Felines are mysterious and even magical animals. They are very intelligent and will definitely surprise you once you get to know the cat you adopted better. Caring for a cat takes a concentrated effort. Give this article a read for some tips on cat care and how to keep your cat in good spirits.
Cat Properly
Keep your cat properly groomed. Cats have to be brushed or combed on a regular basis. Such practices help keep cats’ coats clean. It also helps to reduce their shedding and can cut down on how many times they are spitting up hairballs. Grooming a cat properly will improve the appearance of your home and cat.
If you own a female cat, make sure the cat is spade when she’s old enough. Even though your cat stays indoors all the time, there might be that one time she slips through the door when she goes into heat, which results in a litter of unexpected kittens. Unless you want the hassle of getting rid of kittens, spaying is the best option for your cat.
If your cat ventures outdoors, it’s key to get your cat a collar which has a contact tag. This can help if your cat becomes lost while wandering in the great outdoors. The tag should contain your phone number as well as your cat’s name.
It can be tricky to keep a cat off the kitchen counters. Cats instinctively want to be at a high vantage point so they can survey their surroundings. Give them an alternative. The use of a cat tower within your kitchen or close by can help make the cats stay off the counter.
Do not allow your cat to be bored frequently. It is necessary for them to play and get exercise. Unfortunately, a lot of cat owners neglect this. Bored cats can develop depression and other harmful health conditions. Give them toys and things to do. If they are indoors, give them a scratching post or something to climb on.
Your cat needs love and attention. They usually offer us warm companionship, and they require the same. Like many people, cats need to socialize with people so that they feel like they are an important part of their family’s lives. They probably would like to feel as though they are a wanted part of the family.
If you need cat medication, consider searching online instead of using your veterinarian in order to find a better deal. Online prescriptions are not the best choice if you do not have the time to wait on a mail order, such as in a medical emergency. For more routine situations, saving 50% by buying online is quite possible.
Do you have both a dog and a cat? Most dogs will not hesitate before munching on your cat’s food. Thus, you must keep cat food out of the dog’s reach. This also ensures that there are no squabbles over the water between the two, when the food is gone.
Never punish a cat for a mess outside of its box. When this occurs, it tends to be because the box is not being maintained properly. Your cat will become afraid of you if you punish it or scold it too often.
Make sure your cat always wears identification tags on their collar. This is essential, even for indoor cats. Cats are curious creatures and an open door or window is likely to be explored. Make sure the collars have tags with your contact information and your veterinarian’s information as well. This will be important especially if you have a cat with medical issues.
New cats are sometimes not welcomed in the home. Expect to see your cats avoid each other, hiss, or even confront one another. Give them a bit more time to begin to get used to each other face to face, too.
Is your cat peeing all the time, sometimes in places that it shouldn’t? If so, you should talk to your veterinarian. Cats sometimes behave like this if they have a urinary infection or other medical problem. Take the cat to the vet if it stops using the litter-box and let the vet diagnose the problem.
Litter Box
Carefully consider where you will place your friend’s litter box. Many people want it in an out of the way spot. However, it’s important to make sure your cat can easily access its litter box. Cats are quite finicky, so it is important to make their bathroom environment appealing them them or risk messes throughout the house. The area around the litter box should be comfortable and warm to walk on, so make adjustments as needed.
Dogs wag their tails frequently when they are happy or excited to see their owners. Cats wag their tail as well, but have different reasons psychologically. Tail wagging in a cat usually means he is thinking of attacking or running away. If this happens while your cat is in your arms, put him down as soon as possible.
Line your furniture with sticky tape. This style tape will really make your cat stop scratching the furniture. Some pet stores sell tape especially for this. Using this tape, along with a scratching post is a great way to keep your cat from scratching up your furniture.
If you worry about the cat you have getting fleas, rabies, or any kind of fungus then the cat shouldn’t go outside. These things may happen to an indoor cat, but they will more likely happen to a cat who lives most of his life outside.
Cats make amazing pets for you and your family, as long as you know how to take care of them. Study these tips carefully. Put the tips into practice today, then watch your feline companions thrive and grow in a healthy way.