Give Your Cat The Best Care With These Top Tips

You consider your cat to be very precious to your family. Do everything in your power to help your cat stay away from ticks, fleas and other things. They can really affect a cat’s well being. The following techniques and tips can help you take care of your cat efficiently.

Cats need a certain amount of grooming to stay healthy and presentable. You should comb and/or brush them on a regular basis. This leads to a cleaner cat. It helps your cats shed much less too, which keeps them from spitting those hairballs up. A cat that is well-groomed is one that looks the best at home.

Local rescue organizations are a great place to look for a new pet cat. Shelters usually have many cats who need a home, and the fees typically include their shots and spaying or neutering. Adopting your cat at a shelter allows you to save a cat’s life while also helping mitigate overpopulation.

You should get your cat a tagged collar, even if it is not legally required. Cats can travel far, and a tag will help you find the cat easier if they get lost. The tag should contain the pet’s name, your phone number and your name as well.

Prevent your cat from getting zapped by coating exposed wires with bitter apple. If this does not work, make sure you cover the cords. The tube from a used-up roll of paper towels makes an excellent shield for loose cords. Put away electronics that have tempting, thin cords when you’re not using them.

Spraying the electrical cords in your home with a bitter apple solution helps keep the cats from chewing on them. If this does not work, make sure you cover the cords. Tuck loose cords into old toilet paper or paper towel rolls. Electronic items with thin, tempting cords should always be put away when not in use.

Your kitty’s litter box requires strategic placement. It shouldn’t be put in an area with high traffic and should be far from their food. To minimize odors, keep it in a spot that’s well ventilated. Your cat and you will appreciate it.

Cats are usually more active during the night. They are often active at nighttime. If your busy kitties are keeping you up into the wee hours, try simply closing your bedroom door. They should stay away from you at night and then they will not be able to jump on your feet.

Cats will often devote most of their time to grooming. Long hair encourages hairballs. To help your cat out with this problem, try buying him special food. Certain cat foods are made just for decreasing hairballs, benefiting both your cat and yourself.

Remember to take care of your cat’s ears if you travel with him. Cats tend to prefer gentle sounds during the day. Therefore, the volume of your music should be minimized, and turn it off completely if necessary.

Don’t try and teach your kitty how the litter box is supposed to be used. This is not something that needs to be taught. In fact, it comes naturally for them. It’s not a good idea to rub your cats paws in litter. Some people think this is the way to train. It isn’t.

Put a cloth down in your cat’s eating area. Some cats prefer removing their food from the bowl and eating it on the side. This creates extra work since you must then clean up the leftover loose food. You can also use any type of mat underneath your cat’s eating apparatus to reduce the mess.

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 minimize hair loss. This is a good way to avoid hairballs, which are a serious health problem since they can cause choking.

When getting a little kitty for your kid, set boundaries beforehand. Tell your kids which rooms the cat is allowed in. Be sure that your children understand that an indoor cat must never be allowed outdoors. Clearly explaining the rules will limit future mishaps.

You cat needs to get used to being in a carrier. Cats never respond to punishment the way that dogs do. Encouragement is usually a much better option. Take their favorite blanket and place it within the carrier. Then leave the carrier with the door ajar in a frequented spot. Cats are natural explorers and sooner or later he will check it out. This will make getting the cat inside easier later.

Do you own a dog and cat? Dogs love to eat cat food! Because of this, you should make the place that your cat food is in higher up so that the dog cannot reach it. This can also prevent unnecessary arguments between your pets over the water supply, once the food has been consumed.

Plan on spending the money for good cat food that contains the nutrients that your cat needs. Check out the ingredients, and make sure meat tops the list. Some foods contain a lot of fillers like corn products, don’t buy those. Cats are carnivores and need animal protein to stay healthy.

When your cat makes a mess somewhere other than their litter box, don’t get mad. Usually this is a sign that you haven’t cleaned the box recently. Punishment can make your cat fearful in your presence.

Drinking Fountain

Your cat should be acclimated to a carrier as a kitten. Dogs and cats will respond differently to punishment. Cats usually respond well to encouragement. Place the open carrier in an area that your cat visits often and outfit it with a favorite toy and blanket. Soon, your cat will naturally enter the carrier. It will then be easier to transport the cat in the carrier.

You should install a small drinking fountain for your cat. Cats who are in the wild prefer to drink from running water, and this holds true for domestic cats, as well. Streaming water is much easier for your cat to take in. In fact, the running water in a sink garnishes more attention from a cat than their water bowl usually does. Installing a drinking fountain for your cat is a more eco-friendly way to provide it with some running water.

If you want a cat with long hair, be prepared to put in extra time and care. Long-haired cats shed constantly, and the fur ends up on your clothing, floors, and everything else in your home. If you don’t mind cleaning, get a long-haired cat. Long-haired cats usually suffer from hairball problems too.

Feed canned food to your cat. Dry food is less expensive, but there are added benefits to be had in canned cat food. The moist food gives your cat water, and it usually has more protein and fat in it. It’s easier for older cats to chew as well. Ask your vet, though canned food is often better for your cat.

If you have a cat who is pregnant, make sure that you give her a private spot that is closed away from other animals and has room for her to move in easily. Understand that a female cat will require three or four hours in order to give birth to every kitten. Once 6 hours have passed, if all the kittens have not been delivered you should seek the help of a vet.

Play is essential to your cat’s life. Many animals like to play, and that includes humans and cats. A cats energy might fade over time, but that does not mean that it no longer likes to play. Playing with your cat will help you to form happy and cherished memories to look back on.

Sometimes, foods are healthy for humans but not for cats. Some of these include onions, grapes, garlic and green tomatoes. Even a little taste of these foods can make your cat seriously sick. Milk also often upsets your cat’s stomach.

If you are considering a long-haired cat breed then you should also consider the extra maintenance required. While long haired cats are soft and look great, understand that there will be a lot more fur around the rest of the house. Do not choose a long-haired cat unless you can commit to the added cleanup. Long-haired cats are also more prone to hairballs.

A cat that is declawed should never spend time being outside. Without claws, your cat is essentially defenseless against other animals. This is a dangerous situation for the cat. Indoor cats are the only ones that should ever be declawed. Make sure that only the front claws are removed. The back claws are left because these won’t scratch your furniture or floors.

Do you see cat hair everywhere you look? Cats can shed quite a bit; therefore, it’s important that you maintain proper grooming habits by brushing them often. You should brush your cat quite a bit of they are prone to shedding. This also prevents matting and tangling.

Do not give cat medications intended for humans. If your cat needs medication, then you should take your cat to the vet. When you make the mistake of giving any type of human medication to your cat, it can kill them or cause them some other type of grave medical misfortune.

Litter Box

Hairballs can definitely be a problem. Brushing your cats fur should be your first step, but if that doesn’t help, here are a few additional tips. Use pumpkin in your cat’s food to help with digestion. A teaspoon of tuna water mixed with pumpkin can also work. Your hairball concerns can also be addressed with specially-formulated cat food. Many blends include extra fiber to prevent hairball formation.

You need to carefully consider where you put the litter box for your cat. You may really want to hide that box from everyday life. The litter box needs to be placed in a spot that your cat can reach very easily. Understand that cats are extremely picky. If its litter box is not in a convenient location, then your cat might not use it. Put a rug under it for cleanliness, too.

It’s important to only feed your cat the amount of food that it should have to ensure a healthy life. Overeating can cause obesity in your cat, which can cause serious illness, similar to people. Be sure they are not only eating balanced food, but that they are also eating appropriate proportions.

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. As with children, cats have to be immunized. Wellness checks are important to avoid diseases and health issues. You love your cat, so take the best care of him as possible.

It’s very important to always have a collar and tags on your cat. Cats are very effective at getting outside whenever they find the opportunity. When they have a collar on with a tag, or a microchip, they’ll easily be returned to you.

Do not allow your cat to eat from your hand or under the table. The ingredients and preservatives in our food, as well as our cooking methods, are not safe for cats. If you want to make a special treat for your cat, it will like a small amount of eggs, beef or chicken. These treats are by no means necessary. If you comply with the feeding directions for your cat’s food, you are good to go.

Introducing new animals into the household can irritate cats initially. Keep newcomers isolated upon their initial homecoming. The new smell is something your cat will need to adjust to. After some time, try slowly introducing your cat to your new pet.

Cats can have medical problems, just like humans. If you take proper care of your pet, the risk can be reduced. Owning a cat can be an incredible experience. Your pet will be glad you did.

Although the holidays may seem like the perfect time to give your child a cat as a present, it is much too hectic a time to give a new cat the attention he deserves. A good idea would be to take your children with you when you go to pick out your new pet.