Top Cat Care Tips And Advice Straight From The Pros

Cat owners find endless joy with their pet. However, you should keep in mind that being a cat owner takes a lot of effort. The commitment involves many things that you should take into account. Thankfully, this piece will explain some of these responsibilities. Keep reading to learn more about quality pet care.

Cats often view small spaces as a fun challenge. If your cat is such a curious one, wearing a collar is a safety risk, as your feline might get stuck because of it while exploring. Purchase breakaway collars that will give if they are yanked tightly. Using this collar will prevent your cat from injuring itself.

If you have drape cords in your home, keep them away from your cats. Do not let your cat play with these. If the cords are in loops and the cat jumps into them or plays with them, they could possibly get them caught around their neck. This can definitely hurt them, and it could even kill them. To stop this from happening, pin your drapes and hide them out of sight.

A heated tile for underneath your cat’s bed can provide real comfort. Just get a tile and heat it up in the oven for a while to place under the cat’s bed. Keep the temperature of the oven at 200 degrees. Wrap it in an old towel and put it under your cat’s bed or blanket. Change it regularly if you need to.

Make frequent checkups with your vet to keep your cat healthy. Your cat should receive shots regularly to prevent health issues. Try using the same vet during your cat’s life. That way, the doctor will be familiar with the history of your cat.

You may want to have a microchip put into your car. You may not have had trouble with your cat getting loose previously, but it can happen at any time by accident. Although collars and tags are beneficial, some cats may even wiggle out of them. Microchips are tiny and contain all your contact information. They are impossible for your pet to lose, and most vets and shelters have equipment that can read these chips.

Contact Information

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 crystals can cause a lot of pain to your cat and could end up costing you a lot in medical expenses. Choose foods low in magnesium for your cat. Take a look at the food’s label. You will notice that fish-based foods and products are higher in levels of magnesium than anything sourced from poultry.

Microchips are an increasingly popular form of pet protection. Even an indoor cat could someday jump through an open window. A collar and identification tags can help bring your pet back to you. But experts point out that collars that do not snap apart quickly if your cat gets it caught on a branch or even a bush can accidentally strangle your cat. Microchips are very small, approximately as large as a single grain of rice. Although they are small, they can hold your entire contact information. Almost every vet and shelter has a scanner these days, and they can retrieve your contact information should they find your pet.

When your cat accompanies you on a trip, remember to consider the health of their ears. While you may like some good tunes, your cat is going to appreciate other things. Therefore, try lowering your music or turning it off in order for your cat to enjoy the trip more.

Chances are, your feline spends many hours grooming himself. If your cat is long haired, this may cause hairballs. To assist your cat if it has this problem, you should get food that’s special. Some foods are enriched in fibers and vitamins to facilitate the digestion of the hairballs.

Though cats make great pets for kids, younger kids may be too rough with them. Spend time instructing your children on cat care. Show them to pick up kitty gently and the types of activities which are appropriate. Cats have more fragile bones than dogs so it is important to treat them with care.

Prevent crystals from forming in the urine of male cats with the right diet. Passing stones or crystals hurts and can cost you a ton in vet bills if they don’t come out naturally. Choose a low magnesium food. Read the ingredient list on the label. Fish products can have more magnesium when compared to poultry.

Use a brush on your cat regularly. Brushing can help to spread the natural oils and stimulate the skin’s blood flow. It will also remove loose hair. This can reduce hairballs which can be harmful to a cat and build up in their stomachs.

Remember to take care of your cat’s ears if you travel with him. You may think it’s a good idea to listen to loud music on your stereo, but cats generally don’t enjoy this. So, keep your volume down, or turn it off to give your cat a better travel experience.

You should feed your cat food out of a can. It sometimes has more benefits over dry. That’s because this type of food provides your cat with more protein, good fat and water. For aging cats, it is also easier to chew. You should listen to what your vet recommends, though.

Create a tablecloth that your cats can use. Often, a cat will remove food from his bowl to eat on the side. This makes quite a mess. The best thing for you to do is to have a place mat underneath the cat’s bowl.

Your cat should always wear a collar and ID tag. This is essential even for indoor cats. An adventurous cat can easily slip through an open door or window. Tags with your veterinarian’s info and your contact number should be worn. This is also essential if they have specific medical needs.

Do your best to determine why your cat is meowing. As you develop a relationship with your cat over time, it will become easier to determine why she is meowing. A meow could signal anything from hunger to a desire for affection. Listen to what’s she’s trying to tell you, and you’ll begin to understand her cues.

You should give your cat at least three weeks to grow used to the presence of a new animal. The cats might hiss, swat and hide from each other at first. Eventually they are going to get used to each other, and they may even end up becoming best friends.

Do you own a dog and a cat? Keep in mind that the two animals have separate dietary needs, and dogs will try cat food if given the chance. This makes it a good idea to have a cat feeding place high up enough that your dog can’t get to it. This can also prevent unnecessary arguments between your pets over the water supply, once the food has been consumed.

Cats need to play! Really play is something that all mammals share, no matter the age. Older cats might not be quite as energetic as they used to be, but light play can still be fun for them. Spend some time enjoying your cat.

Speak to your peers about your cat issues. Although you may feel like you don’t need help, other owners may be able to give you good advice. Your local veterinarian can be a valuable source of information, but there is also help available online by joining user forums geared toward cat owners.

Help your cat live a longer life by keeping them healthy and keeping them current with check-ups and vaccinations. Your cat needs to get some shots regularly to prevent different illnesses and parasites. Your cat is a member of your family, so treat them like any valued member of your home.

Use a brush on your cat regularly. This will help spread the natural oils within their fur while stimulating their skin’s blood flow. It also loosens hair that is about ready to fall out. This can keep hairballs at bay because this can choke up a cat and also build up in its stomach.

If the cat stops using their litter box all of a sudden, keep an eye on this. There are conditions that will cause a kitty to do this. Issues like a kidney infection are often behind such behaviors. Be sure to go see your vet if your cat stops using its box.

Rotate the variety of food you feed your cat. By giving them one kind of food all the time, it will be all they want to eat.

Put a breakaway collar on a cat with an engraved tag. This is also true for indoor cats. It is possible that the animal might accidentally venture out of your home. If this occurs, you must be sure that your animal can find its way home.

Feed canned food to your cat. Dry food is cheaper, but some wet foods have more benefits. Canned food generally provides more nutrients, protein and fat as well as liquids. This will make it easier for your older cats to digest. Speak with your veterinarian, but keep this tip in mind.

Refrain from cleaning or using chemicals in the vicinity of your cat. A lot of household cleaners have this in them, so you should read the labels before using them around your cat. This smell is very offensive to cats, and prolonged exposure can even damage their liver.

Every cat should have a collar with his name on it, the owner’s name, and a phone number. Even a house cat may get outside. If this should happen, you will have a better chance of getting your cat back home.

If your cat’s been declawed, you should never let them outside. The cat will be unable to defend itself against other cats or animals, risking injury or even death. Indoor cats are the only ones that should ever be declawed. However, you should still only remove the cat’s front claws. Allow your cat to retain their back claws which are less damaging to indoor surfaces.

As you can now see, cats can bring you much joy. But good care is key to enabling your cat to maximize the duration of its life. Take heed of the advice you’ve just been given if you’re going to bring a kitty home.

Use sticky tape on your furniture. This style tape will really make your cat stop scratching the furniture. You can even find tape specifically designed for this use in many pet stores. By protecting your furniture and providing a scratching post, you can break this type of habit.