Great Advice To Help You Navigate The World Of Cats
A few purrs, a smart animal and a delightful companion. These are some of the great characteristics of a cat. Taking care of a cat can be awful, however, so you need the right advice. This article will give you some tips on cats that can make your cat healthier and happier. Read on!
Contact local shelters if you want to adopt a cat. There are tons of loving cats there, and the fees often cover the needed vet care. By adopting a cat from your local shelter, you will preserve a life and will do your part in controlling the cat population.
When looking for a new cat for your home, contact a local animal shelter. Shelters have great pets available for adoption, and the fee isn’t that high. Adopting your cat through a shelter means you are helping to control the cat population and saving a life at the same time.
Taking your cat to the vet is part of being a responsible pet owner. A routine check-up should happen annually, and more often if necessary shots are due. When the cat seems to be acting abnormally, take it to the vet immediately.
You should be bringing your cat to their vet for a check-up regularly. Your cat should receive shots regularly to prevent health issues. Do your best to keep the same vet for your pet’s entire life. This way they will know your cat’s history the best.
An outdoor cat must always wear a tag on its collar. Cats enjoy traveling far away, so a tag can help your cat get back home when lost. At least put your phone number and pets name on the tag.
Don’t use items on a cat that are meant for a dog. Cats are not the same as dogs, and products meant for dogs can make cats very ill. This is particularly true when it comes to flea treatments. Some products designed for dogs could be harmful to your cat. Make sure to separate your cat from your dog after spraying.
Lessen the chances of your cat becoming harmed or killed by spraying all electric cords with something to keep them from chewing it. Bitter apple is a good choice and can be found at most pet stores. Cords should be covered, especially if your cat tends to chew on them. Use paper towel or wrapping paper rolls to bundle up cords. If you have electrical cords laying out that are not being used, put them away as cats can play with them and then move on to live electrical cords.
If you have an outdoor cat, be sure he or she has a tagged collar. Tags can save you a lot of trouble if your cat gets lost. Make sure at a minimum to put your pets name and your phone number on the tag.
Keeping your cats away from the counters can be hard. If your cat is high, he can see everything that is going on. One way to deal with this issue could be to devote certain high spaces for your feline friend to sit in. Placing a cat tower by the kitchen can keep cats from getting on counters.
Cat claws are one of the worst enemies of your home and furniture. If you find your cat shredding your furniture, consider purchasing a scratching post or cat tower. Encourage your cat to scratch where you want them to. It may take some time and some corrections, but it can usually eliminate the problem.
The cat’s litter box should be placed in the right spot. Try and put it in an isolated area away from the cat bowl. To minimize odors, keep it in a spot that’s well ventilated. You and your cat will greatly appreciate this.
A microchip will allow you to find your pet if it is lost. Indoor cats can slip out an open door. Other measures like tags and collars are better than nothing, but your cat may wriggle out of them or they may be torn off by outdoor hazards. A microchip about as big as a grain of rice and holds all the contact information your cat needs. Nearly all veterinarians and shelters now have scanners capable of reading the information on these chips, and since they are under the skin, there is no chance of the chip getting lost.
Most cats spend a large amount of time on grooming themselves. If the cats hair is too long, this is what causes hairballs. There are foods which help combat this problem. Some foods are enriched in fibers and vitamins to facilitate the digestion of the hairballs.
Don’t allow your cat to get bored too often. Cats require physical activity. Sadly, many cat owners do not understand the importance of this. Cats that are frequently bored may develop OCD, depression or other harmful conditions. Give them plenty of space to roam and provide them with toys to give them some exercise. If they are indoors, give them a scratching post or something to climb on.
Try and figure out why kitty is meowing. Learning about your cat’s meows will be easier the longer you know her. They may want outside or may be hungry. Be aware of the cues your cat gives you, and the two of you will have a better relationship.
It’s often cheaper to buy medicine for your cat on the Internet instead of through your vet. If it’s an emergency, buying online may not be an option. Most of the time, you will get great discounts if you purchase on the web.
Do you have both a dog and a cat? Dogs love to eat cat food! Feed your pets in different areas of the house, and monitor them while they eat. That also means they don’t fight about water after eating the food.
Your cat has sensitive ears, especially in the car when they’re stressed out. You may be tempted to blast your favorite songs at top volume. Cats, on the other hand, would probably prefer that you didn’t. Therefore, try to turn down your music or keep if off altogether so your cat has a better trip.
Use canned food for your cat. Dry food may cost less, but canned food has more benefits. Your cat will get more water and more vitamins and protein. Aging cats will find it easier to chew. Speak with your veterinarian before making any major changes, however in general, canned food is better for your cat.
Speak to your peers about your cat issues. You may try to handle it yourself, but you might need input from other cat owners. Your vet is a great source of advice, or you can find forums on the Internet to connect with other cat owners.
Put some thought into where you place the litter box. Do not hide the box simply to reduce the smell. It is important to locate the litter box where your cat can easily get to it. Cats are finicky, so you must provide an environment that is not inconvenient or off-putting to the animal. Keeping litter boxes on cement floors that are cold can be remedied by placing a rug or mat under it.
Don’t buy cheap cat food. Look at the ingredients and make sure protein like fish, chicken, or beef is near the top. Stay way from cat foods made of corn or any other ingredients that aren’t based in protein. Since cats are carnivorous, they require animal protein to stay in the best health.
Be aware of your cat stopping their litter box usage. There are a number of medical issues that can cause your cat to suddenly stop using their box. A potential bladder or kidney infection may be the reason for this. If your pet stops using the litter box then see your veterinarian.
New cats are sometimes not welcomed in the home. They may still hiss and growl when they are in the same room together. Sooner or later, they’ll tolerate and even begin to love each other.
To the greatest extent possible, you’ll want to keep your cat close to you and your house. It has been proven that indoor cats have a much longer life span than cats that live outdoors. You should go outside with your cat every day to play and exercise.
Keeping your cat up to date on vaccinations and annual check ups can keep your cat in good health and provide a longer life. Cats need regular checkups, just like humans. Please consider your cat as a family member, and take good care of them.
Brushing your cat more frequently is the most common way to combat hairballs. If it doesn’t work, though, you have other options. Mix about a teaspoon full of pumpkin into your cats’ food. Mixing the pumpkin up with water drained from a can of tuna (again, one teaspoon’s worth) may also help. In addition, certain cat foods contain ingredients that are made to prevent hairballs, such as fiber. This may help resolve the issue.
Dogs let you know when they are excited and/or happy when they wag their tails. Cats wag their tail as well, but have different reasons psychologically. When a cat wags its tail, it can mean that it is conflicted or that it is trying to decide if it should run away from a situation or attack. If you’re snuggling your kitty and you see its tail wag, it’s a sign you should put it down before you get scratched.
Do not overfeed your cat since this can lead to a lot of health issues in the future. Besides putting your cat at risk for obesity, providing it with too much food can open the door to many other health problems. Do not overfeed your cat and follow your vet’s recommendations on the types of foods to feed him.
Don’t ever let your declawed cat outdoors. The cat is defenseless against other animals, which may lead to injury or possibly death. Only indoor cats should be declawed. Even so, only remove the front claws when you do so. A cat’s back claws are important to his balance.
Vet visits are often inevitable, and the bills can quickly pile up. Save money by ordering pet medicines online. Some companies actually deliver medications straight to your home. This is great for medicine like flea treatments and heart worm pills that your cat takes monthly.
This piece has given you useful cat tips. This will help you to become a better cat owner. When you take care of a cat properly, the cat will be happier and you may enjoy each other much more. You should start using these tips and do more research on the different things you can do to properly care for your cat.
An indoor-only cat is your best bet. Most cats that reside outdoors tend to lead shorter lives, and are more easily apt to get a disease that could seriously harm them. These diseases are bad enough for the cats and they can also be passed along to humans. Make sure that any indoor cat has a location to sit in sunlight.
