Feral cats are felines that wander the street. A good portion of the domesticated cat population is composed of them and they can sometimes be trouble. Keep reading for the cat care information that you crave.
Make sure your cat is always well groomed. Cats should have regular combings. Brushing rids your cat’s coat of dirt and helps keep them clean. In addition, it helps decrease shedding, which results in less hairballs. A cat that is well-groomed is one that looks the best at home.
Check with your shelter before you purchase a cat. Shelters all over the country are crowded with marvelous cats, and most provide veterinarian care with the adoption fee. When you bring home a shelter cat, you will be saving its life and you will be doing your part to help out.
To help your old cat feel comfy, keep a tile that’s heated under their bed. Simply heat a single foot cotta tile at 200 degrees between 15 and 20 minutes. Wrap this in a towel that’s old and then place it under the bed the cat sleeps on. If you want, change it now and then so the warmth continues.
Don’t use dog products on your cats ever. This can irritate your cat or cause an allergic reaction. This warning applies to products for getting rid of fleas. Using dog flea products on your cat can kill them. Once you use flea prevention products on your dog, it should be kept separately from the cat for hours.
If your cat is an outdoor cat, then you should ensure it wears a tag collar. Tags can save you a lot of trouble if your cat gets lost. At the very least, you should include your contact info and the name of your cat on the tag.
If you have an outdoor cat, make sure he is fitted with a tag and collar. Cats can range far from your home and the tag will help them find their way home. Be sure the name of your cat and your number can be found on the tag.
It’s not easy to keep cats off counters. They love being above everything so that they can watch it all. One way to nip this problem in the bud is to give your cat a dedicated perch of their own as an alternative to using your space. Placing a cat tower near the kitchen will help the cats to not lay on the counter.
Most cats prefer to be mostly nocturnal. This means their behavior is quite active during the night. One way to deal with a kitten’s playful activity at night is just to shut your door. This can keep them from waking you up at night and from pouncing on feet under the blankets.
Male cats can develop crystals that form in their urine, so prevent this with the right food. These crystals can cause a lot of pain to your cat and could end up costing you a lot in medical expenses. Your cat’s food should be low in magnesium. Look over the label. Poultry products are typically lower in magnesium than fish products.
You shouldn’t leave a young cat with children unattended. A cat should not be left alone with a child under five years of age. Most of them simply aren’t mature enough to grasp the concept of danger to themselves or the animal. When they mature, they can spend alone time with the kitty.
You can sometimes find better prices for cat medication online than getting it from your veterinarian. If it’s an emergency, buying online may not be an option. But for routine medication purchases, you may find a discount of 50 percent online.
Make sure your cat has identification and a collar all the time. Even an indoor pet should have this. Your cat will go out as soon as you leave a door or a window open. Include your contact number along with the name of your veterinarian. This is very important if your pet is likely to get lost or has some medical needs.
Do you have both a dog and a cat? A dog will probably end up eating the cat’s food if it gets the chance. Feed your pets in different areas of the house, and monitor them while they eat. This will also prevent squabbles between them.
Play is an essential element of a cat’s daily life. Really play is something that all mammals share, no matter the age. An aging cat may not have as much energy as a kitten, however it will still enjoy a little light playtime. Play with your cat, and you’ll both have fun.
If you are experiencing an issue with your feline friend, seek advice from others. You can solve most problems by yourself, but you might benefit from the experience of others. You can also go on the Web and ask your question in a forum.
There is more care to consider with long-haired cats. While long, silky hair is beautiful on a cat, the same fur appears far less beautiful covering your floor, dark clothing, and furniture. 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.
If you wish to add another cat to your home, give it a couple weeks for your old cat and your new cat to grow accustomed to each other. They may fight with each other initially. However, cats should eventually learn to co-habitate properly.
Litter Box
Frequent urination outside the litter box may indicate a visit to the vet is required. This sort of behavior is common among cats with UTIs and other health problems. Some cheap antibiotics can resolve potential risks for your cat.
Make sure you put your catbox in the optimal location. You may want to place in some out-of-the-way corner so the smell doesn’t bother anyone. Make sure your cat can easily reach the litter box at all times. 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 your litter box location is on a cold floor, you may want to put a rug underneath of the box.
Think about where you want to put the litter box. You may really want to hide that box from everyday life. However, if you hide it from your pet he might not try very hard to find it when he needs to go to the bathroom. This will keep your cat as happy as possible. A litter box located in the basement should be placed on a thick mat or rug.
Take your cat for checkups and vaccinations on a regular basis to keep him healthy and strong. Your cat needs these periodic checks and particular immunizations in order to stay healthy. Remember that the four-pawed members of your family need healthcare just as much as the ones that walk on two feet.
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. Your cat is part of your family, and you should treat him as you would any other well-loved member of your household.
If you have a female cat that is in the process of giving birth, make sure you provide her a spacious area. The birth will take place over the span of several hours. If more than five or six hours have passed, and you think that kittens still remain inside, then you must get in touch with your vet.
Take notice if and when your cat ever stops conducting their business in their litter box. Health problems may be causing your cat to urinate in places other than their litter box. Bladder troubles, kidney ailments, or infections can all cause this sort of behavior. Speak with your vet if your pet stops using the litter box.
It is possible that placing the litter box in a new part of the house will help your cat to bond with it. A cat has instincts that tell it when it goes to the bathroom it is vulnerable. This is why a box should be placed in an area that is quiet and safe. Low-traffic areas like basements and laundry rooms are great places to put the litter box.
Give your cat a collar with your contact information. Even if you own an indoor cat, it’s possible he or she might escape. If this happens, ensure there’s a way they can find home again.
Cats have a surprisingly acute sense of smell, making it easy for them to detect change in their environment. It can occur when something new is introduced to the home, like a new water bowl, scratching post or bed. Do not be concerned if your cat does not accept these new items immediately. Your cat is going to like them more as they acquire your home’s smell.
Don’t send a declawed cat outdoors for long periods of time. Your cat cannot defend itself, rendering it helpless against other animals. The only cats that should be declawed are indoor cats. With indoor cats, just remove the front claws. Don’t remove the back claws. This will help ensure that your cat remains safe in case it gets outside, and back claws will not scratch any furniture.
Watch out for panting. Panting in dogs is perfectly normal. Panting can be an indicator of health problems in your cat. Contacting your veterinarian is a good idea, particularly for cats that have built up a history of respiratory difficulties over time.
Cats will smell changes around their home. This applies to new pets and food in the home. Don’t fret if your cat doesn’t use the items right away. As your cat starts to smell new things in the home, it will get into them sooner or later.
An overfed cat will quickly become ill. Eating over the normal amount can cause them to develop serious health problems or become obese. Pay attention to the portions your cat eats and choose your cat food very carefully.
You want to be watchful regarding panting. Dogs normally pant on a regular basis. Panting sometimes means your cat might be overheated or perhaps anxious, but it also can sometimes mean something even more serious. Be sure you get in touch with a vet, especially if your animal has had problems with breathing before.
It should now be possible for you to come out of your house and fight any stray cats that are trying to invade your yard. You will find that a fun cat is a great addition to your family. Obviously, cats are animals too, so they should still be handled carefully. Cats, whether feral or indoor, deserve a loving home.
If hairballs are a problem that brushing won’t solve, there are some other things you can try. Consider mixing a little pumpkin into your cat’s food. Add in an extra spoonful of water if the mixture is too thick. There are also cat foods that contain an anti-hairball component, usually extra fiber, that may solve the problem.