Do you have a feline friend? If you are, then you consider your cat precious. All cats need proper care and love. Fortunately, this is not a hard thing to accomplish. Keep reading to learn some great tips on caring for your cat.
Taking your cat in for regular check-ups at the veterinarian’s office is part of being a responsible pet owner. Your vet can give you an idea of your cat’s overall health, in addition to administering any shots it may need. Try using one veterinarian consistently. This ensures that your vet knows your cat’s medical history.
Keep drape cords away from cats. It is easy for the cat to get his head caught among the cords when playing with them. This could even choke them to death. Keep all drape cords out of reach as a preventative measure.
If your cat is a female, be sure to get her spayed when she is old enough. It is best to spay your cat, even if you want to keep it as an indoor pet. Spaying your cat is the best way to prevent this from happening.
Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. Remember to brush your cat’s fur and comb it regularly. Do this often in order to aid in keeping your cat’s outer coat clean and healthy. It helps your cats shed much less too, which keeps them from spitting those hairballs up. Keeping a cat well groomed basically helps keep them looking their best, along with your home.
Kitty claws can be quite destructive to fabric and furnishings. If your cat is ripping up and shredding your home, invest in a kitty tower or scratching post. Give them some encouragement and let them know it is okay to scratch that. This will take some time but will be a valuable investment.
A cat’s claws can do significant damage to your home and belongings. Purchase a scratching post to stop your cat from destroying your home. Place this device into an area that your cat frequents, and attempt to get your cat to scratch it rather than the furniture. It may take some time, but will be worth the effort and expense.
Never let a cat become bored. Cats should have a lot of exercise and playtime. Sadly, this is overlooked by many cat owners. A bored cat may fall victim to depression, compulsive disorders or issued that can be harmful to their health. Give them plenty of space to roam and provide them with toys to give them some exercise. Indoor cats will appreciate having a structure they can climb on or a dedicated scratching post.
Cats will be up during the night more often than not. This refers to the fact that they are usually more active at night. If your cat’s activities are keeping you awake at night, try keeping your bedroom door shut. You won’t be able to hear their sounds as they walk around in the middle of the night.
The correct location is important when picking a spot for a cat’s litter box. It should not be placed in a high traffic area, and it should be far away from the cat’s food. To help control odors place the litter box in a well ventilated area. This will make you and your cat happy.
Cats spend lots of time grooming themselves. Hairballs are very common for long-haired cats. If your cat has this issue, try changing his food. Some foods contain extra oils and nutrients, specifically designed to prevent or diminish hairball concerns.
Your cat needs attention and a lot of affection. They want warm companionship since that’s what they provide to you. Like humans, cats want to feel wanted and needed. Make her feel like she is part of your family.
If you take your cat with you when you travel, be mindful of their ears. You may enjoy it, but it could be hurting your cat’s ears. To keep your cat calm and collected over the course of your trip, keep the stereo low – or perhaps off entirely.
Your cat most likely spends quite a bit of time grooming. If the cat has longer hair, it can be the cause of hairballs. One way to alleviate this condition in your cat is by feeding him special food. 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.
You cat needs to get used to being in a carrier. The same response to punishment that you would expect from a dog does not apply to a cat. They like responding to encouragement better. Place a blanket or favorite toy inside the carrier to make your cat more acclimated to the carrier. Soon that cat will walk into the carrier on its own. In the future, your cat will not get scared when you put him in the carrier.
Children usually take well to cats, but if you have a small child, you may need to provide some instruction. Teach your kid how to properly handle a cat. Show them how to gently pick kitty up and what kinds of activities are appropriate. Because cats are more delicate than dogs, they need to be handled more carefully.
Buy your cat a fountain it can drink from. Wild cats like to drink flowing water, and domestic cats are the same. Cats react better to a moving water stream. 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 give them the same effect, and it is more environmentally friendly.
Use a brush on your cat regularly. This will reduce the amount of bacteria on the fur. It is also a good way to reduce shedding. Loose hair causes hairballs, a common problem for cats. The hair enters the pet’s stomach and they later cough it up.
As soon as you adopt your cat, fit him with identification tags attached to a collar. This applies even to indoor cats. Even the tamest indoors cat can be tempted by the possibilities presented by an open door or window. It is a good idea to include your own phone number along with the name and contact number of your veterinarian. Include medical issues if appropriate.
Give your cat a wide array of foods in order to prevent pickiness. If they only eat the same food, they may never eat another food in the future.
There is more care to consider with long-haired cats. Even though that nice coat of beautiful silky fur looks great, it can leave a mess on your floors, furniture and clothing. Don’t get a long haired cat unless you’re prepared to do a little extra cleaning. There will be hairball issues as well.
A cat’s life isn’t complete without play. After all, everyone likes to play. While older cats have less energy than their younger counterparts, they can still play a little. Play with your cat, and you’ll both have fun.
Do you see cat hair everywhere you look? Cats shed a lot, so it is important to brush them often. The more hair you see on the ground, the more you should pull out the brush. Brushing will also keep their coat in good shape.
Long-haired cats require more care than their short-haired comrades. Long-haired cats are beautiful animals, but keep in mind that they will shed everywhere in your home. You should not get a cat with long-hair unless you are ready to do a lot of cleaning. More, and longer hair, usually means more hairballs too.
Keep your cat’s vaccinations and checkups up to date with the vet. Similar to kids, cats need shots and check-ups to prevent health problems. When you have a cat, it becomes a member of your family, so you’ll want to ensure that it’s as healthy as possible.
One of the most delightful things about a dog is the way they happily greet their owners. Cats move their tails too, but it’s not for the same reason. A cat that is flicking its tail is either feeling threatened or predatory and is considering his next move. If you hold your cat and it starts wagging its tail, you should put your cat down right away.
Litter Box
Some foods that you enjoy as a human aren’t any good for your cat. Garlic and onions are popular examples. These foods will cause indigestion or much worse for your cat. Milk can too. It can give your cat stomach pains.
You should worry if your cat is no longer using its litter box. If your cat refuses to use its litter box, there may be an underlying health concern. If your cat is not using the litter, kidney or bladder problems and infections may be the problem. When your cat stops using the litter box regularly, a call to the vet is definitely in order.
Do not use cleaning supplies with phenol in them if you have a cat. The chemical is most often found in pine cleaners. The smell offends cats, and it can lead to prolonged illnesses.
If your feline friend is having kittens, make sure to give her lots of room to birth in. It will take about three to four hours for all of the kittens to come out, so be patient. If, after six hours, you think there are still kittens stuck inside your pet, a trip to the vet is in order.
If you adopted a cat while you were unemployed and it is now time for you to return to work, your cat may get very lonely around the house. You can avoid both boredom and loneliness by getting another cat.
Do not use chemicals around your cat that contain phenol. The chemical is most often found in pine cleaners. Not only is the smell offensive to cats, but exposing them to this chemical for prolonged periods of time can lead to problems with their liver.
Cats can get the same colds you do. Pay attention to changes in your cat’s mood and behavior as they may be a sign your cat is feeling poorly. A trip to the vet is worth the time and money in these cases. Your vet can often rule out the possibility of serious conditions.
In all likelihood, your cat is very important to your household and taking good care of him is quite important to you. This article gives you the techniques necessary to do so. Implement these ideas to create a safer, happier home for your cat. If you love your kitty, he will certainly love you in return.
Look around your home for holes that can make a cat become stuck. Keep in mind that a tiny gap is enough for your cat to go outside. Kittens are especially good at it. You should consider this when you have brought a new cat home. Make immediate repairs on any holes that you locate.