Once a cat is adopted, many obstacles may present themselves to the family taking on the new pet. Pets are great, but adopting one on the spur of the moment, without any preparation, is a bad idea. However, even with preparation, you can’t possibly hope to foresee every problem that these cute felines will cause. However, you can plan for as much as possible by considering the useful tips that follow.
Older cats will appreciate a heated bed; you can use a heated tile to create one! You should heat a terra cotta tile with your oven, at about 200 degrees, for around fifteen minutes. Wrap the tile inside an unneeded towel and place it under your kitty’s favorite resting spot. If necessary, you can change out the tile after a few hours to provide continued warmth.
If your cat ventures outdoors, it’s key to get your cat a collar which has a contact tag. The collar and tag will make it easier to find the cat if it gets lost. The tag should have at least the pet’s name and the number where you can be reached.
Spraying the electrical cords in your home with a bitter apple solution helps keep the cats from chewing on them. If this does not work, make sure you cover the cords. Use some paper towel rolls to tuck loose cords. Electronic items with thin, tempting cords should always be put away when not in use.
Most cats tend towards nocturnal behavior. This means that they will usually be quite active at night. If your cats keep you up at night, kick them out of the bedroom. This can keep them from waking you up at night and from pouncing on feet under the blankets.
Receiving plenty of positive, loving attention is important for your cat. Cats need just as much companionship as they give out. Like most folks, cats have the need to socialize to feel like part of the family. They want nothing more than to be an integral part of your family.
Use a tablecloth underneath your cat’s dish. Certain cats prefer removing their food from their bowl and putting it on the side to eat it. This can result in you having to clean up food outside its bowl if you don’t use a tablecloth. To simplify your clean up duties, place a ready made placemat under the dish or purchase some inexpensive fabric and use it like a tablecloth.
Do you have dogs and cats? A dog will probably end up eating the cat’s food if it gets the chance. Try locating your cat’s food in an area where the dog cannot go. This also ensures that there are no squabbles over the water between the two, when the food is gone.
You must take caution when leaving your cat with any children. Children under five years of age should not be left alone with a kitten. They don’t know what harm they can do. Find your child’s age of maturity when it comes to handling pets.
Cats have a love affair with heights. Make sure your cat has a safe place to play. You should install a cat tree or allow your cat to climb on some shelves. You could even place a small bed or blanket on the shelf to make your cat feel more comfortable.
Litter Box
You don’t want to punish a cat if they do their business outside of their litter box. Your cat probably did not use the litter box because it is not well taken care of. Punishment can make your cat fearful in your presence.
Get your feline acclimated to its carrier. Cats can’t be punished like dogs. Cats usually respond well to encouragement. Place a loved blanket and favorite toy into a carrier and then leave the door open. Make sure it’s in an area that the cat frequents. The cat will enter it on its own. Once this is achieved, you can transport your cat inside the carrier much easier.
Treat your cat to a good quality cat food. Beef, fish or chicken, all great protein sources, should head the list of main ingredients. Don’t feed your cat food that includes corn or other fillers. Cats are meant to eat meat, and that means that they need to have foods that are high in protein.
No matter what cat you have, these tips can work to train them. You also need to get to know your cat better so you can adapt to its needs and habits. Just remember to offer lots of love and companionship to your cat. This is the key instruction to follow.