Like Cats? Read This Article To Better Care For Them
Would you save the life of an animal if you could? Cats and kittens are often found in shelters, just waiting for a loving family to adopt them. Simply adopt a cat and use this article as your guide to properly caring for it.
Cats like sneaking into small spaces. If they’ve got a collar on, this may put them in danger as it can get stuck. A breakaway collar let’s go if pulled on tightly. Your cat can preserve a few of his nine lives with this.
Keep your cat away from your drapery cords. Cats can potentially strangle themselves on these cords so it is important to protect your cat from this potential danger. This may harm or kill them. Be sure your drape cords are strongly secured.
If your cat is older or sick, a heating pad may provide comfort. Heat a fabric covered heating pad in the microwave for a couple of minutes, making sure that is not too hot to the touch. Keep this underneath your cat’s resting space for extra warmth. If you want, change it now and then so the warmth continues.
Cats love to squeeze into tiny spots. If you keep a collar on your pet, getting stuck in one of these spaces can be very dangerous. A collar that is a breakaway model will detach itself if it gets pulled on. Your cat can preserve a few of his nine lives with this.
Do not use dog products on your cat. It is possible that a dog’s product could cause a serious adverse effect on a cat. Flea products especially. Your cat may die if you use dog flea products on it. Once you use flea prevention products on your dog, it should be kept separately from the cat for hours.
You can make your old cat feel better thanks to a hot tile placed under its bed. A terra cotta tile heated in your oven on about 200 degrees and for 15 minutes will do. Place it in an older towel and place it underneath of the feline’s bed. You can even switch it out every few hours.
If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. Cats can get lost, and they need a tag to be found. Even if the tag just has your phone number, it can be the difference between your pet coming home and being lost forever.
If your cat is a female, you’ll want to spay her once she reaches the proper age. Whether or not she typically goes outside, she may escape while in heat and you might have kittens! Spray your cat so that this does not occur.
Deter your cat from chewing on inappropriate things by using bitter apple. Keep your cords covered if you feel like your cat is hellbent on chewing them. Any loose cords should be bundled up and placed in things like paper towel rolls. Whenever you aren’t using any thin, electronic cords, you should store them away.
Think about getting a microchip for your feline friend. Even though a cat may live inside, you never know if it will run out the door to escape. A collar and identification tags can help bring your pet back to you. But experts point out that collars that do not snap apart quickly if your cat gets it caught on a branch or even a bush can accidentally strangle your cat. A microchip about as big as a grain of rice and holds all the contact information your cat needs. Nearly every vet and shelter owns a scanner which can read a microchip, and since they’re implanted, there isn’t a risk of the chip falling out or getting lost.
Your kitty’s litter box requires strategic placement. It should not be placed in a high traffic area, and it should be far away from the cat’s food. Choose an area that is well-ventilated to avoid bad smells. Your cat and you will appreciate it.
Give your kitty lots of love. They want the same level of companionship that they give to you as their owner. Your cat needs to socialize and get plenty of attention from everyone in your family. Make her feel like she is part of your family.
A cat generally spends quite a bit of time grooming itself. If your cat has hair that’s long it could get hairballs. To help your cat out with this problem, try buying him special food. There are foods that are made to reduce the frequency of hairballs. It’s a smart move for your cat and your sanity.
Though a veterinarian will almost always have a supply of medications that your cat needs, it can be more cost-effective to purchase them from online venues. Sometimes, you may need the medicine immediately though. However, if you buy meds for your cat on a regular basis, you can save huge amounts by getting medication via the Internet.
Find cat medicine online if you want to get discounts. Online prescriptions are not the best choice if you do not have the time to wait on a mail order, such as in a medical emergency. If you regularly need to buy pet medication, you can get a savings of up to 50 percent online.
When traveling on the road with your cat, understand that they are sensitive to sounds. You may prefer loud music as you drive down the freeway, blasting your stereo, but your feline friend likes softer sounds better. Therefore, try lowering your music or turning it off in order for your cat to enjoy the trip more.
Try figuring out why the cat is purring. After you have coexisted with a pet cat for a long while, you are sure to figure out its meowing patterns. Your cat could be hungry or thirsty, or it may want to leave the house. You’ll learn her cues quickly.
Younger children can be a little rough with cats sometimes. Make sure your child knows how to treat a cat. Demonstrate the proper way to pick up a cat and what they can do with the cat. Cat’s bones aren’t quite as strong as dogs, so they must be treated gingerly.
Is your home also the home of both a dog and cat? A dog may enjoy eating your cat’s food when he has the chance to do so. This makes it a good idea to have a cat feeding place high up enough that your dog can’t get to it. Separate eating spaces are a must to avoid fights between your pets.
Make sure your kids know the rules before kitty comes home. You can then teach your kids which areas your cat can go into. If your cat is going to be one that stays inside, let the kids know that it’s not allowed outside. Knowing the rules ahead will help your child understand.
Brush your cat’s fur regularly. This can help spread their fur’s natural oils around and stimulate blood flow to their skin. Furthermore, it helps reduce all the loose hair. This keeps hairballs at bay, which may cause choking and build up inside their stomach from self-grooming.
Litter Box
Get your cat accustomed to a carrier. Cats don’t react to punishment like dogs do. They respond better to encouragement. Place the open carrier in an area that your cat visits often and outfit it with a favorite toy and blanket. Over time the cat will not be stressed about the carrier and will enter it voluntarily. It will then be easier to transport the cat in the carrier.
You don’t want to punish a cat if they do their business outside of their litter box. Many times, this is caused by failure to properly clean or place the litter box. Punishment can make your cat fearful in your presence.
Vary your cat’s diet just a tiny bit to keep them from being picky. If you feed your cat the same food all the time, your cat will likely be uninterested any any other brand or flavor.
You should give your cat at least three weeks to grow used to the presence of a new animal. Do not expect an instant friendship. Instead, look for them to hide frequently, hiss and possibly even become physical with each other. Eventually, they will come to tolerate and actually enjoy being together.
If you plan to add a second cat to your household, be sure to allow two to three weeks for your resident cat and the new cat to get used to each other. Two cats may fight, hiss, or hide from each other until they become more comfortable. But, eventually, they will get used to the idea, and begin to tolerate, and even enjoy, each other’s company.
Think carefully about where you put the litter box for your cat. It is temping to put it someplace where the odor will not be noticed. 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. Felines can be finicky. This means you must give them the right location and make sure it is inviting. If the box is placed on a cold floor, place a mat under it.
Long-haired cats require more care than their short-haired comrades. Cats are beautiful with hair that is long and silky. Your clothes, floors and furniture aren’t. Unless you are prepared to do more cleaning, don’t buy a long haired cat. There will be hairball issues as well.
Make sure you provide adequate space to a cat that is about to give birth. You need to be patient, as it will be three or four hours before all the kittens have been born. If the birth takes an excessively long time or you believe a kitten is stuck inside, an immediate visit to the veterinary hospital is essential.
Your food isn’t necessarily good for your cat. Some of these foods include garlic, grapes, onions and green tomatoes. These foods can make your cat very ill. Milk can also upset your cats’ stomach.
Caring for a cat is an accomplishment to be proud of. You’re providing affection and shelter to a create that needs it badly. You new little friend will be there for you for the rest of their lives. Be sure you properly care for your cat, and it will also take care of you.
Be on the lookout for any small holes in your home that you do not want your cat to crawl into. Keep in mind that a tiny gap is enough for your cat to go outside. This definitely applies to kittens. Keep this in mind when adopting a new cat. When you find a hole that may be dangerous, make the necessary repairs right away.
