Cats make wonderful pets, however, they can also be a bit finicky. You’ll need to understand how to feed and groom your cats, and the tips contained in this article will help you get a handle on that.
If you want to add a cat to your family, go to the shelter first to see what is available. Shelters have lots of great cats available, and your adoption fee often covers key veterinary services. A cat gets a new chance at life and the cat population stays in check with adoption.
Regular vet visits are very important for your cat’s health. They should have regular check ups annually, and more appointments should be made if they need to get important shots. Don’t hesitate to take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice anything unusual about their health or if they are injured.
Flea Products
Don’t give a cat a dog’s product. Some can be quite dangerous, and even deadly, when used on a cat. This particularly applies to flea products. Using dog flea products on your cat can kill them. Actually, it is best to separate the cat from the dog once the flea problem has been treated.
Spray bitter apple on electrical cords to keep cats away from them. If your cat plays with cords, put them up and out of the way, or you can hide them in old paper towel rolls. You can hide away any cords inside the rolls that come inside paper towels. Electronics with thin cords must be put out of reach when they aren’t being used.
Anytime you travel with a cat, their ears should be monitored. You may love loud music, bit it might be bothering your cat. To keep you cat from feeling nervous, keep the volume at a lower level. A trip is already stressful for a pet.
Cats enjoy high places. For a happy cat, make sure you establish a safe environment for them to scan their surroundings. You should install a cat tree or allow your cat to climb on some shelves. To complete the package, add a cat bed or blanket.
Brush your cat on a regular basis. It really helps move natural oils around the cat’s fur, and it improves blood flow. You will also decrease the amount of fur throughout your home. This will help you to avoid hairballs, which may cause your cat to choke. Hairballs are caused when a cat grooms itself.
If your cat does not use the litter box, do not use punishments to try to discipline him. Check out the box instead and see if it has been neglected; this is often a cause of accidents. If you get mad, they’ll never use the box again.
Invest in a cat friendly fountain. Most cats will prefer drinking water that is running over drinking water in a bowl. Streaming water is your best bet. Cats will often drink from a running sink and actually prefer it over the water in their bowl. This is a more natural way for them to drink.
Ensure your cat is collared and wears an identification tag. Even a cat you plan on always staying indoors should have identification. Your cat will go out as soon as you leave a door or a window open. Those tags can help if someone finds your kitty. Make sure your info and your vets info is on it. This will be important especially if you have a cat with medical issues.
Keep your cat healthy, and ensure him a longer life, by keeping him up-to-date on his vaccinations and health check-ups. Kittens, like children, need to have their vaccinations and wellness appointments regularly to prevent diseases and other health issues from becoming a problem later in life. A cat is a member of the family, and therefore, is entitled to the same treatment as other loved ones.
Litter Box
It is possible that placing the litter box in a new part of the house will help your cat to bond with it. Cats feel vulnerable when relieving themselves, so make sure the litter box is in a secluded spot. Basements, laundry rooms and other quiet spots are best.
Dogs usually wag their tails as a sign of friendly greeting or encouragement. Cats may wag as well, but the meaning can be quite different. When a cat is wagging its tail, it’s actually feeling threatened and mulling over the classic question of fight or flight. If you’re snuggling your kitty and you see its tail wag, it’s a sign you should put it down before you get scratched.
A cat that is declawed should never spend time being outside. Since the cat is not able to adequately defend himself from attack, there is a risk of serious injury. The only cats that should be declawed are indoor cats. Only take out the front claws. Don’t have the back claws removed, since cats don’t use them to scratch up your house.
Cats have shockingly sharp noses, which means they can spot changes in their home with ease. This is good but can cause issues when you introduce something new to the home, like a new cat bed or scratching post. You should give your cat time to adjust to new items in his world. As the item becomes a part of your home’s natural smell, your cat will become more comfortable with it.
Keep an eye on your cat if he or she is panting. Panting is quite normal for dogs. Panting sometimes means your cat might be overheated or perhaps anxious, but it also can sometimes mean something even more serious. Take the cat to a veterinarian, especially if they’ve experienced previous breathing problems.
Though caring for a cat can seem like no big deal, there are actually a lot of things to consider, including veterinarian visits and giving them extra amounts of attention. If you follow the advice in this article you can be a great cat owner. Everything you learn will improve the quality of your life and of your pet’s!