Cats are mysterious animals. Though they seem independent, they also appear to be thoroughly needy sometimes. Cats may be confusing, but having them purring on your lap is priceless. This article provides lots of great tips for caring for your furry friend.
Prevent your cats from playing with drapery cords. Keep the cat away from these cords as they tend to form loops when the cat is playing around, and it could accidentally go around their neck and strangle them. This accident could trap or injure your cat, or even be fatal. To prevent this from happening, keep any drape cords pinned away from any eyes.
Make sure your cat is always well groomed. Regular combing and brushing is usually all that is required. If you do this often, their coat will stay clean. Doing this will also help alleviate hairballs and excessive shedding. A well-groomed feline looks great on their own, but also helps keep a home well-groomed too.
To safely help an old cat feel comfortable, place a heated tile under its bed. You can do this simply with a terra cotta tile measuring a square foot. Heated in your oven around 200 degrees, it can be ready in as little as 15 minutes. Use an old towel to wrap around it, then place it beneath the cat’s blanket or bed. Change it regularly if you need to.
If your cat is female, then ensure you spay her as soon as you can. If an indoor cat gets out, you may soon have kittens. If your cat has been spayed, however, you won’t have to worry about this happening.
Spray bitter apple on electrical cords. If the cat likes to chew on cords, its best to cover them as best you can. You can take loose cords, bundle them up, and stick them inside the tube from an old roll of paper towels. The cords on electronics should be hidden as well.
Cats can use their claws to destroy furniture and other parts of the house. If you are having problems with your cat clawing up furniture, then purchase a scratching post or kitty tower. Teach your cat to scratch this instead of the legs of a couch or sofa. Eventually it will cause you less of a headache.
It’s not easy to keep cats off counters. Cats enjoy going into high places so that they can see what’s going on around the house. To help prevent your cat from doing this, you can establish tall places specifically for your cat. Sometimes strategically placing a tall cat tower near your kitchen will help.
When it comes to litter boxes, placement is everything. Do not place it in a busy area or close to where your cat eats meals. To prevent a strong stench, be sure this space is well-ventilated. This will make you and your cat happy.
Do you own a dog and cat? Most dogs will not hesitate before munching on your cat’s food. You should create a feeding space for the cat that is much too high for a dog to get to. This also has the effect of stopping fights over the water before they start.
Never punish a cat for a mess outside of its box. Many times, this is caused by failure to properly clean or place the litter box. Punishing your cat will just make them afraid of you later on.
Give your cat a water fountain. Your cat will prefer drinking from running water since this is a natural behavior. Streaming water is your best bet. Cats will often drink from a running sink and actually prefer it over the water in their bowl. A fountain will give them the same effect, and it is more environmentally friendly.
If you’re adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a few weeks to get to know each other. They may swat at each other or hiss; that’s nothing to be concerned about. After a bit of time, you’ll have two cats that will tolerate, and possibly enjoy, each other.
Make sure you provide adequate space to a cat that is about to give birth. The kittens will arrive within three or four hours, so try to be patient. If more than five or six hours have passed, and you think that kittens still remain inside, then you must get in touch with your vet.
Chemicals containing phenol shouldn’t be anywhere near your cat. A lot of household cleaners have this in them, so you should read the labels before using them around your cat. The smell is offensive to cats, and prolonged exposure can lead to liver problems.
If your find that your cat is panting, pay attention. With dogs, this is something that is common. Sometimes when cats are upset or too hot they pant, but there are other reasons they can pant too. Be sure and make an appointment with your vet if you notice any respiratory problems with your cat.
Reconsider giving a cat table scraps. Some foods we eat aren’t healthy for a cat. If you want to give your cat a treat, a spoonful of chicken or some egg is okay. This is not necessary, though. If you feed them the right food appropriate to their size and age, they need nothing else.
You have to take your cat into the vet for certain things, but the vet bills can really add up. Consider purchasing cat medication over the Internet to save money. Some companies will even deliver the medication right to your front door. This is beneficial for monthly medications your cat takes, such as heart worm pills or flea treatments.
Cats are a very difficult animal to understand sometimes. Use the information in this article to help make their life more comfortable. Caring for a cat is one of life’s great pleasures.
