Look Here For Excellent Advice About Caring For Cats

Cats are a very unique animal to own. Their inclination toward independence is ideal for busy folks. The following article gives you sound advice that you can use to keep your cat happy and healthy.

Make sure you don’t allow your cat to be around drape cords. Never let your cats play with drape cords, as they could seriously injure themselves. This could even choke them to death. Secure your cords so they are out of the way and out of sight.

Check your local animal shelter if you have plans to get a cat. Shelters have a lot of cats in them and you can get one adopted for a small fee. A cat gets a new chance at life and the cat population stays in check with adoption.

If you have an old cat, you can help make its bed more comfortable by placing heated tiles underneath it. Just get a tile and heat it up in the oven for a while to place under the cat’s bed. Keep the temperature of the oven at 200 degrees. Wrap this in a towel that’s old and then place it under the bed the cat sleeps on. Change it regularly if you need to.

Make sure you keep all the recommended appointments with your cat’s veterinarian. Cats need vaccinations to keep them healthy, and your vet can keep an eye out for any other health issues. If you find a vet you are comfortable with, use them for the duration of your cat’s life. That way, the doctor will be familiar with the history of your cat.

Your cat needs a collar and tag if it goes outside. Cats can travel a long way and this will help you get them back easier if they’re lost. Make sure at a minimum to put your pets name and your phone number on the tag.

If you want a cat to feel like it’s more comfortable, a heated tile may be able to help. Just heat a one-foot square terra cotta tile in your oven at about 200 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Keep this underneath your cat’s resting space for extra warmth. If possible, re-heat several times throughout the night.

A lot of cat owners have a hard time keeping their cats off the counter. Cats love being up high so that they can see. You may be able to battle this issue by giving your cat a high place to chill. If you place a cat tower around the kitchen area, they may be less likely to lay on your counters.

Scratching Post

When it comes to litter boxes, placement is everything. It shouldn’t be put in an area with high traffic and should be far from their food. Also be sure that the cat litter area is ventilated so the smell doesn’t linger. Your cat will certainly appreciate your efforts, and you will too!

Cats can really scratch up your home. If your kitty is doing this, one way to redirect his behavior is to purchase a scratching post or cat tower. You should scold your cat when it scratches your furniture and direct its attention to the scratching post or tower. It might not happen overnight, but the problem should eventually stop.

While cats are good pets for children generally, smaller children may treat them too roughly. Make sure your child knows how to pet a cat. Teach them about appropriate activities and how to gentle pick up the cat. Cats’ bones are more fragile than those of dogs, so they need gentler treatment.

Most cats prefer to be mostly nocturnal. The result is that they active while you’re sleeping. Keep your bedroom door shut if your cats make too much noise at night. This can keep them from waking you up at night and from pouncing on feet under the blankets.

Create a little tablecloth for your cat. Sometimes cats like to take food out of the bowl and eat it to the side of the bowl. That can mean a bigger mess for you to clean. There are two ways to do this. You can either put a placemat under the food bowl or use some stray fabric that you have lying around. Either way, you can easily get rid of debris by dumping them in the garbage.

Pick the right location for your cat’s litter box. A cat’s litter box should be in a quiet spot in the house, away from where your cat eats. The area should also be well ventilated so that it doesn’t smell too badly. Your cat will certainly appreciate your efforts, and you will too!

Be careful if you leave a kitten with a young child. Younger children, especially under 5, cannot be left alone with your cat. They simply lack the maturity to comprehend the harm they can potentially do to kittens. As a kid ages, they can show maturity with handling a little pet.

Some male cats get urinary crystals, but this is preventable with proper diet. The cat is in pain passing the crystals, and the correction for this is costly. Choose a cat food low in magnesium. Take a look at the food’s label. You will notice that fish-based foods and products are higher in levels of magnesium than anything sourced from poultry.

If you’re having an issue with your cat, try to get some input from other cat owners. It can really help to get advice from fellow cat owners. You can also go on the Web and ask your question in a forum.

Cats and small children may not always mix. Make sure your kids understand how cats should be handled. You should show them everything from how to properly carry the cat to the best ways to play with it. Cats have more fragile bones than dogs so it is important to treat them with care.

Feeding your cat the proper canned food is ideal. Although it is usually more expensive, canned food offers real nutritional advantages. Canned food gives your cat more protein and the water content helps with hydration. It’s also much softer on older teeth if your cat is getting up there in years. Talk to your vet, but canned food is generally superior for your cat.

You may find it is helpful to talk to others about challenges you have with your cat. Although you may want to go it alone, it can be helpful to seek advice from other people that have experience owning cats. The Internet has many cat forums where you can ask your questions, or simply speak with your vet.

A cat’s life isn’t complete without play. Actually playtime is very common for all animals, especially cats and people despite their age. Older cats might not be quite as energetic as they used to be, but light play can still be fun for them. Play with your cat, and you’ll both have fun.

Never punish the cat if he or she causes a mess outside the litter box. Usually this is a sign that you haven’t cleaned the box recently. Punishment can make your cat fearful in your presence.

If you desire a long-haired cat, it’s best to know what kind of care is involved before you do so. Although it may look nice, it will look much worse when it sheds all over your home. These breeds are best left to those with the time and energy to do a lot of cleaning. Also, give them the right food which is anti-hairball.

Vary your cat’s diet just a tiny bit to keep them from being picky. Keeping the same kind of food around most of the time makes it to where they only want that specific food.

Does it seem like cat hair is everywhere? Since cats shed so much, they need to be frequently brushed. If your cat is a big shedder, you definitely want to brush him often. This will also help their coat from getting tangled or matted.

Keep a collar with ID on your cat. Even an indoor pet should have this. Cats are curious creatures and an open door or window is likely to be explored. Make sure the collars have tags with your contact information and your veterinarian’s information as well. Also make sure to note any unusual medical requirements.

Do not use cleaning supplies with phenol in them if you have a cat. This is something that’s often in Pine-sol, Lysol, and other popular cleaners. The smell is offensive to cats, and prolonged exposure can lead to liver problems.

Cat Owner

If your cat’s been declawed, you should never let them outside. Your cat cannot defend itself, rendering it helpless against other animals. Declaw your cat if you plan on always having it inside. It is important to note that if you are declawing a cat, only the front claws on the cat should be removed. You do not have to touch claws on the back, as these claws do not damage the floor.

Cats can make great pets. Without learning about the sort of care your pet requires, though, there’s no way you can be a truly responsible cat owner. Learn all you can to be the best cat owner possible. Do this to ensure your cat has an enjoyable life.

Place sticky tape on pieces of furniture. If you have a cat that scratches your upholstery you need to place tape on that as well. Certain pet stores even sell this type of tape for this reason. By keeping your furniture covered with tape and getting a scratching post put up, you will get your cat to scratch that instead.