Caring for a cat is a lot of work, even though they make great pets. Vet bills, toys, food, and cat litter costs can make anyone reconsider owning cats. For ideas to improve your cat’s health and happiness, read on.
If your cat is getting older, you can increase it’s comfort by placing its bed over a heated tile. Bake a one-foot tile made from terra cotta in the oven at 200 degrees F for around 15 to 20 minutes. Wrap the tile in a towel and then put it under the bed. If you want, you can change it for a newly warmed tile a few hours later.
Make sure you purchase medicines and treatments specifically for cats. They can have very strong and possibly negative reactions to dog products. This will especially be true if it’s a product for fleas. Flea products meant for dogs can seriously harm or kill a cat. You need to separate your pets when you treat them for fleas.
Most cats are very nocturnal. This means that they will usually be quite active at night. If you find that your nocturnal kitties are waking you up in the middle of the night, the solution may be as simple as closing the door to your bedroom. This will ensure they don’t pounce on you at nighttime, or wake you up in other ways.
Feeding your male cat the proper food can help prevent crystals from forming in his urine. The cat is in pain passing the crystals, and the correction for this is costly. Let your cat have food that doesn’t have a lot of magnesium in it. Be sure that you read the label. Fish-based foods usually contain more magnesium than poultry-based foods.
If you’re taking kitty on a road trip, don’t play loud music. Cats tend to prefer gentle sounds during the day. Keep the music turned down or off when taking your cat on a trip.
When your cat makes a mess somewhere other than their litter box, don’t get mad. When this occurs, it tends to be because the box is not being maintained properly. Punishing your cat will make it afraid of being close to you.
Be sure to carrier train your cat. Understand that cats don’t react to punishment as well as dogs. They like responding to encouragement better. Put their favorite toy and blanket in a carrier. Leave it somewhere they always go to. Soon that cat will walk into the carrier on its own. In the future, your cat will not get scared when you put him in the carrier.
Let your cat take its time when you add a new cat to your home. Two cats may fight, hiss, or hide from each other until they become more comfortable. With enough time to acclimate themselves to the new arrangement, though, virtually any two cats will become willing, friendly, and perhaps even inseparable companions.
Think about the extra work before buying a long-haired cat. Long-haired cats shed constantly, and the fur ends up on your clothing, floors, and everything else in your home. You must be willing to spend more time cleaning your home. Hair balls are also more prevalent in long haired cats.
Panting is not a normal response for a cat. Dogs normally pant on a regular basis. Your cat may pant if it is anxious or overheated, but panting may also indicate a more serious problem. Contact your vet right away, especially if they’ve had respiratory issues a while back.
If you were unemployed when you got your cat, but are now heading back to work, your pet will probably have issues with loneliness. Get another cat if you would like to be certain your cat isn’t bored.
Keep your cat indoors if you want to protect them from fleas and bugs. While some of these issues can affect a cat that stays in the house, they are more likely to experience this issues if they spend a lot of time outside.
Think about keeping your cat inside all the time. Cats that go outside tend to live shorter lives and often contract illnesses. Some diseases that outdoor cats acquire can also be passed along to humans. A nice sunny spot in your home is what they prefer, which can curb their desire to be outside.
You cat should wear a collar with tags. Cats are intelligent creatures and will use any opportunity to wander outside. If there are tags on the cat that does leave, there’s a better shot that animal will be returned to you.
Cats are one of many pets that are pricy to care for. Being a cat parent can be labor and time intensive. Fortunately, you have many options for providing essential care to your cat.