If you’re familiar with how to take care of them properly, cats are great pets. If you own a cat, you need to educate yourself about tips and information to make sure your cat lives happily. Read these tips to be the best cat owner you can be.
Cats enjoy finding small spaces to fit into. Collars can be a safety risk if your kitty gets stuck. If your pet is wearing a breakaway collar, it’ll detach if it’s pulled too hard. Your cat can preserve a few of his nine lives with this.
Some cats like to scratch up floors and furniture. If you have problems with a cat that shreds furniture, invest in a durable scratching post. Teach your cat to scratch this instead of the legs of a couch or sofa. It may take some time, but will be worth the effort and expense.
Most cats prefer to be mostly nocturnal. Do not be surprised if your cat is very active at night. If your busy kitties are keeping you up into the wee hours, try simply closing your bedroom door. This will reduce the frequency that they wake you up.
Cats appreciate all the affection you can give. They give us love, and we need to return it to them. Cats, just like people, want to feel like a loved part of a family. Socialization is important to them. This will increase the love that surrounds the family.
If your cat is male, understand that he could develop crystals inside his urine, which can be very painful to him. Therefore, prevent this issue from occurring in the first place by feeding your cat the right type of food. It can be painful to pass these crystals and your vet bill will be priced accordingly. Let your cat have food that doesn’t have a lot of magnesium in it. Be sure that you read the label. Poultry-based foods are generally lower in magnesium than fish.
You will often find ways to save money on medication for your cat on the Internet instead of getting it from your vet. 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.
Make sure that you have a good tablecloth for your kitten. Some cats prefer to remove their food from the dish and eat it off to the side. This can really make a mess, and you might have to spend significant time cleaning around your cat’s food bowl. You can also use any type of mat underneath your cat’s eating apparatus to reduce the mess.
When purchasing a tiny kitty as gift for the kids, it’s best to establish boundaries well ahead of the arrival. Make sure everyone understands which parts of the house the cat is not allowed in. Advise your children not to let the cat out if it is to be an indoor cat. Establishing these boundaries ahead of time prevents any confusion.
Speak with friends and family when you have difficulty with your cat. Although you may want to go it alone, it can be helpful to seek advice from other people that have experience owning cats. There are also forums on the Internet which cater to cat parents.
If your cat does not use the litter box, do not use punishments to try to discipline him. Usually this is a sign that you haven’t cleaned the box recently. Punishing your cat may cause him to become afraid of you or their litter box.
Make sure to give your cats different types of food so that they aren’t as finicky. If you feed them only one type of food, they may refuse to eat anything else. However, stick with the same brand, and just vary the flavors because cats can have stomach problems if you vary the food too much.
Make sure your cats always have identification tags on. Even if it’s an indoor cat, this is important. Your cat will go out as soon as you leave a door or a window open. Tags with your veterinarian’s info and your contact number should be worn. Veterinary information is essential if your cat needs medication.
If you are thinking about adding another cat to your home, you need to set aside a couple of weeks where you let the animals get used to being around each other. Do not expect an instant friendship. Instead, look for them to hide frequently, hiss and possibly even become physical with each other. Eventually, they become used to each other and are comfortable together.
Do you see cat hair everywhere you look? Brushing your cat regularly can fight the constant shedding that often can occur. If your cat sheds a lot, you need to brush it more often. This will also help their coat from getting tangled or matted.
Litter Box
If kitty stops using its litter box, pay attention. There are a number of medical issues that can cause your cat to suddenly stop using their box. A UTI or kidney infection may be the reason for its bathroom problems. When your cat stops using the litter box regularly, a call to the vet is definitely in order.
Cats make great pets, but you must care for them properly. If you’d like to do more for your pet, read this article with care and take advantage of the suggestions it provides. If you take good enough care of your cat you can be sure that it has a life that is well worth living.