You will adore having a cat as a pet once you have the knowledge to care for it properly. As a cat owner, it is important that you take the time to educate yourself on all of the best cat care tips and advice to ensure that your feline friend enjoys a great life. You’ll pick up more than a few great tips on caring for a cat in the article below.
When looking for a new cat for your home, contact a local animal shelter. 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.
If a cat is outdoors frequently, they need a collar that has a tag. This can help if your cat becomes lost while wandering in the great outdoors. The tag should contain your phone number as well as your cat’s name.
Give your cat lots of attention and love. Cats need companionship as much as we do. Your cat needs to socialize and get plenty of attention from everyone in your family. They want to know they are a valuable part of the family too.
Be especially mindful of your cat’s ears when you take them on a trip. They don’t want to hear you singing at the top of your lungs. Keep the music turned down or off when taking your cat on a trip.
Cats are great family pets, but small children might be too rough. Guide your kids in handling a feline. Demonstrate how the cat should be petted and handled and encourage your children to be very gentle. Cats have weaker bones than dogs and need more gentle treatment.
Create a tablecloth for the feline. Cats often like to remove food from their bowl to eat it off to the side. This habit means you will end up with cat food on the floor to clean up. To simplify your clean up duties, place a ready made placemat under the dish or purchase some inexpensive fabric and use it like a tablecloth.
Cats love being up high. To keep your cat happy, offer him a spot of his own up high where he can survey his kingdom. Placing a shelf or two up high will not take up too much space in your home. To complete the package, add a cat bed or blanket.
Litter Box
You cannot teach a cat to use a litter box. This will be something that the cat does on its own and it usually is not learned fro another. Don’t try to force them into the litter box by rubbing their paws or face in it.
Although your cat’s old scratching post may look very worn out, you shouldn’t throw it away. To your cat the post is just right. When you bring in a new post, the cat may ignore it.
Long haired cats take extra grooming time, so think about that before choosing one. All that hair will be literally everywhere. These breeds are best left to those with the time and energy to do a lot of cleaning. Long-haired cats also often have hairballs.
If you notice your cat is not using the litter box, try moving it to a new location. A cat knows that when it’s going to the bathroom it’s in a vulnerable situation, so you should make sure the box is in a calm, secure location. A basement or laundry area might be a good option.
Cats are great pets, but they need proper care. Cat owners should read this article and use all of its great tips. With the love and care that you provide it, you will make sure that your cat has a happy and healthy life.