Boost Your Knowledge Of Cats With These Cat Tips
Cats are wonderful companions that you can spend hours playing with. You may also want to contribute to their play time with fun toys and activities. A cat is a reliable, always-available source of amusement and love. Follow along and you should have no problem with things.
Cats love to squeeze into tiny spaces. A collar can become a liability if your cat is especially adventurous. A breakaway collar is a good option since it will break if your cat pulls on it. This can save all “nine” of your cat’s lives.
Any drape cords should be hidden so the cat cannot grab hold of them. It is easy for the cat to get his head caught among the cords when playing with them. This is incredibly dangerous as it could be fatal for your cat. To prevent this from happening, keep any drape cords pinned away from any eyes.
You should take your cat to the vet on a regular basis to maintain optimum health. Cats should go to a vet at least once each year for a check up, and more frequently for required shots. If a condition, illness, or injury happens, your cat should be taken to the vet immediately.
You shouldn’t ever use products designed to be used on dogs on your cat. This can irritate your cat or cause an allergic reaction. One product in particular to pay close attention to is any remedy for fleas and ticks. Flea products that are intended for a dog can kill a cat. Once you use flea prevention products on your dog, it should be kept separately from the cat for hours.
You may want to have a microchip implanted in your cat. Even an indoor cat may find a way out of your home. Although they provide the information needed to find your beloved pet, they can also accidentally get caught or even be wiggled out of. A microchip will hold the contact information to reach you and it’s only about as big as a piece of rice. 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.
Your furnishings and belongings can easily be ruined by a cat’s claws. If you find your cat shredding your furniture, consider purchasing a scratching post or cat tower. Place this device into an area that your cat frequents, and attempt to get your cat to scratch it rather than the furniture. It doesn’t happen overnight but with some patience, you should be able to save your house from the claws.
Cats are known for spending inordinate amounts of time grooming themselves. Hairballs are more common in long-haired cats. Buy your cat specialized food to prevent this problem. The are specially formulated cat foods that help reduce the instances of hairballs, which is not only good for your cat, but also good for you and your feet in the middle of the night.
The litter box for your cat needs to be kept in a good place. Don’t put it close to your cat’s food or in an area that gets too much traffic. Put it in a ventilated area to reduce odors. Not only will your cat appreciate it but you will too.
Sometimes children get too excited when playing with a new cat and may mishandle them. Guide your kids in handling a feline. The objective is to be as gentle as possible with your cat. Tell them that a cat’s bones need to be handled more gently than those of a dog.
Anytime you travel with a cat, their ears should be monitored. You may prefer loud music as you drive down the freeway, blasting your stereo, but your feline friend likes softer sounds better. Reduce the volume of the music and keep the windows up; let your cat rest!
Cats have a love affair with heights. Designating a high-up area where your cat can hang out and watch everything from will help him to feel comfortable. Placing a shelf or two up high will not take up too much space in your home. You can even lay down a blanket to give your kitty some comfort.
Never punish the cat if he or she causes a mess outside the litter box. Most of the time when this happens, it is because you are not taking proper care of the box. If you attempt to punish your pet, you may cause fear and resentment–and more accidents!
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. Cats instinctively understand what to do and teaching is not required. Don’t force your cat into the box or you will traumatize them.
To avoid having a picky cat, switch up the kinds of foods you give him. If they eat the same food all the time without changing it, that may be the only one they’ll eat later on.
Take the time to make your cat familiar and comfortable with a carrier. Punishment affects cats differently from dogs. Encouragement is more likely to get them to respond. Placing some of your cats favorite items in the carrier can really help. Soon that cat will walk into the carrier on its own. This takes the hassle out of traveling with your cat in its carrier.
Do you feel overwhelmed by cat hair everywhere you look? When a cat sheds a lot, brushing is very important. If your cat is shedding too often, you should brush it more regularly. This can also prevent their coat from becoming matted or tangled.
Before bringing home a long-haired cat, consider the extra care involved. That lovely, silky coat won’t look nearly as good all over your floors as it does on the cat. You should not get a cat with long-hair unless you are ready to do a lot of cleaning. Hairballs are something that you will often deal with if you own a fluffy cat.
Litter Box
Your cat will thrive if allowed to say indoors. Indoor kitties typically live longer than the outdoor variety. While cats can get their exercise roaming the neighborhood and squaring off against other cats, they can also get diseases and injuries this way. Vigorous indoor play with an owner is a preferable way to get exercise.
Really consider where you place the litter box. It’s tempting to keep it in an inconspicuous place where it won’t be seen or smelled. Make sure your cat can easily reach the litter box at all times. A finicky cat may not use the litter box if the environment is very inconvenient. If the littler box is on cold, hard floor, try placing a rug beneath it.
Don’t ever give your cat medicine created for humans. The vet is the only one who should do the prescribing – not you. Giving your cat your medication can actually cause your pet serious harm.
By getting your cat the shots and check-ups that it needs, you’ll be able to make sure that your cat lives as long as possible. Not unlike kids, kittens require vaccinations and check ups every so often so that they do not get sick. You need to stay up to date with immunization and booster shots to improve the health of your cat.
If your feline has hairball issues, and there’s been no help from brushing, try these tips out. Mix about a teaspoon full of pumpkin into your cats’ food. A teaspoon of tuna can water can be mixed with it for flavor’s sake. Your hairball concerns can also be addressed with specially-formulated cat food. Many blends include extra fiber to prevent hairball formation.
Keep your cat indoors as much as possible, close to home and near its owner. Cats who stay inside for most of their lives have a much better life span and are less likely to get diseases and parasites. Make sure your cat is trained as an indoor cat if you don’t want it to get diseases or other things that can happen when it’s outdoors.
Dry food is best for adult cats. As kittens, cats need moist food to accommodate small teeth. When they grow, they need to eat dry food to have stronger teeth. Try also mixing together dry and wet food if you’ve got a picky cat.
It is good to have a variety of games and activities to play with your cat. Not every cat likes every activity. If you take good care of your pet and keep it active, it’ll live a happier, longer life.
Put tape that’s sticky onto your furniture. If you have a cat that scratches your upholstery you need to place tape on that as well. Some companies make tape specifically for this purpose. The tape throws the cat off when it starts to scratch the furniture. In addition, buy a scratching post to satisfy the cat’s instinctual need to scratch.
