Cats are usually hard to please. Their moods and actions can be quite a mystery. However, with the right knowledge, you can easily take proper care of them and ensure their happiness. These tips can help you give them necessary care.
Check out the shelter when adopting a cat. Shelters all over the country are crowded with marvelous cats, and most provide veterinarian care with the adoption fee. When you adopt a cat from a shelter, you save a life and help keep the cat population under control.
If your cat is a female, it needs to be spayed when it reaches the appropriate 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. Unless you want the hassle of getting rid of kittens, spaying is the best option for your cat.
Take your cat to the vet regularly to make sure they remain in good health. Most vets recommend yearly check-ups. If the animal requires certain vaccinations, more visits are necessary. Cats should visit the vet right away if they are having any issues.
Scratching Post
Your house can really get torn apart by a cat’s claws. If you find your cat shredding your furniture, consider purchasing a scratching post or cat tower. Redirect your cat to the scratching post when they start to go after your furniture. Catnip can be put in the posts or on the tower to help train the cat to use it. Sooner or later, they’ll love to use it.
A microchip will allow you to find your pet if it is lost. Even cats who live completely indoors may someday decide to bolt out the door or escape out of a window. Tags and collars are great, but if a cat escapes them, there’s no guaranteeing they’ll make it home safe and sound. Microchips are extremely small, but they can hold all the same information as an identification tag. Scanners to read pet microchips are available in every town and they will not come out from under the skin.
Male felines tend to have a build-up of crystals that present in the urine, so you need to avoid this with proper nutrition. Your cat will experience considerable pain when he has to pass these crystals, and it’s not an easy (or cheap) problem for your veterinarian to fix. Your cat needs food low in magnesium. Check the label. Fish-based foods usually contain more magnesium than poultry-based foods.
Online outlets offer better prices for cat medicine than vets. If it’s an emergency, buying online may not be an option. However, if your pet gets regular prescriptions for a chronic or ongoing issue, you can often save up to 50 percent by shopping online.
Although your cat’s old scratching post may look very worn out, you shouldn’t throw it away. When it is in this condition, cats tend to like it the most. By removing the old item and replacing it with a new one, your cat may try to find another item to scratch. This could end up being furniture.
Your cat should be given food from a can. It is usually more expensive than dry food, but it is more beneficial. The water content is higher, and there is more protein and fat in the canned food. Canned food is much easier to chew for older cats. Canned food is usually a great option for your cat, but talk with your vet.
Make sure your cats always have identification tags on. This is very important for indoor cats. An adventurous cat can easily slip through an open door or window. Tags that have your vet’s name and phone number are good things to put on the collar. Obviously, this is particularly important for pets who have special health concerns.
It’s important that cats get play time. No matter what age, play is common among cats and other animals. A cats energy might fade over time, but that does not mean that it no longer likes to play. Make an effort to have playtime with your cat regularly.
Let your cat give birth in a large space. Understand that a female cat will require three or four hours in order to give birth to every kitten. If your cat has still not given birth to all her kittens after six hours, get her to a vet right away.
Litter Box
If your feline just won’t use the litter box, try moving it to a different location. The best place for a litter box is in a secure, quiet area. Cats feel vulnerable when they’re using it, so they want it to be in a place where they feel safe. Basements, laundry rooms and other quiet spots are best.
Put a breakaway collar on a cat with an engraved tag. Even if you own an indoor cat, it’s possible he or she might escape. When your cat gets outside unexpectedly, it’s your responsibility to enable others to help your cat find their way home again.
The things that this article has taught you should have you taking the best care of your pet you possibly can. Apply this advice to properly care for your cat. This will lead to the possibility that your cat will be friendly with you. Maybe!