Simple Steps To Help You Better Understand Cats
If you could save a cat’s life, would you? There are literally millions of cats that need a good home. If you have always wanted to know how to adopt a cat, this article can help you.
Keep drape cords away from cats. Don’t let the cat play with them since they can jump into them or play with them and get them around their neck if they have loops. This could really hurt or possibly kill them. Keep your drape cords pinned out of sight to prevent this.
Make sure that your cat is well groomed. You should comb and/or brush them on a regular basis. This will help them maintain a clean and healthy coat. This will also cut down on shedding and can reduce issues with hairballs. Brushing your cat will keep your home cleaner, too.
Cats love to squeeze into tiny spots. If your cat wears a collar they might get hurt, and stuck. Purchase breakaway collars that will give if they are yanked tightly. This could help save your cat if it gets caught in a tight spot.
Female Cat
Male cats may develop crystals in the urine, which usually occur as a result of a poor diet. These crystals can cause your cat pain to pass, and your vet bill can be expensive. Feed your cat food that is low in magnesium. This means you should pay attention to labels on food. You will notice that fish-based foods and products are higher in levels of magnesium than anything sourced from poultry.
If you own a female cat, you should have her spayed when she is old enough. Even if you have an indoor female cat, if it escapes when it’s in heat it could get you a bunch of kittens you weren’t planning on having. Your best bet is to have your female cat spayed.
A tablecloth for the feeding area can be quite useful. Cats like to make a mess when they eat. This habit means you will end up with cat food on the floor to clean up. Something as simple as a place mat can help make cleanup easier.
Never use any product intended for dogs on a cat. Cats are not the same as dogs, and products meant for dogs can make cats very ill. This definitely applies to flea products. These dog flea products can even cause feline death. In fact, it is a good idea to separate your cat and dog for a few hours after your dog has taken flea medication.
There needs to be set boundaries with your children and a new kitty. 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. Your children will be able to understand the rules more easily if they know them ahead of time.
It can be hard to prevent your cat from jumping on the counter. Cats naturally love heights so they can easily see everyone and everything. 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. A carefully placed cat tower in the kitchen will keep cats away from the counter.
Reconsider having an outdoor cat. It can be unsafe. You cat can get fleas and contract diseases. Cats can be harmed by cars, people and other animals. If your cat really wants to go outside, let it out into a small area in your yard.
Give your kitty lots of love. Cats provide warmth and affection, and they also require the same from you. Like most people, cats like to socialize and feel that they are included in the family. Make them feel at home.
Cats love being up high. Designating a high-up area where your cat can hang out and watch everything from will help him to feel comfortable. You can use a cleared shelf if you’d rather not have a cat tree. For an extra treat, place a blanket or small bed up there too.
When your cat accompanies you on a trip, remember to consider the health of their ears. You may like music loud and booming, but a cat will prefer lower volumes as their ears are more sensitive. Keep your music off, and talk to your cat instead.
Do not discipline your cat if it makes a mess outside its litter box. When this occurs, it tends to be because the box is not being maintained properly. If your punish your car, he or she is just going to become scared of you.
Try figuring out why the cat is purring. After a while, you’ll start to recognize what some of the noises your cats makes mean. This could mean that your cat needs to go out or is hungry. Pay attention to her cues, and you can understand your cat that much more.
If your cat has a scratching post that is beginning to look worn, don’t get rid of it. This is the condition that cats like the most. Cats may well try scratching something else entirely (like your furniture!) if you replace their beloved toy with something unfamiliar.
Avoid spending too much time trying to train your cat to utilize its litter box. They do this by nature and don’t need to be taught. A lot of people think that they can take their cat and try to rub their cat’s paws on the litter, but this may just traumatize the cat.
Consider getting your cat a fountain to drink from. Cats like their water to move. Normally, cats much prefer water that comes out in a stream. In fact, many cats like drinking from faucets more than from their water bowls. A drinking fountain will be good for the environment and can help the cat to enjoy its water more.
Litter Box
Don’t bring home a cat with long hair without taking into account the extra care they’ll require. Silky, long hair can be stunning, but that fur won’t look as pretty when it’s on your sofa, clothes, and carpet. Do not choose a long-haired cat unless you can commit to the added cleanup. They can also have more health issues due to hairballs.
Do not discipline your cat if it makes a mess outside its litter box. The major cause of such accidents is usually because the litter box hasn’t been given the proper care. If you punish your cat for this, it will fear you later in the future.
If your cat is refusing to use his litter box, you should try putting it in a different location. A cat’s instinct tells him that eliminating puts him in a vulnerable state, so try putting his litter box in a safe, quiet area of the house. Try placing it in a laundry room or a basement, where there is limited traffic in the home.
You want your cat to be wearing a collar with ID tags on a full-time basis. This is essential, even for indoor pets. Cats can slip out a door in a flash. 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.
You should get a collar with your contact information and make sure your cat wears it all the time. Even if your cat lives in the house, he could always get out. Do everything possible to make sure your cat is returned safely to you in the event it gets out.
If a cat urinates often or in odd places, it should probably go see the vet. A change in where or how a cat urinates can signal a UTI or other health problem. A course of antibiotics often does the trick.
Don’t use chemicals near your cat that have phenol. This type of chemical can be found in Pine-Sol, Lysol, and other types of cleaners. The smell is something that cats don’t like, and it also can lead to liver damage if it is used around your cats for a long period of time.
Long-haired cats require more care than their short-haired comrades. Even though that nice coat of beautiful silky fur looks great, it can leave a mess on your floors, furniture and clothing. You should not get a cat with long-hair unless you are ready to do a lot of cleaning. More, and longer hair, usually means more hairballs too.
It is best to keep cats indoors, near you and treated as part of your household. It is shown that cats trained inside that then spend the majority of their lives inside tend to live longer than cats free to roam the neighborhood. Outdoor cats can be attacked by other animals and exposed to many harmful influences. Play with your cat daily to give it adequate exercise.
Confine a sanitary area of the house for your cat to give birth. Delivery can take between three and four hours. Once 6 hours have passed, if all the kittens have not been delivered you should seek the help of a vet.
Do not give human medications to cats. If your cat needs medication, then you should take your cat to the vet. When you make the mistake of giving any type of human medication to your cat, it can kill them or cause them some other type of grave medical misfortune.
Dogs are known to way their tails. This means they are content or excited and is normal dog behavior. A cat may look like it is wagging its tail, but it is completely different than what a dog does. Tail wagging in a cat usually indicates a mental conflict that your cat is mulling over, such as deciding whether to flee or attack. If you are petting your cat and its tail begins to wag vigorously, stay away from the cat. It may be ready to attack you.
Cats have a keen sense of smell and notice the smallest things. This can cause a problem when trying to introduce a new bed, scratching post, or food dish. Your cat will probably not like these items immediately; therefore, be patient. As the smell takes on the smell of your home, your cat will warm up to it.
Adopting a cat is a wonderful thing to do. You’re making a conscious decision to love an animal and provide it with the care that it needs to survive. A bond is formed that will last forever. Properly caring for your cat will ensure that this loving bond remains intact.
Never let your cat venture outside if something like rabies, fleas or fungus makes you nervous. While your cat may still have problems with these things as an indoor cat, they will have less of a chance to have these problems if they don’t go outside.
