanies you on a trip, remember to consider the health of their ears. You may love loud music, bit it might be bothering your cat. So, keep your volume down, or turn it off to give your cat a better travel experience.
A tablecloth should be made for your cats. Cats often like to remove food from their bowl to eat it off to the side. Sometimes this will make the area around the bowl messy, and you’ll have to clean it. Place a piece of fabric or a place-mat under your cat’s bowl and then simply shake it over a garbage can for quick and easy clean up.
Cats are great pets, but little ones may not understand that they are fragile. Tell them how to be gentle. Demonstrate the appropriate way to pick the cat up and how to play with them. Tell them that a cat’s bones need to be handled more gently than those of a dog.
Don’t leave a kitten with small kids. A child less than five years old should not be left alone with a small pet. They don’t know what harm they can do. When children get a little older, they develop the skills needed to be around small animals.
Do you have both a dog and a cat? Dogs love to eat cat food! This is why it’s important that the cat’s feeding area is in a spot that’s too high for a dog to get to. This will prevent the two from fighting over the water when the food dishes are empty.
Understand that cats enjoy being elevated. Your cat will be truly happy if you provide a place for him to view his surroundings. You can use a cleared shelf if you’d rather not have a cat tree. Putting a soft cat bed on the shelf can help to add a little comfort.
If your cat dirties the space near his litter box, don’t punish them. Your cat probably did not use the litter box because it is not well taken care of. Your cat will become afraid of you if you punish it or scold it too often.
You cannot teach a cat to use a litter box. This comes naturally – you can’t teach it. You may have heard that rubbing your cat;s paws in litter will help them learn, but that may have a traumatizing effect.
Get your cat used to a carrier. While punishment is a good strategy to train dogs, it is not adapted to cats. They are much better with encouragement. Give your cat a treat every time it does something well. Sooner or later, your cat will try out the appealing space and learn to be comfortable in it. A cat who is used to a carrier will not mind traveling, meaning it will be a much less stressful experience for them.
Drinking Fountain
Buy your cat a fountain it can drink from. Cats like their water to move. Cats respond well to this stream of water. Actually, you will see many cats prefer running tap water from the sink instead of the water bowl. A drinking fountain will be good for the environment and can help the cat to enjoy its water more.
Provide your cat with a drinking fountain. In the wild, cats prefer running water to drink from, and they do in the home as well. Your cat, if its like most, will really respond to this running water. You have perhaps noticed that your cat enjoys drinking from the running sink. Also, a cat drinking fountain is better for the environment and allows them to be more natural.
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. Many cats develop these behaviors in response to a health problem, such as urinary tract infections. Antibiotics will often do the trick if it is an infection.
If you are bringing home a new cat, make sure to give him time to adjust to your current cat. It usually takes about three weeks. They may still hiss and growl when they are in the same room together. Over time, though, they will learn to tolerate each other and eventually form a close bond.
Dogs usually wag their tails as a sign of friendly greeting or encouragement. Cats also wag their tails, but for totally different reasons. When a cat wags its tail, it is usually due to conflict and a potential decision of fight or flee. If you hold your cat and it starts wagging its tail, you should put your cat down right away.
Owning a cat can be hard at times, but it is worth it. Whether your cat is a lazy ball of fur or an active ball of hair, it needs proper care. You’re going to be hearing your cat purring instead of meowing to get your attention.
Never let your cat venture outside if something like rabies, fleas or fungus makes you nervous. Indoor cats can experience these problems, but it is much more likely in an outdoor cat.