Cats are an integral part of any household. Eliot called cats creatures that households depend upon, and that is somewhat true. A happy, well-behaved feline is a great addition to any home. Sadly, cats can be temperamental. Here’s some advice for building a healthier relationship with your pet.
Small places are spots cats love to get into. A collar can be a dangerous thing to wear in such a place. Put a breakaway collar on instead. This could save your cat’s life if the collar gets caught in some branches.
Cats need a certain amount of grooming to stay healthy and presentable. Brush your cat’s fur often to help it be shiny and healthy. Brushing rids your cat’s coat of dirt and helps keep them clean. Also, this can eliminate the constant shedding that you will deal with. Keeping a cat groomed properly can help them and your home look great.
Putting a warm tile beneath the bed of an older cat will help it rest comfortably. Simply heat a terra-cotta tile in a 200 degree oven for 20 minutes. Wrap it tightly in a towel and place it under the cat bed. You can even switch it out every few hours.
If your cat goes outside, it is important to have a collar with a tag. Cats can range far from your home and the tag will help them find their way home. The tag should contain your name and number for contact purposes.
Spraying the electrical cords in your home with a bitter apple solution helps keep the cats from chewing on them. Cords should be covered, especially if your cat tends to chew on them. Bundle electrical cords together inside a tube. 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.
Deter cats from shocking themselves on electrical wires by spraying them with bitter apple. If your cat happens to be a champion cord-chewer, you’ll need to use cord covers to protect your cords. The tube from a used-up roll of paper towels makes an excellent shield for loose cords. Personal electronic devices should be stored when not needed to keep their cords out of reach.
Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. One day, your indoor cat might leave through an open door or get outside through an open window. A collar with tags increases your chances of getting your cat back if it gets lost but it can also be a risk, for instance if it gets snagged in some branches. Your important information can all fit nicely on a rice grain sized microchip. Nearly every vet and shelter owns a scanner which can read a microchip, and since they’re implanted, there isn’t a risk of the chip falling out or getting lost.
Anytime you travel with a cat, their ears should be monitored. You may think it’s a good idea to listen to loud music on your stereo, but cats generally don’t enjoy this. Turn down the music and let the cat rest.
Most cats spend a large amount of time on grooming themselves. Long hair encourages hairballs. If your cat has this issue, try changing his food. Some cat food out there has a special formula in it that reduces hairballs. This benefits your pet and you.
Do you own both a dog and a cat? A dog may enjoy eating your cat’s food when he has the chance to do so. Thus, you must keep cat food out of the dog’s reach. Separate eating spaces are a must to avoid fights between your pets.
Some male cats get urinary crystals, but this is preventable with proper diet. The cat is in pain passing the crystals, and the correction for this is costly. Try to find a cat food that has a low level of magnesium. Consult the ingredient list. Products that contain fish are normally much higher in magnesium over ones containing poultry.
Brush your cat daily. This will reduce the amount of bacteria on the fur. It also loosens hair that is about ready to fall out. Brushing eliminates the formation of hairballs which may choke your cat and lead to buildup of excess hair in the abdomen when the cat grooms himself.
Use a tablecloth underneath your cat’s dish. Often cats prefer moving food from a bowl onto the floor to eat. This may make a big mess that you need to clean up. The best thing for you to do is to have a place mat underneath the cat’s bowl.
Make sure your cat is always wearing a collar with proper identification tags. This is essential even for indoor cats. Cats are naturally curious and a door or window that’s open invites exploration. It is a good idea to include your own phone number along with the name and contact number of your veterinarian. This is crucial if your cat requires special medical attention.
If you get a small kitten for your children, make sure they understand the rules ahead of time. Let them know which rooms and areas your cats should not be in. If the cat is to be indoors, tell your children not to allow him outside. Creating rules and boundaries will help the children learn what is allowed.
Don’t bring home a cat with long hair without taking into account the extra care they’ll require. Even though that nice coat of beautiful silky fur looks great, it can leave a mess on your floors, furniture and clothing. Unless you have time to dedicate to cleaning up their fur, don’t get long haired cats. Also, give them the right food which is anti-hairball.
Don’t let your cat go outside. This can compromise your cat’s safety. The cat can get fleas or something much worse. They might get injured by some other animals, vehicles, or people. If the cat must go outside, set aside a small part of the backyard or front lawn as a place where they can go.
Do you feel like everywhere you turn you are surrounded by your cats hair? Cats shed quite often, so make sure that you brush them a lot. If your cat is shedding a lot, you should brush them more frequently. This will also help their coat from getting tangled or matted.
It’s important to let your cat see where you place the litter box, but it’s not always a good idea to force your cat to learn how to use it. This is the sort of thing which flows naturally. While many pet owners try to introduce their cats to a litter box by rubbing their front paws in the sand, this can sometimes traumatize your furry friend.
Litter Box
Make sure your cat always wears identification tags on their collar. This is essential even for indoor cats. Cats are naturally curious and a door or window that’s open invites exploration. Make sure the collars have tags with your contact information and your veterinarian’s information as well. Also make sure to note any unusual medical requirements.
If your feline just won’t use the litter box, try moving it to a different location. The cat instinctively feels vulnerable when using the litter box, so make sure it’s in a location that’s totally quiet and safe. The best places are basements and laundry rooms.
Do you feel overwhelmed by cat hair everywhere you look? Cats shed frequently; therefore, you need to brush them on a regular basis. If your cat sheds a lot, you probably need to brush it more often. It’s also a great aid to keeping the cat’s coat as pristine as possible.
Put a collar around your cats neck that contains your name, address, and number. Even a cat you plan to keep indoors can sometimes get out or get lost. If this occurs, you should ensure you do all you can to get your cat back.
Carefully consider where you will locate your cats’ litter box. You are surely tempted to put it where the smell will affect your surroundings the least. This litter box must stay in an easy-to-find spot for your cat. Cats are finicky, so you must provide an environment that is not inconvenient or off-putting to the animal. If you keep the litter box on a cold cement floor, put a mat or rug down underneath it.
If you can, keep your cat inside and close to you. Indoor cats live longer and stay healthier. Going outside may give your pet some exercise, but the risk of disease or injury outweighs that benefit.
If you notice your cat is not using the litter box, try moving it to a new location. A cat will be more inclined to use the litter box if it is placed in a quiet and safe area in your home. A couple of good places to put your cat box are your basement and laundry room.
Don’t ever declaw cats that go outdoors. The cat will have difficulty playing with other animals and may get hurt. The only place for a declawed cat is inside, with you. Even in the case of indoor cats, you should only declaw the front claws. Allow your cat to retain their back claws which are less damaging to indoor surfaces.
Dogs will show a lot of enthusiasm through their tail when their owner comes back home. Cats wag their tail as well, but have different reasons psychologically. Tail wagging in a cat usually indicates a mental conflict that your cat is mulling over, such as deciding whether to flee or attack. If your cat starts wagging its tail while you hold it, you might want to set it down to avoid getting scratched and swatted.
Panting is not a normal response for a cat. For dogs, panting is completely normal. Panting in a cat possibly indicates something serious is going on. It is wise to consult your vet, especially if the cat has past respiratory problems.
Make sure you know of any holes in your home that your cat might get into. Cats can fit through very small gaps. Kittens are even smaller! Look into this before getting a new cat. Repair any holes, or change furniture arrangements in problem areas.
Cats get some illnesses that we do. You know your friend’s habits, and you should be able to tell when they’re not feeling well. A trip to the vet is worth the time and money in these cases. That way the vet can rule out other more serious conditions.
Don’t give table scraps to your cat. Because of the additives and cooking techniques used in human food, you should avoid feeding it to your cat. A bit of cooked meat or egg is a healthy treat your cat will enjoy. Cat food, though, can make your pet’s diet complete.
Think over the decision to allow your cat to eat food that you’re eating. The additives in human food may not agree with your cats’ digestive system. If you wish to treat them, try giving them a tablespoon of cooked beef or chicken, or even a bit of egg. Abiding by feeding instructions for your cat’s weight and age completes the diet.
Your cat needs to wear a collar and tag all of the time. Cats are smart and will try to get out whenever they get the chance. If your cat is wearing the appropriate collar with tags, you’ll have a good change of finding it.
Vet visits are often inevitable, and the bills can quickly pile up. You can save a great deal of money by filling your cat’s prescriptions online. There are a number of businesses that will ship the medication right to you. Buying frequently-used medicine this way can save you a lot of money.
Keep a watchful eye out for your cat when you put up your Christmas tree. Your cat will want to climb the tree and might cause some damages. Try and keep your cats away from your Christmas tree as a preventative measure.
You cat will likely be upset when you bring another pet home. To avoid conflict, keep your new pet separate from the cat. Let them get used to the new pet’s smell. After a few weeks, introduce the new animal to your cat.
Don’t let your cat bite feet or hit at people. While this behavior might seem rather cute, it’s actually your cat misbehaving. Train them from the day they enter your home to get them to behave well.
Caring for a cat can be difficult, but it is very gratifying. Whether your cat is a lazy ball of fur or an active ball of hair, it needs proper care. In no time you’ll notice more purring and less meowing.
If you own a cat that spends time outside, be certain he has safe places to explore and roam. Your cat may be able to easily jump over your fence. You can try adding a piece of chicken wire around the fence’s top to deter climbing.