There are so many joys you can get from just having a cat. It does take a lot of work to own a cat, though. A responsible cat owner is a well-informed cat owner. Thankfully, the following paragraphs will give you the knowledge you need. Continue reading to learn more.
Heated tiles are great to put under a cat bed, especially for the comfort of aging felines. Simply heat a single foot cotta tile at 200 degrees between 15 and 20 minutes. Keep this underneath your cat’s resting space for extra warmth. Change it frequently if you like.
You should never allow your cat to be bored all the time. Cats need play and exercise. The unfortunate thing is that many owners of cats don’t realize this. Boredom can beget illness. You need to give it new toys regularly and make sure your cat has plenty of space to run and play. If your cats are kept inside, set up a carpet lined scratching pad or post. There are many climbing structures that can be purchased or made for cats who enjoy heights.
Adore your cat! Cats provide warmth and affection, and they also require the same from you. Cats have a need to communicate with others to show they are part of the family. Make her feel like she is part of your family.
Cats sometimes will spend hours grooming themselves to perfection. Long hair encourages hairballs. Buy your cat specialized food to prevent this problem. Certain kinds of cat food are made to decrease hairballs. As a result, you and your cat will be happier.
Put your cat’s food on a tablecloth. Cat’s will often remove food from their bowl to eat it. This habit means you will end up with cat food on the floor to clean up. Put a placemat under the bowl, or even some fabric so cleaning up is a snap.
Reconsider having an outdoor cat. It can be unsafe. They can get fleas, feline AIDS or even leukemia. Other animals, cars and people can hurt your cat. Cage in an area for a cat in your backyard if they must go outside.
When something seems amiss with your feline friend, speak with other cat owners. Although you might want to take care of things on your own, advice from other people with cats can be a big help. You can find online cat forums to ask questions, or you can speak with your vet.
It’s important to let your cat see where you place the litter box, but it’s not always a good idea to force your cat to learn how to use it. This is a natural instinct for felines, and it need not be taught. A common misconception is to rub your cats paws into the kitty litter however this isn’t a good idea.
Feed your cat quality cat food. Check out the ingredients, and make sure it includes protein, such as meat, as the first item in the list. Don’t give your cat foods that have corn or other elements that have no protein. Cats are naturally carnivorous. If you want to keep them healthy and happy, you need to feed them plenty of animal protein.
Pay attention if your cat suddenly stops using the litter box properly. It may be the sign of an underlying medical issue. For instance, it may be a sign the cat has a problem with its urinary tract. It could be the sign of other issues as well. A potentially serious illness may be able to be treated by inexpensive antibiotics.
Your diet isn’t necessarily the best thing for your cat; some foods just aren’t good for them. Grapes, onions and garlic are a few of the food items. When a cat eats these items, they can get very sick. Milk upsets a cat’s stomach, too.
Brushing your cat more frequently is the most common way to combat hairballs. If it doesn’t work, though, you have other options. Give your cat’s regular food an addition of pumpkin (about a teaspoon’s worth). You might even want to try to add a teaspoon of tuna water mixed together with the pumpkin to see if that helps. Find a cat food with some extra fibers or another anti-hairball ingredient to get rid of this problem.
Make dry food the foundation of your cat’s diet. When cats are kittens they need wet food because their teeth are so small. As an adult, the harder texture of dry food keeps their teeth strong. Try combining both dry and wet food together should you have a finicky feline.
If your area is prone to rabies outbreaks, fleas, or even fungus, it is probably best to keep your cat from going outdoors. Although an indoor cat can be affected by a few of these things, they will be more prone to experiencing these issues if they are outside a lot.
Look around your home for holes that can make a cat become stuck. Cats can fit into very small spaces. You could easily lose a kitten. Remember this if you bring a new cat or kitten home. Cover or repair large holes you see.
Only put a breakaway collar with tags on your cat. Cats are curious, and they will naturally try to go outside if they can. If there are tags on the cat that does leave, there’s a better shot that animal will be returned to you.
As you’ve read, owning a cat can be a great benefit. A cat is a serious responsibility as well, though, and you should do your best to take care of its needs. Be sure to use this information if you want to make a cat part of your home.
