When it comes to pets, there is no animal like a cat. Cats are extremely smart and independent; however, they can also be very loving, which makes them an ideal pet. As a cat owner, you need to be responsible and make sure your cat is well-taken care of. Read the following article for an education on cat care.
Take your cat in for regular vet exams. Your vet will provide your cat with the shots it needs to prevent disease. Your vet can also check the overall health of your cat. Make sure you keep the same veterinarian for your pet throughout its life. This ensures that your vet knows your cat’s medical history.
If you have an old cat, you can help make its bed more comfortable by placing heated tiles underneath it. Use a 12″ terra cotta tile and heat it by putting it in a 200ºF oven for 20 minutes. Wrap the tile in a towel and then put it under the bed. If necessary, you can change out the tile after a few hours to provide continued warmth.
Litter Box
The litter box for your cat needs to be positioned in the right place. Place the litter box away from high traffic areas. Additionally, the litter box should be placed away from your cat’s food and water. In addition, you should ensure you place the litter box in a well-ventilated area to minimize the smell. Both you and your pet will appreciate that.
Though a veterinarian will almost always have a supply of medications that your cat needs, it can be more cost-effective to purchase them from online venues. Naturally, some stuff won’t be available online. But for routine medication purchases, you may find a discount of 50 percent online.
Don’t let your cat go outside. This isn’t safe for your cat. There is a chance your cat can contract fleas or perhaps something much worse. Your cat may be targeted by another animal, or get injured by a vehicle or another person. If your cat really wants to go outside, let it out into a small area in your yard.
Are you the owner of both a dog and cat? Dogs love to eat cat food! Thus, you must keep cat food out of the dog’s reach. This is a good way to keep your pets from fighting over food and water.
Use care if you have kids and a cat. Up until your child is five, children shouldn’t be alone with your pet. Younger children cannot fully understand how to properly handle a small pet. As your children get older, you can decide when to teach them about handling a pet.
Never reprimand your cat for missing the litter box. Many times this occurs because the box wasn’t well maintained. Punishing the cat will only make him afraid to be around you in the future.
Feed your cat a few different varieties of food. This can help him not get too finicky. Cats who eat the same food day after day either grow tired of it, or it becomes the only food that they will eat.
Buy your cat a fountain it can drink from. In the wild, cats prefer running water to drink from, and they do in the home as well. Cats respond well to this stream of water. In fact, many cats like drinking from faucets more than from their water bowls. A fountain keeps the water moving without letting any go to waste.
If you are having problems getting the cat to use the litter box, move it. Cats feel vulnerable when relieving themselves, so make sure the litter box is in a secluded spot. Some good places would be basements, laundry rooms, and any other place that doesn’t have a lot of noise and people going in and out.
Don’t use products with phenol in a house with a cat. The chemical is most often found in pine cleaners. Cats hate the smell of phenol, and for good reason. Long term exposure to it can cause cats to have live issues.
As you can now see, a cat can be the best pet you’ve ever had. Take the time to absorb the insights you have learned here. Then put your new knowledge to use.