If you know the right way to care for cats, they can be great pets. Education on the best way to care for a cat is the most important step in cat ownership. Keep reading for some great tips every cat owner should know about.
Good grooming is important for cats. Cats must be brushed and groomed frequently. This leads to a cleaner cat. Having a clean fur coat helps reduce the amount of hairballs that get spit up around the house. Regularly grooming keeps cats looking well and keeps your home neater.
If your cat is female, you need to get it spayed at 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. A spayed cat is a safe cat.
Don’t try using dog food or products for your cat. Cats can have strong negative reactions to a product that is formulated for a dog. This will especially be true if it’s a product for fleas. Flea treatments made for a dog can be fatal to a cat. If you own a dog, and they’ve been given a flea treatment, you should separate them from your cat for a few hours.
Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. Even an indoor cat can get the urge to run out of a door or leap through 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. A teeny microchip can hold your contact information. The chip will never be lost because it is under the skin and it can easily be read by any shelter or vet.
Cat Needs
Never let your cat experience frequent boredom. Every cat needs exercise time and play! Too many cat owners forget this simple fact. Bored cats are more prone to depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, as well as many other behavioral issues. Give them lots of space for exercise and plenty of toys they can play with. An indoor cat needs a good scratching post.
It is likely that your feline friend enjoys grooming his fur. Long-haired cats often develop hairballs. If you’ve got a cat with this issue, get it special types of food. Some foods are enriched in fibers and vitamins to facilitate the digestion of the hairballs.
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 throwing away an old scratching post and replacing it with a newer one, your cat will likely look for older items to scratch, such as your furniture.
Ensure your cat is collared and wears an identification tag. This will be important even if you have an indoor cat. Cats are naturally curious and a door or window that’s open invites exploration. The identification tags should contain your home phone number and the number for your veterinarian. This is especially true for cats with medical conditions.
If you wish to add another cat to your home, give it a couple weeks for your old cat and your new cat to grow accustomed to each other. They may still hiss and growl when they are in the same room together. However, cats should eventually learn to co-habitate properly.
As long as you commit to giving it the proper care, a cat can be a terrific pet. As a responsible cat owner, take the time to read through this article a few times and utilize all of the great cat care information that it contains. As long as you put this knowledge to you, your cat will love you every day.