Cats are a popular pet for millions, and they deserve love and proper care. You have to learn all you can about how to give that cat the best life possible. You’ll pick up more than a few great tips on caring for a cat in the article below.
Ensure your cat remains groomed. A cat’s fur must be brushed or combed on a regular basis. This will keep them sterile and aesthetically pleasing. In addition, it helps decrease shedding, which results in less hairballs. Keeping your cat nicely groomed will keep him and your home looking their best.
Regular veterinary checkups are important for the health of your cat. Your cat should have regular well visits, as well as all the recommended vaccinations for his age. For the most consistent pet care, choose one veterinarian and stick with them. This ensures that your vet will have an excellent understanding of your pet’s medical history.
Your cat will want to climb into small spaces. If they have a collar, this can be a safety issue if they get stuck. A breakaway collar will let go if it is pulled on too tightly. This could save your cat’s life!
Put a heated tile beneath the bed of an older cat. Simply heat a single foot cotta tile at 200 degrees between 15 and 20 minutes. Use an old towel to wrap it up safely before placing it beneath your cat’s favorite napping spot. Change it out every few hours if you feel the need.
You can make your old cat feel better thanks to a hot tile placed under its bed. Use a 12″ terra cotta tile and heat it by putting it in a 200ºF oven for 20 minutes. Wrap the tile in a towel and then put it under the bed. You can even switch it out every few hours.
When your female cat is old enough, it’s vital to get her spayed. Whether or not she typically goes outside, she may escape while in heat and you might have kittens! Having your cat spayed is the only way to 100 percent prevent accidental litters.
If your cat ventures outdoors, it’s key to get your cat a collar which has a contact tag. Cats can get lost, and they need a tag to be found. The tag should contain your phone number as well as your cat’s name.
Taking your cat to the vet is part of being a responsible pet owner. A yearly visit for a regular check-up is important, with more frequent visits for shots as required. When the cat seems to be acting abnormally, take it to the vet immediately.
Cat’s claws can really put a dent in your furniture. If you have a cat that is wreaking havoc, buy a scratching post. They can scratch the post instead. It may take some time, but will be worth the effort and expense.
Avoid using dog products on cats. Cats usually react negatively to items made especially for dogs. One product in particular to pay close attention to is any remedy for fleas and ticks. Your cat may die if you use dog flea products on it. After getting the dog treated, keep the cat away for many hours.
If your cat is male, understand that he could develop crystals inside his urine, which can be very painful to him. Therefore, prevent this issue from occurring in the first place by feeding your cat the right type of food. The cat is in pain passing the crystals, and the correction for this is costly. Let your cat have food that doesn’t have a lot of magnesium in it. Be sure that you read the label. Cat food with lots of fish tends to have more magnesium, while products with lots of poultry tend to have less.
If your cat ventures outdoors, it’s key to get your cat a collar which has a contact tag. Cats can get lost, and they need a tag to be found. Make sure at a minimum to put your pets name and your phone number on the tag.
Be careful as small kids may treat kittens too roughly. Spend time instructing your children on cat care. Demonstrate how to pick up the animal and how to play with it as well. The bones of a cat are weaker than a dogs, therefore, they should be handled with care.
Generally, cats love to stay on the counter. Cats enjoy high places so they can see what is happening around them. Give them an alternative. One way to keep your cats from continuously jumping on the counter is to install a cat tower near the problem counter.
Try figuring out why the cat is purring. After some time, you’ll understand why your cat purs or meows based on what she wants. She will let you know when her demands are for food or when you need to let her out. When you understand what each type of behavior indicates, you can improve your relationship.
You might find that your cat sleeps all day and wants to be active at night. Because of this, night time is when they are most active. If you find that your nocturnal kitties are waking you up in the middle of the night, the solution may be as simple as closing the door to your bedroom. This way, they can’t disturb you while you sleep.
If you want to let your cat outside, think again. This isn’t safe for your cat. Your cat may get fleas or something even worse than that. It can also be potentially hurt by cars, people or other animals. If your cat really wants to go outside, let it out into a small area in your yard.
If you cat is overly vocal, try to figure out exactly why he or she is making so much noise. Learning about your cat’s meows will be easier the longer you know her. Possibilities include that she is hungry or wants to be let outside. Make sure you are paying attention in order to better understand your cat.
Do you have dogs and cats? Dogs take every opportunity they can get to eat the cat’s food. This makes it a good idea to have a cat feeding place high up enough that your dog can’t get to it. This can also prevent unnecessary arguments between your pets over the water supply, once the food has been consumed.
Increase the variety of food that you give your cat. By giving them one kind of food all the time, it will be all they want to eat.
Be sure to brush or comb your cat’s fur on a regular basis. This helps to stimulate blood flow and circulation, and it will also help to evenly distribute the natural oil your cat’s fur has. Brushing will also help to remove loose hair. This will help you to avoid hairballs, which may cause your cat to choke. Hairballs are caused when a cat grooms itself.
Is your home covered in your cat’s fur? Cats do a lot of shedding, and it helps to brush them. The more your cat sheds, the more often you want to give them a good brushing. This can also stop their coats from becoming tangled up.
You need to buy some quality food for your cat. Look at ingredient lists, making sure that a protein source, such as beef, chicken or fish, is at the top of the list. If the food uses fillers like corn and other things that are not protein, that’s not a sign of the good nutrition a cat needs. This type of food should be avoided. Cats need meat, not vegetables.
Litter Box
Feed canned food to your cat. While dry food is less costly, the canned food has added benefits. Canned food gives your cat more protein and the water content helps with hydration. It’s much easier for older cats to chew it as well. Ask your vet for more info, bun in general, canned food is much better for a number of reasons.
If your cat stops using the litter box suddenly, take note. There are conditions that will cause a kitty to do this. These problems are generally related to the kidneys and/or bladder. Therefore, whenever you notice your cat not using its litter box, call your veterinarian.
Your kitty’s litter box should be strategically placed. Your first instinct may be to hide it away out of sight and out of smelling range. However, it’s important to make sure your cat can easily access its litter box. Your cat will use the litter box if it is placed in a quiet place and away from smells your cat does not enjoy. If the box is placed on a cold floor, place a mat under it.
If your pet is avoiding its litter box, try moving it to a different spot. Cats know that during the elimination process they are left somewhat vulnerable, so moving the box to a more private area should help. For example, your basement, laundry room or other room away from household activity should suffice.
One of the most delightful things about a dog is the way they happily greet their owners. Cats wag their tail for a different reason. Tail wagging in a cat usually means he is thinking of attacking or running away. If you notice you cat begin to wag his tail when you are holding him, put him down to be sure you are not scratched or swatted.
Put a collar around your cats neck that contains your name, address, and number. An indoor cat should also have a tag with this information because he or she can sometimes escape. They have to be able to get home again.
Don’t give cats human medication. If your cat has any health problems, you should take them to the vet and administer whatever he provides. Giving pets medicine that is intended for humans can harm them, and possibly cause death.
The foods you eat might not be very healthy for your pet. These include garlic, grapes, green tomatoes and onions. If your cat eats these things then it can become ill or even die. Milk also often upsets your cat’s stomach.
Keep your cat indoors if you want to protect them from fleas and bugs. Even though a cat can still get those conditions from being indoors, outside is where it is most likely to occur.
Proper Care
Trips to the vet are necessary, however those bills can pile up quick. You can save plenty of money by buying cat medication online. Some companies will express ship to your door. This can be great if you have to get heart worm pills or flea treatments that your cat has to take every month.
Cats are great pets, but they need proper care. If you’re going to own a cat and be responsible about it you should reread this article and use the information that is in it. With the proper care, your cat will be able to live a long life in great contentment.
Ensure you always give your cat flea and tick medicine. A variety of options are available. These medicines can prevent harmful parasites, which can drain your pet’s blood, causing diseases. Be sure that any treatment you purchase is designed to be used on cats so that it will help your pet, not harm it.