Cats are interesting creatures that are great pets. As a cat-owner, it is crucial that you educate yourself on proper cat-care and learn everything you can to ensure that your lovable feline friend enjoys a healthy and fulfilling life. Read these tips to get the most enjoyment out of your cat.
You never want to leave the cords of your drapes dangling down. If the cat becomes caught in a loop, they could choke to death. This is incredibly dangerous as it could be fatal for your cat. Hide the cords for safety sake.
Groom your cat. They need to be brushed every day. This will keep your cat’s coat clean. It also helps to reduce their shedding and can cut down on how many times they are spitting up hairballs. A well groomed cat, then, is a happy and healthy cat.
Do not use dog products on your cat. It is possible that a dog’s product could cause a serious adverse effect on a cat. Flea products can be especially harmful. Canine flea medications are strong and often made from a different formula than the feline version. They can cause death in cats. You should keep your cats and dogs separated after using a flea treatment.
If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. Cats love to roam, so you need to give someone who finds your cat a way to contact you. At least put your phone number and pets name on the tag.
Tell your kids what the rules are about your new kitten. Tell your kids which rooms the cat is allowed in. If you plan to raise an indoor cat, let your children know that the cat cannot go outside. If you make the rules ahead of time, you can be sure your kids understand them.
You should talk to other pet owners if you have an issue with yours. You can often get great advice from friends and family. Your local veterinarian can be a valuable source of information, but there is also help available online by joining user forums geared toward cat owners.
Litter Box
You cannot teach a cat to use a litter box. This comes naturally – you can’t teach it. A lot of people think that rubbing a cat’s paws in its litter box may help them, but in reality, it can be damaging to them.
Do not punish your cat if they make a mess in the area outside of the litter box. If your cat makes a mess, it’s probably because their litter box is not properly cared for. If your punish your car, he or she is just going to become scared of you.
Although you might find its appearance unappealing, don’t toss a scratching post when it’s getting particular worn and frazzled. Cats prefer used scratching posts. Removing the post could cause your cat to look for something else scratch, possibly damaging your furniture.
Identification Tags
Always make sure that your cat has on identification tags and a collar. This is essential, even for indoor pets. Your cat will go out as soon as you leave a door or a window open. Your cat’s identification tags should provide your contact info and that of your veterinarian. This is very important if your pet is likely to get lost or has some medical needs.
If your cat or kitten begins to urinate frequently or in places other than his litter box, a trip to the vet may be in order. This behavior may be indicative of an infection of the urinary tract or some other issue. Most of the time, these conditions can be resolved with relatively affordable antibiotic treatments.
Is there cat hair all over every surface in your home? Cats shed a ton, so they must be brushed frequently. How often and how much your cat sheds can give you a good idea of how often he need to be brushed. Frequent brushing or combing keeps the cat from getting a tangled, matted coat.
Be aware of your cat stopping their litter box usage. Many feline health conditions can cause a cat to urinate and defecate in random places outside of their litter box. Some common issues are bladder and kidney problems. Speak with a veterinarian if you have a cat that has these issues.
Your cat should be kept inside whenever it can be near the person who owns it. Studies have proven that cats who live most of their life indoors live longer than outdoor cats. Going outside may give your pet some exercise, but the risk of disease or injury outweighs that benefit.
Any difference in the environment of your home is easily detected by the keen sense of smell that your cat possesses. This can cause a problem when trying to introduce a new bed, scratching post, or food dish. Don’t be discouraged if your cat decides to ignore these items at first. As the smell of your home gets onto the items, they’ll warm up to them.
Place a sticky style tape on your furniture. Cats will avoid scratching furniture if it is equipped with sticky tape. Many pet shops sell this sort of tape. By keeping your furniture covered with tape and getting a scratching post put up, you will get your cat to scratch that instead.
As stated earlier in this article, cats are great pets. Being a good caregiver will guarantee that your cat live a healthy, productive life. Keep this information handy, so that you can refer back to it from time to time. Kitty will be thankful!