It is hard to describe how wonderful it is to have a cat. However, it should be noted that owning cat also requires a lot of hard work. The commitment involves many things that you should take into account. Luckily, the article below will illustrate exactly what those responsibilities are. Keep reading and learn a little something about caring for your cat.
Cats can get into even the tiniest of spaces. If your cat is such a curious one, wearing a collar is a safety risk, as your feline might get stuck because of it while exploring. Breakaway collars will “break” if they’re pulled too tight. Using this collar will prevent your cat from injuring itself.
Look a local animal shelters for cats. Shelters around the country are overflowing, and the cats there need more humans to help. Adoption fees often include things like spaying or neutering them, shots or other vet care. When you adopt a cat from a shelter, you save a life and help keep the cat population under control.
A heated tile for underneath your cat’s bed can provide real comfort. 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. Put it inside an old towel, then place it beneath the cat’s bed. Switch towels every few hours if you need to.
Check-ups are an absolute must for any pet cat. They should get their vaccinations and have a full check up. It is best to always take your cat to the same veterinarian. They will understand your cat and its issues better this way.
Regular visits to the vet will preserve your cat’s health. They need a routine check-up every year, maybe more of important shots are necessary. Don’t hesitate to take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice anything unusual about their health or if they are injured.
Don’t use items on a cat that are meant for a dog. Cats are not the same as dogs, and products meant for dogs can make cats very ill. Be very careful with the flea products you use. Products used for flea prevention in dogs can be very harmful to your cat. You need to separate your pets when you treat them for fleas.
A tagged collar is essential if you let your cat outside regularly. Cats can travel a long way and this will help you get them back easier if they’re lost. The tag should contain your phone number as well as your cat’s name.
Consider having your cat fitted with a microchip. You never know when your cat could get away from you. 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. Microchips are very small, and you can note your name, address and phone number in there. Almost every vet and shelter has a scanner these days, and they can retrieve your contact information should they find your pet.
Your house can really get torn apart by a cat’s claws. If you have problems with a cat that shreds furniture, invest in a durable scratching post. Redirect your cat to the scratching post when they start to go after your furniture. Catnip can be put in the posts or on the tower to help train the cat to use it. It doesn’t happen overnight but with some patience, you should be able to save your house from the claws.
Your cat most likely spends quite a bit of time grooming. When the cat’s hair is longer, this could lead to hairballs. To help your cat out with this problem, try buying him special food. Certain kinds of cat food are made to decrease hairballs. As a result, you and your cat will be happier.
Consider having your cat fitted with a microchip. Even indoor cats get out sometimes. Cat collars are a great thing to have in case your cat gets lost, but they also pose a risk if they get caught on something. A teeny microchip can hold your contact information. These days, pretty much all shelters and vet offices have scanners that can read these chips, and because they’re beneath your pet’s skin, they won’t ever get lost.
Prevent crystals from forming in the urine of male cats with the right diet. These are very painful and expensive to treat. Your cat needs food low in magnesium. Consult the ingredient list. Avoid fish products.
Pick the right location for your cat’s litter box. Don’t put it close to your cat’s food or in an area that gets too much traffic. Allow for adequate ventilation to dispel any odors. Your cat and your nose will thank you for the effort.
Place a “tablecloth” under your cat’s food bowl. Cats will sometimes pluck food from the bowl and enjoy it straight off the ground. This can really make a mess, and you might have to spend significant time cleaning around your cat’s food bowl. You can also use any type of mat underneath your cat’s eating apparatus to reduce the mess.
You can often find better deals for cat medicine online rather than buying them from the veterinarian. Though, in emergency situations, buying online may not be possible. The savings can amount to almost 50 percent on regularly prescribed medications.
When purchasing a tiny kitty as gift for the kids, it’s best to establish boundaries well ahead of the arrival. Make sure that you let your kids know which areas of the house the cat will be allowed in. It’s also important to let them know that outside doors must be kept closed so that the cat doesn’t escape. It’s important to remind them as often as necessary, and when you plan ahead of time to teach your children, you will less likely to have issues.
When you get a kitten for kids, you have to set up a few rules first. Make sure your children know where in the house the cat is permitted to be. If you’re planning on keeping your kitty inside full time, make sure your kids know their pet shouldn’t go outdoors. Make sure your children understand the rules from the get go.
Litter Box
Just because your family did it when you were a child, does not mean allowing your cat to go outside is a wise decision. This isn’t safe for your cat. Your cat could get fleas or even worse parasites. 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.
It’s important to let your cat see where you place the litter box, but it’s not always a good idea to force your cat to learn how to use it. This is the sort of thing which flows naturally. Some individuals believe they should carry their cat to the litter box and rub paws into the litter. This actually can be quite traumatic for a cat.
Be careful if you leave a kitten with a young child. Children under five years of age should not be left alone with a kitten. They are just not mature enough to understand the danger they can pose for the kitten. As they age, you can determine how much interaction they should have with the animal.
Feeding your cat different types of food helps ensure they don’t get finicky. If they only eat the same food, they may never eat another food in the future.
Never punish the cat if he or she causes a mess outside the litter box. Often, this happens when the litter box is dirty. The cat will be fearful of you if you punish it.
Make canned food the mainstay of your cat’s diet. Dry food is cheaper, but some wet foods have more benefits. They have more water, protein and fat too. Older cats find it easier to eat, too. Ask your vet for more info, bun in general, canned food is much better for a number of reasons.
Think about getting a drinking fountain for your cat. In nature, a cat prefers to drink from running streams. House cats prefer this as well. Cats prefer to drink water that is streaming. In fact, there are cats that enjoy drinking from a running sink instead of a bowl. Drinking fountains are more environmentally-friendly and they let your cat drink naturally.
Make sure your cat has identification and a collar all the time. Even if your cat is a house cat, this is still a good idea. Even the tamest indoors cat can be tempted by the possibilities presented by an open door or window. Include your contact number along with the name of your veterinarian. Include your cat’s special diet or medical needs on his identification.
Always make sure that your cat has on identification tags and a collar. This is essential, even for indoor cats. You know how curious cats are, and any open door can mean the cat disappears. The tag your cat wears should display your number and your veterinarian’s information. This is especially true for cats with medical conditions.
As mentioned earlier, there’s a lot of great things about having a cat. However, if you want your cat to live a long and happy life, you have to take proper care of it. Use these tips to make your cat’s life complete.
Your cat will thank you if you avoid phenol in your cleaning products. This is something that’s often in Pine-sol, Lysol, and other popular cleaners. Cats hate the smell of phenol and continuously exposing them to it could cause liver problems later in their lives.