Simple Cat Tips That Can Be Used Today
Cats are great animals and intelligent pets. If you wish to own one, you must learn as much as you can. Read on to find out more.
The claws of a cat can really destroy parts of your house and furniture. If your kitty is doing this, one way to redirect his behavior is to purchase a scratching post or cat tower. Use catnip or other scents that are attractive to your kitty to encourage him to go there. This solution might take time to take, but it will help in the end.
When looking for a new cat for your home, contact a local animal shelter. Sometimes, you may find the cat of your dreams at a shelter. When you bring home a shelter cat, you will be saving its life and you will be doing your part to help out.
A microchip will allow you to find your pet if it is lost. Your pet may be an indoor cat, but that doesn’t mean it’ll never dash through your door or slide outside via an open window. Tags and collars can help you cat return home, but cats can wiggle out of them or risk injury by snagging them on a tree branch or bush. A microchip about as big as a grain of rice and holds all the contact information your cat needs. They are impossible for your pet to lose, and most vets and shelters have equipment that can read these chips.
Groom your cat. Cats have to be brushed or combed on a regular basis. This leads to a cleaner cat. Removing excess hair also reduces shedding and can prevent hairballs. A well groomed cat, then, is a happy and healthy cat.
Keep your cat away from boredom. Cats require physical activity. Many owners just don’t have time. Cats that are bored may develop obsessive compulsive disorders, depression, or other issues that can harm their health. Give them toys and things to do. If you have an indoor cat, provide a kitty gym for them to climb on or a scratching post.
Make sure your cat sees a vet regularly to maintain their good health. Cats need routine annual check-ups and possibly additional ones as well for vaccinations. If there are obvious issues with your cat, it needs to see the vet immediately. Don’t wait!
Most cats spend a large amount of time on grooming themselves. Your cat can get hairballs in the event that their hair is too long. To assist your cat if it has this problem, you should get food that’s special. Some food are produced specifically for hairball reduction, which will help.
Flea Products
Remember that very young children can be a bit too rough with a cat or new kitten. Guide your kids in handling a feline. Show them to pick up kitty gently and the types of activities which are appropriate. A cat’s bones can be quite fragile and they need to be treated gently.
Avoid using dog products on cats. This can irritate your cat or cause an allergic reaction. Flea products for dogs are one of the worst products to give a cat. Flea products that are intended for a dog can kill a cat. Actually, it is best to separate the cat from the dog once the flea problem has been treated.
Put a cloth down in your cat’s eating area. Cats often take food from their bowls to eat on the side. That can mean a bigger mess for you to clean. An easier way to do that is to either buy a placemat and put it underneath the cat bowl, or to cut a bit of fabric to use as a tablecloth that you can pick up and wash or shake over the garbage can.
A cat’s claws can cause lots of damage to your home. If you have problems with a cat that shreds furniture, invest in a durable scratching post. Put cat nip on it to attract them to it. It may take some time and some corrections, but it can usually eliminate the problem.
Be very careful about allowing children to be alone with a kitten. If a child is under the age of five, you should not leave the pet alone with them. They’re not really mature enough to know how dangerous a kitten can be. As your child matures, carefully consider whether a small pet is safe with them.
Normally cats are nocturnal animals. Because of this, night time is when they are most active. Close your bedroom door if your cat is driving you nuts at night. They should stay away from you at night and then they will not be able to jump on your feet.
When something seems amiss with your feline friend, speak with other cat owners. Although you might want to take care of things on your own, advice from other people with cats can be a big help. There are many online forums that discuss cats. Most vets will also be happy to help you with some advice.
Cats spend a ton of time grooming themselves. If the cats hair is too long, this is what causes hairballs. There are special foods you can buy to try to help with this particular problem. Certain cat foods are formulated to lower the amount of hairballs.
Don’t punish cats for making messes outside the litter box. It might be happening because you aren’t caring for the box good enough. If you attempt to punish your pet, you may cause fear and resentment–and more accidents!
Male cats can develop crystals that form in their urine, so prevent this with the right food. These crystals can cause your cat pain to pass, and your vet bill can be expensive. Keep your cat’s diet low in levels of magnesium. Take a look at the food’s label. Cat food with lots of fish tends to have more magnesium, while products with lots of poultry tend to have less.
Feeding your cat different types of food helps ensure they don’t get finicky. If you feed them the same thing day in and day out, it will be the only thing that they are able to eat later on down the road.
You can sometimes find better prices for cat medication online than getting it from your veterinarian. Though, in emergency situations, buying online may not be possible. However, if your pet gets regular prescriptions for a chronic or ongoing issue, you can often save up to 50 percent by shopping online.
Your cat should be given food from a can. Although it is usually more expensive, canned food offers real nutritional advantages. There is more water in canned food and more protein and fat too. Canned food is much easier to chew for older cats. Go ahead and talk to your vet, but canned food is favorable for cats.
If you get a small kitten for your children, make sure they understand the rules ahead of time. Let your kids know where the cat can go. If your cat is going to be one that stays inside, let the kids know that it’s not allowed outside. By getting these rules into place before having a cat, you’ll be sure that your children can understand.
Be patient with your pets when you introduce a second cat into your home. There will be an inevitable adjustment period as your two cats get to know each other. They may still hiss and growl when they are in the same room together. However, if you allow them to slowly get used to each other, they will eventually become friends.
Don’t try to show your feline how to go in the litter box. They do this by nature and don’t need to be taught. Certain techniques, such as rubbing the paws of your cat in the litter could actual traumatize your cat.
Think about how much extra care is entailed in bringing a long-haired cat into your home. There is no denying that long-haired cats are beautiful, but that beautiful coat takes a lot of work and also means a lot of shedding. These breeds are best left to those with the time and energy to do a lot of cleaning. Long-haired cats usually suffer from hairball problems too.
Do not discipline your cat if it makes a mess outside its litter box. Check out the box instead and see if it has been neglected; this is often a cause of accidents. If your punish your car, he or she is just going to become scared of you.
Use a cat collar that gives name, address, and phone number info. Your indoor pet might even get out if you leave a window open. If this should happen, you will have a better chance of getting your cat back home.
Scratching Post
Act fast if you cat is panting. Dogs love to pant. Panting could mean your cat is dehydrated or nervous, but it could also be a sign of a serious issue. Do not hesitate to contact a vet, particularly if there has been a history of respiratory problems.
Keep you cat’s old scratching post even if it is beginning to look worn. While it doesn’t appear clean and new, your cat probably thinks otherwise. For a cat, it is comfortable and familiar. By throwing away an old scratching post and replacing it with a newer one, your cat will likely look for older items to scratch, such as your furniture.
One easy way to prevent a lot of potential feline health problems down the road is to refrain from over-feeding your cat. Eating a lot more than normal can lead to your cat becoming obese and developing a serious illness. Watch your cat’s portions and make sure that you feed him a well-balanced diet.
A collar and tags are a great way that your cat can be identified if it is found stray. This applies even to indoor cats. An adventurous cat can easily slip through an open door or window. The tag should have your phone number on it. Include your cat’s special diet or medical needs on his identification.
If you want to do your best to keep your cat free from ticks, rabies or animal bites, keep him indoors. Indoor cats can experience these problems, but it is much more likely in an outdoor cat.
Cats can make wonderful pets. You should always keep educating yourself about the different things you can do to care for your cat. Internalize the tips you have read here to be the best cat owner possible. Your cat will love you for it.
Think about restricting your cat to only indoors. Cats that go outside often generally don’t live as long, and they tend to get much sicker. Certain feline diseases can actually be passed to humans, so it is good for you to keep your cat inside for that reason. Indoor cats do fine with a sunny window where he can safely view the outdoors without all the risks.
