You know you love to hear the purr of your cat. This is a relaxing sound and can put you at ease. This is the reason why you need to take good care of your cat and to keep him happy. Read on for great tips on cat care.
Female cats need to be spayed as soon as they reach the proper age. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands. Your best bet is to have your female cat spayed.
Avoid using dog products on cats. This can irritate your cat or cause an allergic reaction. One product in particular to pay close attention to is any remedy for fleas and ticks. Flea treatments made for a dog can be fatal to a cat. Once you use flea prevention products on your dog, it should be kept separately from the cat for hours.
Put a collar on any cats which go outside. Cats can travel a long way and this will help you get them back easier if they’re lost. The tag should contain the pet’s name, your phone number and your name as well.
Microchips are an increasingly popular form of pet protection. Even indoor cats get out sometimes. Tags and collars are great, but they don’t always stay on your cat. They can also be a risk, should they get snagged on something. Your important information can all fit nicely on a rice grain sized microchip. The majority of veterinarians possess scanners that can read your chips. Because these chips are placed underneath your cat’s skin, they won’t get lost.
The correct location is important when picking a spot for a cat’s litter box. Never put the box near your cat’s food, and pick a quiet place away from areas that are heavily used. Allow for adequate ventilation to dispel any odors. You and your cat will greatly appreciate this.
Chances are, your feline spends many hours grooming himself. Long hair encourages hairballs. Buy special food in order to help that problem. Some cat food brands have formulations to prevent or reduce hairballs, which will make life easier for your cat and you.
While usually cats make great pets for kids, younger kids may be too rough with them. Tell them how to be gentle. Give them examples of how to be gentle with it and what should and should not be done. Cats need to be protected, too. Their bones are much more susceptible than dogs.
Always watch a kitten around small kids. Never leave a pet alone with a child who is any younger than five. Small children don’t have the mental capacity to understand that certain activities are dangerous to the kitten. As they age, you can determine how much interaction they should have with the animal.
Never reprimand your cat for missing the litter box. If this happens, it may be because you have not kept the box as clean as you should. Your cat will become afraid of you if you punish it or scold it too often.
To avoid having a picky cat, switch up the kinds of foods you give him. If you feed your cat the same food all the time, your cat will likely be uninterested any any other brand or flavor.
Prior to adopting any long-haired cat, make sure you understand the extra work involved. All that hair will be literally everywhere. Don’t adopt a cat with long fur unless you’re sure you can handle the extra cleaning. There will be hairball issues as well.
Litter Box
Take note if the cat ceases using its litter box. There are a number of health issues that can lead a well-trained cat to urinate in places other than their litter box. A bladder infection is often at the root of the problem. Speak with a veterinarian if you have a cat that has these issues.
Put a breakaway collar on a cat with an engraved tag. The cat may get out if it has a chance to, even house cats do this. When your cat gets outside unexpectedly, it’s your responsibility to enable others to help your cat find their way home again.
Do not use cleaning supplies with phenol in them if you have a cat. Phenol is found in common products such as Pine-Sol, Lysol, and various other cleaners. Not only is the smell offensive to cats, but exposing them to this chemical for prolonged periods of time can lead to problems with their liver.
If you own a declawed cat, do not let it outdoors. Since the cat is not able to adequately defend himself from attack, there is a risk of serious injury. Only indoor cats should be declawed. If you do choose to have your cat declawed, only the front claws should be removed. Don’t have the back claws removed, since cats don’t use them to scratch up your house.
Never give your cat a medication that was formulated for humans. Some people incorrectly give cats human medications thinking it will be okay in small doses, but it can kill him or her. If your pet has any issues, take them to a vet for proper pet medication. Giving cats medication meant for humans is very dangerous and could even kill them.
Make sure you regularly use a flea and tick treatment on your cat. An effective medication is monthly drops. These particular medications will help prevent harmful ticks and fleas from leeching onto your pet, which can cause many illnesses. It is important you use a flea or tick formula that is designed for cats. Using the wrong type can poison your cat.
A happy cat is more likely to purr, which is why any cat owner wants to take the best possible care of their cat. Cats are graceful and attractive animals, and their care can be facilitated using the tips in this article. You probably want your cat to purr more often, so use these tips to make it happen.
