Cats are very interesting and loving pets to have. Their independent nature is great if you lead a busy life and cannot be at home 24/7. You can improve the quality and quantity of your cat’s years by following the guidelines below.
Good grooming is important for cats. You have to make sure your cat gets brushed or combed often. Doing this frequently can help them keep their coat clean. It will also limit shedding and may cut down on hairballs. Regularly grooming keeps cats looking well and keeps your home neater.
If your cat is a female, be sure to get her spayed when she is old enough. Whether or not she typically goes outside, she may escape while in heat and you might have kittens! If you want to prevent this, spay your cat.
Flea Products
You shouldn’t ever use products designed to be used on dogs on your cat. Cats are not the same as dogs, and products meant for dogs can make cats very ill. Flea products are a great example of this. Flea products that are intended for a dog can kill a cat. Keep your cat away from your puppy after treating it with some flea products.
Consider having your cat fitted with a microchip. Even indoor cats can decide to run away at a moment’s notice, escaping through an open window. Cats can get out of a collar or, worse, have that collar choke them to death. Microchips are very small, and you can note your name, address and phone number in there. Every shelter and most veterinarian offices have microchip scanners that can read the chips, and best of all, they chips can’t be lost.
Avoid letting your cat get bored. Cats need play and exercise. Unfortunately, lots of people who own cats neglect this. Cats who become bored often have issues that can affect them in a big way. Some of these issues are obesity due to eating out of boredom, OCD issues, fighting with other pets and depression. Provide your cats with the toys and space it needs. If you have an indoor cat, offer him a variety of toys, scratching post or objects he can climb on.
You may be able to find a better deal on your cat’s prescription online instead of purchasing them from your veterinarian. There are some times when this isn’t a good idea, like when you’re dealing with a pet related emergency. Most of the time, you will get great discounts if you purchase on the web.
If you’re traveling with your cat, take care to remember their ears. You may love belting out your favorite tunes as you drive on the freeway, but your cat probably enjoys softer sounds. Therefore, keep your music or other sounds at an acceptable level.
Set a tablecloth under your cat’s food bowl. Often, a cat will remove food from his bowl to eat on the side. That means you will have to tidy up the food left beside the cat bowl. There are two ways to do this. You can either put a placemat under the food bowl or use some stray fabric that you have lying around. Either way, you can easily get rid of debris by dumping them in the garbage.
Be careful when leaving your cat with your children. Never leave a pet alone with a child who is any younger than five. Younger children cannot fully understand how to properly handle a small pet. When children get a little older, they develop the skills needed to be around small animals.
Speak to other people if you’re having cat troubles. Though you want to handle problems on your own, you may require advice from others who own cats. The Internet will allow you to contact many forums and online communities for cat owners. Don’t forget, your vet’s office can also provide sound advice.
Litter Box
If your cat does not use the litter box, do not use punishments to try to discipline him. When this occurs, it is probably just a sign that the litter box wasn’t properly taken care of. If you attempt to punish your pet, you may cause fear and resentment–and more accidents!
Cats make the best pets. If you want to be responsible with your animal, however, there are things you must learn. Use the above tips to become a great cat owner. By following proper care, a cat can live a happy life for decades.