As pets, cats are always a great choice, except that they can get a little pricey. Vaccinations, toys and check-ups can set you back a lot of money. Read on to find out what it takes to care for your cat.
If you want to have the love of a cat, get one from a shelter. Shelters have lots of great cats available, and your adoption fee often covers key veterinary services. Besides, adopting a cat from an animal shelter means you are saving this cat’s life.
Do not allow your cat to be bored frequently. Cats need stimulation. But, too many cat owners fail to realize this. Bored cats can become depressed and inactive, causing harm to their well-being. Give them room to play and a large number of toys. If they’re an indoor cat, get them an object to climb on or a scratching post.
Most cats prefer to be mostly nocturnal. Do not be surprised if your cat is very active at night. Shut the door to your bedroom. This helps to muffle the sounds of nighttime play. This will prevent them from entering your sleeping space and awakening you.
Cats are known for spending inordinate amounts of time grooming themselves. Hairballs are very common for long-haired cats. If you’ve got a cat with this issue, get it special types of food. Some cat food out there has a special formula in it that reduces hairballs. This benefits your pet and you.
Male cats often develop crystals in their bladder that come out in their urine. This can be prevented with a proper diet. Just like kidney stones, these crystals are painful and vet bills are pricey. To stop this from happening, make sure your cat’s food doesn’t have much magnesium in it. Always read labels. Fish usually has more magnesium than poultry.
Little kids shouldn’t be left alone near cats. Make sure your child knows how to pet a cat. Demonstrate how the cat should be petted and handled and encourage your children to be very gentle. The bones of a cat are weaker than a dogs, therefore, they should be handled with care.
Put a cloth down in your cat’s eating area. 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. The best thing for you to do is to have a place mat underneath the cat’s bowl.
Seek the advice of others if you have a cat that’s giving you problems. You can solve most problems by yourself, but you might benefit from the experience of others. There are also forums on the Internet which cater to cat parents.
Get your cat accustomed to a carrier. Cats and dogs do not usually respond the same ways to punishment. Instead, cats are more likely to respond to words of encouragement. Take their favorite blanket and place it within the carrier. Then leave the carrier with the door ajar in a frequented spot. The cat will enter it on its own. Once the cat is in the carrier, they will be so much easier to transport.
Pets can take a lot of money to care for properly, and this includes cats. Cats have complex requirements, which leads many people to compare their needs to those of a small child. You should apply the tips you just read, and do your best to be a responsible cat owner.