Creating The Proper Diet For Your Cat

As one of the best pets out there, cats are a pleasure to have, but caring for them can get a bit spendy. Vet bills, toys, food, and cat litter costs can make anyone reconsider owning cats. The following are a few tips that should help you to find more enjoyable, less expensive ways to care for your cat.

Spritz a little bitter apple on electrical cords to protect your cats. Keep your cords covered if you feel like your cat is hellbent on chewing them. An inexpensive way to hide electrical cords is to thread them through used paper towel rolls. If you have rarely used electronics, put them up when you aren’t using them.

When considering a new pet, make sure you visit the area shelter first. Shelters around the country are overflowing, and the cats there need more humans to help. Adoption fees often include things like spaying or neutering them, shots or other vet care. Adopting your cat at a shelter allows you to save a cat’s life while also helping mitigate overpopulation.

Keeping your cats away from the counters can be hard. Cats naturally love heights so they can easily see everyone and everything. You can get your cat to quit doing this if you make areas that it can climb up to. A cat tower near your kitchen can give them a place to watch you that is out of the way.

Make sure you keep all the recommended appointments with your cat’s veterinarian. Your vet can give you an idea of your cat’s overall health, in addition to administering any shots it may need. Do your best to use the same vet for your cat’s entire life. This ensures that your vet knows your cat’s medical history.

The cat’s litter box should be placed in the right spot. Do not place it in a busy area or close to where your cat eats meals. To minimize odors, keep it in a spot that’s well ventilated. You and your cat will greatly appreciate this.

Do not use dog products on your cat. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs. Flea products especially. Products used for flea prevention in dogs can be very harmful to your cat. In fact, your cat should be kept away from your dog for several hours after the dog has been treated for fleas.

Be sure you show your cat lots of love. A cat’s companionship should be returned with the same. They are social creates which need reassurance. They need to feel as though they are an important part of the family, as well.

Deter cats from shocking themselves on electrical wires by spraying them with bitter apple. If your cat likes to chew cords, hide the cords as best you can. If you have loose electrical cords, you can bundle them up and stow them away in a cardboard tube (think toilet paper or paper towel rolls). The cords on electronics should be hidden as well.

Cats spend lots of time grooming themselves. If your kitty is a long-haired breed, the result of this might be hairballs. Buy your cat specialized food to prevent this problem. Some foods contain extra oils and nutrients, specifically designed to prevent or diminish hairball concerns.

Litter Box

Anytime you travel with a cat, their ears should be monitored. Cats tend to prefer gentle sounds during the day. Try turning down your tunes or keeping it off to make your cat’s trip better.

The litter box for your cat needs to be positioned in the right place. The litter box should not be kept in an area with a lot of traffic. In addition, it does not need to be near the cat’s food. Make sure it’s properly ventilated to keep smell down. Your kitty will thank you.

When purchasing a tiny kitty as gift for the kids, it’s best to establish boundaries well ahead of the arrival. Let your children know what rooms you will allow the cat to go into. Make sure that your children know if the cat is strictly an indoor cat. Setting rules in advances ensures understanding.

Cats are known for spending inordinate amounts of time grooming themselves. Hairballs are more common in long-haired cats. To help prevent this from occurring, buy your cat special food. Some food are produced specifically for hairball reduction, which will help.

Cats enjoy heights. To make your cat happier, give him a lookout perch where he can check out the area. You do not need a big cat tree in the living room; simply provide a solid shelf next to a window. You can also add a small bed or blanket at the top.

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, the volume of your music should be minimized, and turn it off completely if necessary.

You cannot teach a cat to use a litter box. This is something that comes naturally and is not learned. Contrary to what most people believe, it’s actually incorrect to rub a cat’s paw in the litter.

Make sure that you have a good tablecloth for your kitten. Sometimes cats like to take food out of the bowl and eat it to the side of the bowl. This can really make a mess, and you might have to spend significant time cleaning around your cat’s food bowl. It’s easier to clean up this food by purchasing a placement and inserting it under your cat’s food bowl, or you could simply cut some fabric and make it into a tablecloth so you can easily pick up the food and throw it away.

You cat should get cat food that is of a good quality. Beef, fish or chicken, all great protein sources, should head the list of main ingredients. Don’t choose a food which is mainly corn. Cats are carnivores, so if you want them to be as healthy as possible, you need to be sure they’re eating enough animal protein.

When you get a kitten for kids, you have to set up a few rules first. Make sure that you let your kids know which areas of the house the cat will be allowed in. If you want to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that they cannot let it go outside. This will ensure nothing bad happens.

Buy your cat a fountain to drink from. This will make things more comfortable and homey for your cat. Cats will respond more positively to streams of water. Cats will often drink from a running sink and actually prefer it over the water in their bowl. A fountain will give them the same effect, and it is more environmentally friendly.

Reconsider outside time for your cat. This can compromise your cat’s safety. They can get fleas, feline AIDS or even leukemia. Other animals, cars and people can hurt your cat. If they have to go outside, make sure it’s a small area like your lawn or backyard.

As soon as you adopt your cat, fit him with identification tags attached to a collar. Even if it’s an indoor cat, this is important. Cats are curious creatures, and you never know when they might wander off to explore. The tag should have your name and address and also your vet’s. This is especially true for cats with medical conditions.

Do you own a dog and a cat? A dog will probably end up eating the cat’s food if it gets the chance. That’s why you should place your cat’s food in a place which is hard for your dog to reach. This also has the effect of stopping fights over the water before they start.

If you notice your cat is urinating a lot or at improper places, you should take it to the vet. Cats may show this behavior if they develop an infection of the urinary tract, or some other health issue. A potentially serious illness can be prevented with some inexpensive antibiotics.

You should talk to other pet owners if you have an issue with yours. You may wish to deal with it alone, but you may need advice from other cat owners. You can locate forums about cats online if you search for them. On these forums you can ask for advice, or you can just speak with a vet.

Think about the extra work before buying a long-haired cat. While the long hair on a cat is beautiful, it doesn’t look so beautiful all over your home. These breeds are best left to those with the time and energy to do a lot of cleaning. Not to mention cats that have long hair are more prone to getting issues with hairballs.

If your cat does not use the litter box, do not use punishments to try to discipline him. Often, this happens when the litter box is dirty. If you punish your cat for this, it will fear you later in the future.

Does your home feel inundated with balls of cat fur? You need to brush your cat regularly, especially if she sheds a lot. The more a cat sheds, the moor they should be properly brushed. Doing this will also make sure they don’t get a matted or tangled coat.

You need to provide your cat with a drinking fountain. Wild cats like to drink flowing water, and domestic cats are the same. Cats respond well to this stream of water. Really, there are many cats that would much prefer to drink from a running sink faucet as opposed to their own bowl. A fountain will allow your cat to have the happiness of drinking from running water.

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. Your cat needs to get some shots regularly to prevent different illnesses and parasites. You love your cat, so take the best care of him as possible.

Any pet can be a constant price tag, and cats are certainly no different. You should care for your pet like you would care for a child. Fortunately, now that you are more informed by the knowledge presented here, you can save money and enjoy a better cat.

If you have been at home with your cat for an extended period and then return to work, it is quite possible that your cat will show signs of loneliness. If this is proving to be a problem, consider getting another cat to keep them company while you’re gone.