Tips And Tricks To Help You Care For Cats

Cats are fascinating pets. Their independence makes them perfect if you are not always at home due to a busy schedule. Use what you will learn here to make sure your cat has a enjoyable and healthy life.

Make sure that your cat is well groomed. Cats should have regular combings. This leads to a cleaner cat. Doing this will also help alleviate hairballs and excessive shedding. Cat grooming will not only keep kitty looking great, but it will also help to reduce the effort spent picking up cat hair around the home.

Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. They need to be brushed every day. This leads to a cleaner cat. Also, this can eliminate the constant shedding that you will deal with. A well groomed cat will be much more pleasant for everyone and will also help you keep your home clean.

You can make your old cat feel better thanks to a hot tile placed under its bed. Use a terra cotta tile to help relieve your cat’s aches and pains; put it in the oven on low heat – 200 degrees or so – for 15 minutes. Wrap it in an old towel and put it under your cat’s bed or blanket. Change it out every few hours if you feel the need.

Some cats like to scratch up floors and furniture. If your cat is ripping up and shredding your home, invest in a kitty tower or scratching post. Encourage them to scratch that instead. It might take time, but eventually you will see that the damage to your furniture is diminished.

If you own a female cat, it’s crucial to spay it at the appropriate age. While your cat may be an indoor one, there is always the possibility it can get out and you wind up with kittens one day. Having your cat spayed is the only way to 100 percent prevent accidental litters.

Keeping your cat off of the counter can be difficult. Cats enjoy going into high places so that they can see what’s going on around the house. It helps to provide your cat with certain high spaces where it is allowed. One way to keep your cats from continuously jumping on the counter is to install a cat tower near the problem counter.

Get a microchip for your cat. Even an indoor cat could someday jump through an open window. Other measures like tags and collars are better than nothing, but your cat may wriggle out of them or they may be torn off by outdoor hazards. Microchips are tiny and contain all your contact information. Many vets and shelters have scanners that can read these chips and since they lie under their skin, they won’t get lost.

Never let your cat experience frequent boredom. Cats need to play and get regular exercise. Unfortunately, lots of people who own cats neglect this. Bored cats are more prone to depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, as well as many other behavioral issues. Provide your cats with the toys and space it needs. Give them a cat tree to play with.

Cats will often devote most of their time to grooming. Your cat’s long hair can cause hair balls. If your cat has this issue, try changing his food. Certain kinds of cat food are made to decrease hairballs. As a result, you and your cat will be happier.

Your cat needs attention and a lot of affection. They usually offer us warm companionship, and they require the same. They are social creates which need reassurance. They need to feel as though they are an important part of the family, as well.

If your cat dirties the space near his litter box, don’t punish them. Improper box care on your part causes the mess, not the cat. If your pet is punished, you won’t do anything but make it afraid of you.

Cats are known for spending inordinate amounts of time grooming themselves. If the cats hair is too long, this is what causes hairballs. One way to alleviate this condition in your cat is by feeding him special food. Some foods have special formula for hairball reduction, which will benefit you and your cat.

Your cat should be acclimated to a carrier as a kitten. Understand that cats don’t react to punishment as well as dogs. Cats usually respond well to encouragement. Put the carrier in a comfortable place and fill it with treats and toys. Your cat will start to venture into their carrier more often, until they are completely comfortable with it. Once the cat is comfortable with the carrier, you can transport it easily.

If you have to travel with a cat you should remember their ears. You may like music loud and booming, but a cat will prefer lower volumes as their ears are more sensitive. Keep the music turned down or off when taking your cat on a trip.

Give your cat a wide array of foods in order to prevent pickiness. If they start eating just one type of food without variation, they are sure to grow finicky.

Are you the owner of both a dog and cat? A dog will take any opportunity they have to eat your cats food. For this reason, you need to place your cat’s bowl in an area that is to high for a dog to reach. This will also prevent squabbles between them.

Keep you cat’s old scratching post even if it is beginning to look worn. This is the condition that cats most appreciate. If you toss it away in favor of something newer, your cat may look for something older to scratch, and that may end up being your furniture.

Cats enjoy high places. To keep your cat healthy, provide your cat with a high place to sit. You can use a cleared shelf if you’d rather not have a cat tree. Make it extra comfortable by adding a blanket or cushion.

You need to provide your cat with a drinking fountain. Your cat will prefer drinking from running water since this is a natural behavior. Cat usually respond well to streams. Running sink water is another alternative that you can use. Also, drinking fountains are more environmentally friendly and gives them the ability to drink naturally.

Acclimate your cat to a cat carrier. Cats don’t react to punishment like dogs do. Most of the time, it is better to use positive reinforcement. Put their favorite toy and blanket in a carrier. Leave it somewhere they always go to. The cat will feel safe when it enters this carrier after a while. Once the cat is comfortable with the carrier, you can transport it easily.

Always make sure that your cat has on identification tags and a collar. This is very important for indoor cats. Cats love to explore, and if they see an opportunity to go outside, they will take it. Those tags can help if someone finds your kitty. Make sure your info and your vets info is on it. Also make sure to note any unusual medical requirements.

Increase the variety of food that you give your cat. If you feed your cat the same food all the time, your cat will likely be uninterested any any other brand or flavor.

Getting a second cat is usually beneficial to both, but you have to give the two cats a few weeks to get acclimated to each other. Expect to see your cats avoid each other, hiss, or even confront one another. But, eventually, they will get used to the idea, and begin to tolerate, and even enjoy, each other’s company.

Feed canned food to your cat. Yes, dry food is cheaper, but canned food really has a lot more benefits. Canned food will give your cat more water, fat and protein. Aging cats find it makes it much easier to chew. Can food is generally better, but consult your vet first before feeding it to your cat.

Cats need to play! After all, everyone likes to play. Older cats do not have the same energy level as younger ones, but they still like to play a little. Enjoy your cat every day.

If you are thinking about adding another cat to your home, you need to set aside a couple of weeks where you let the animals get used to being around 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.

Does it feel like your home is overrun with your cat’s hair? Cats are big shedders, so you should brush them frequently. The more hair you see on the ground, the more you should pull out the brush. Doing this will also make sure they don’t get a matted or tangled coat.

Cats are independent and intelligent house pets. If you are going to take responsibility for a cat, it is important for you to know as much as you can about felines. Use what this article has taught you if you want to be the owner of a cat that does well in life. Do this to ensure your cat has an enjoyable life.

Outfit your cat with a tag and collar containing your address, phone number, and name. Your indoor pet might even get out if you leave a window open. Fitting your cat with a tag and collar greatly increases the chance that your cat will make it home safely.