When you care for a cat properly, it will bring you much joy. A little self-education can transform you into the kind of responsible cat owner that keeps their feline friends happy and affectionate over the course of a long and healthy life. This article is loaded with helpful cat care advice.
Your cat will want to climb into small spaces. If they are wearing a collar this can pose a safety risk, in the event that your cat gets stuck. A breakaway style collar will literally “break away” if pulled too tight. Purchasing one could be the difference between whether your cat lives or dies when he gets stuck.
A cat’s claws can cause lots of damage to your home. If you want to prevent or stop your cat from scratching up your furniture, the best thing to do is buy a scratching post or kitty tower for them to climb in. This can encourage cats to scratch something other than things that are off-limits. It may take some time and some corrections, but it can usually eliminate the problem.
Keeping your cat off of the counter can be difficult. They love being above everything so that they can watch it all. 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 cat tower near your kitchen can give them a place to watch you that is out of the way.
Give your kitty lots of love. They give lots of affection and need some in return. Like most people, cats like to socialize and feel that they are included in the family. They want to feel like a valuable, happy family member, too.
Children usually take well to cats, but if you have a small child, you may need to provide some instruction. Make sure your child knows how to treat a cat. Teach them what are appropriate activities and how to gently touch it. Cat’s bones aren’t quite as strong as dogs, so they must be treated gingerly.
Use a tablecloth underneath your cat’s dish. It’s a common practice for cats to eat their food on the side of their bowl. That can mean a bigger mess for you to clean. Simply place a cloth placemat that will grab at the food under their plate and then shaken out over the trash. You can put a vinyl one underneath that can be picked up wiped down easily if you prefer.
If you get a small kitten for your children, make sure they understand the rules ahead of time. Let your children know which areas of the house are off-limits for the cat. If the cat is to be indoors, tell your children not to allow him outside. 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.
Do you own a dog and cat? Understand that dogs will usually eat cat’s food if they can. For this reason, you need to place your cat’s bowl in an area that is to high for a dog to reach. This can also prevent unnecessary arguments between your pets over the water supply, once the food has been consumed.
Speak to others about your cat problems. You can often get great advice from friends and family. You can also go on the Web and ask your question in a forum.
If your cat relieves itself away from its litter box, do not spring into action with punishment. Many times this occurs because the box wasn’t well maintained. Punishments given to the cat will just make him or her less willing to be around its owner going forward.
Keep you cat’s old scratching post even if it is beginning to look worn. Cats typically like older posts compared to newer posts. Something new is not necessarily better for a cat, and it may lead them to scratching the furniture.
Provide your cat with high-quality cat food. You should check the ingredients and make sure the food you give your cat includes a healthy source of protein, such as chicken, fish or beef. The foods to avoid are those with a large amount of corn and low amounts of protein. Since cats are carnivorous, they require animal protein to stay in the best health.
As soon as you adopt your cat, fit him with identification tags attached to a collar. This applies even to indoor cats. Your cat will go out as soon as you leave a door or a window open. It is a good idea to include your own phone number along with the name and contact number of your veterinarian. This is very important if your pet is likely to get lost or has some medical needs.
Are you getting overwhelmed with all the cat hair in your home? You have to brush your cat to avoid their shedding. If your cat sheds a lot, brush it a lot. This can also stop their coats from becoming tangled up.
When your cat is due to deliver babies, ensure that she has a comfortable area with some space. Delivery can take between three and four hours. Bring your cat to her vet immediately if six hours have passed without all the kittens coming out.
It is possible that placing the litter box in a new part of the house will help your cat to bond with it. Cat’s sometimes just don’t like the location you’ve picked for the box. Basements, laundry rooms, and other low traffic locations are a great choice.
Cats are enchanting animals, but you need to understand how to care for them. Use what you learned here for a happy and healthy cat. With a little love and effort, your cat is sure to have a happy and healthy life.