A lot of new cat owners are not sure about what they should expect. Never take on a pet unless you are prepared to be responsible. Of course, it’s impossible to avoid each and every little bump in the road during pet ownership. Using these tips is a great solution to help you get prepared for what to expect in owning a cat.
Spay your female cat. It does not matter if you an indoor cat; if she gets out when in heat, you can end up with many kittens. The best method of preventing your cat from pregnancy is to get her spayed.
An outdoor cat must always wear a tag on its collar. This can help if your cat becomes lost while wandering in the great outdoors. Ensure that you at least put the name of your cat and your personal phone number on this tag.
Making sure your cat doesn’t jump on the counters is hard to do. Cats enjoy high places so they can see what is happening around them. You may be able to battle this issue by giving your cat a high place to chill. If you place a cat tower around the kitchen area, they may be less likely to lay on your counters.
Litter Box
Pick a good spot for the cat’s litter box. Put the litter box in a secluded area, and make sure that it is not near the cat’s food. To minimize odors, keep it in a spot that’s well ventilated. Your cat is certain to appreciate a litter box that is put into a good location.
Male cats can develop crystals that form in their urine, so prevent this with the right food. 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. Try to find a cat food that has a low level of magnesium. Look over the label. Poultry-based foods are generally lower in magnesium than fish.
When your cat accompanies you on a trip, remember to consider the health of their ears. You may like music loud and booming, but a cat will prefer lower volumes as their ears are more sensitive. Therefore, the volume of your music should be minimized, and turn it off completely if necessary.
Use a tablecloth underneath your cat’s dish. Often, a cat will remove food from his bowl to eat on the side. This can lead to a big clean-up. You can get a pet mat or use a piece of old fabric to put under it for easy cleanup.
Give your cat a wide array of foods in order to prevent pickiness. If you feed them only one type of food, they may refuse to eat anything else. However, stick with the same brand, and just vary the flavors because cats can have stomach problems if you vary the food too much.
Ensure that your cat wears a collar and identification tags at all times. Even if yours is an indoor cat, this is still an important safety measure. Cats tend to be curious and open doors and windows can be inviting. You should use a tag with your contact information and the address of your veterinarian. This is particularly important if you have a cat with medical needs.
If a cat urinates often or in odd places, it should probably go see the vet. This sort of behavior is common among cats with UTIs and other health problems. Affordable antibiotics can solve concerns that may otherwise be quite serious.
It’s important that cats get play time. As a matter of fact, exercise is crucial for all animals. While older cats aren’t near as energetic, they still enjoy playing often. Enjoy some playtime with your cat.
If your feline friend is having kittens, make sure to give her lots of room to birth in. The process generally takes about three hours, so you must exercise patience. You should take your cat to the vet if deliveries lasts for more than five or six hours.
If your cat will not use the litter box, try placing it at a different spot in your home. Just like humans, cats can be sensitive to where they eliminate, so choose a private location if possible. Great suggestions include your basement and laundry room.
Avoid any products containing phenol around your cats. This chemical is present in many household cleaners, such as Pine-Sol and Lysol. These chemicals can have a devastating impact on your cat’s liver.
Do not allow your cat to eat from your hand or under the table. The ingredients and preservatives in our food, as well as our cooking methods, are not safe for cats. However, it is safe to give them a small spoonful of meat that does not contain garlic or onion, and a little bit of cooked egg is fine, too. But if you are following the feeding instructions on the food you feed your cat according to his age and weight, his diet is complete.
Taking your cat to the vet is necessary, even though medical bills can add up. You can save plenty of money by buying cat medication online. You can even find a few businesses that will bring them right to your home. This can be great if you have to get heart worm pills or flea treatments that your cat has to take every month.
Consider leaving your cat indoors most of the time. Outdoor cats are known to have a shorter life expectancy and they also can catch more diseases. Certain feline diseases can actually be passed to humans, so it is good for you to keep your cat inside for that reason. Your indoor cat will be happy if it has a warm and sunny spot to sunbathe in or a window to look out of.
The tips given to you are great for all types of cats. These are key concepts you must know when raising a cat, but each person will make individual variations based on tastes and needs. Always keep in mind that it’s good to enjoy your cat while using the above tips.