Cat provide many hours of joy for owners. However, it should be noted that owning cat also requires a lot of hard work. Cat owners need to know of the responsibilities that come with having a feline. Luckily, the article below will illustrate exactly what those responsibilities are. Keep reading to discover some great tips on caring for your feline companions.
Keep your drapery cords out of the reach of your cat. Do not allow your cat to play with these. The cords may be looped and a cat may get them wound around their neck. This accident could trap or injure your cat, or even be fatal. To stop this from happening, pin your drapes and hide them out of sight.
Female cats need to be spayed as soon as they reach the proper age. You may believe that this is unnecessary if your cat stays inside all the time; however, cats almost always find a way to get outside, especially when they are in heat. When this occurs, your cat could get pregnant. Getting your cat spayed is a great way to stop this from going on.
Don’t use dog portions for your cat. If you try to use products meant for dogs, it can make your cat sick, or even kill him. Flea products should not be used on cats in any circumstance. Dog flea prevention products will kill your cat. In truth, your cat needs to be kept a distance from any dog just flea-treated for the first few hours.
You should never allow your cat to be bored all the time. Your cat needs plenty of exercise. Unfortunately there are too many cat owners who don’t properly exercise their cats. Boredom can beget illness. Give them toys and things to do. Give them a cat tree to play with.
Pick a good spot for the cat’s litter box. Do not place it in a busy area or close to where your cat eats meals. The area should also be well ventilated so that it doesn’t smell too badly. Both your cat and you will appreciate this.
Remember that very young children can be a bit too rough with a cat or new kitten. You need to show your children how the cat should be treated. Show them how to gently pick kitty up and what kinds of activities are appropriate. Because cats are more delicate than dogs, they need to be handled more carefully.
Try to figure out why your cat makes meowing sounds. The more time you spend with your cat, the better you’ll understand what its meows mean. Your cat could be hungry or thirsty, or it may want to leave the house. By listening to your cat, it will be easier to know what they want.
Are you the owner of a dog and a cat? Dogs love to eat cat food! Consider placing the cat food on a location away from where the dog can reach. This can also prevent unnecessary arguments between your pets over the water supply, once the food has been consumed.
Cats enjoy heights. Designating a high-up area where your cat can hang out and watch everything from will help him to feel comfortable. You can use a cleared shelf if you’d rather not have a cat tree. Make it extra comfortable by adding a blanket or cushion.
If you want your cat to live a long, healthy life, be sure he gets his shots when he is supposed to an take him for a yearly check-up. Kittens need proper medical care just like young children, and its best to bring them in every so often for health checks to ensure nothing terrible is going on. You have made your cat a family member, and you have to treat your cat accordingly.
If your feline friend is having kittens, make sure to give her lots of room to birth in. The birth of the kittens will take approximately four hours, so use a little patience. If it drags on for six to eight hours, call your vet immediately to talk to them about it.
Dogs will often wag their tails to show their happiness or excitement. A cat wagging its tail can have a very different meaning. Tail-wagging in cats may indicate conflict. If your cat wags his tail while you’re holding him, putting him down keeps you safe.
Never use chemicals that have phenol in it near your cat. This chemical is often found in cleaning products such as Pine-Sol and Lysol. The smell is pretty offensive to cats, and prolonged exposure can lead to liver damage.
A cat that is declawed should never spend time being outside. The cat will have difficulty playing with other animals and may get hurt. The only place for a declawed cat is inside, with you. The front claws should be the only ones removed. A cat’s back claws are not used when scratching furniture, so those can be left.
Human Medications
Don’t give a cat human medications. Only use medicine that has been prescribed or recommended by a vet. Giving cats human medications can cause serious problems and may even be fatal.
There are some options for a cat with hairballs. Consider mixing a little pumpkin into your cat’s food. You can also mix in a little water from a tuna can with the pumpkin. Some cat foods include hairball fighting elements, such as fiber, that may be useful.
Consider your cat if you are going to make a schedule change. If your cat is going to be home alone often, then you should consider adopting a second cat.
As you can now see, cats can bring you much joy. That said, it brings many responsibilities, too. Keep this information in mind if you want to bring a cat into your home.
