If you are not familiar with the term, feral cats are those that live out in the street. It is important to learn as much as you can about these creatures to assure you have the best relationship possible. Dealing with this issue costs businesses a lot of money due to lost customers.
Look a local animal shelters for cats. Shelters all over the country are crowded with marvelous cats, and most provide veterinarian care with the adoption fee. By choosing a cat from an animal shelter, you can do your part to help with overpopulation. Also, you become a lifesaver!
Putting a warm tile beneath the bed of an older cat will help it rest comfortably. Simply heat a terra-cotta tile in a 200 degree oven for 20 minutes. Use an old towel to wrap it up safely before placing it beneath your cat’s favorite napping spot. If necessary, you can change out the tile after a few hours to provide continued warmth.
Make sure your cat has a collar if it goes outside. Cats enjoy traveling far away, so a tag can help your cat get back home when lost. The tag needs your phone number and cat’s name at the minimum.
Cats can use their claws to destroy furniture and other parts of the house. If your cat is ripping up and shredding your home, invest in a kitty tower or scratching post. Give them some encouragement and let them know it is okay to scratch that. Sooner or later, they’ll love to use it.
You should be sure to place your pet’s litter box in a good location. It should not be placed in a high traffic area, and it should be far away from the cat’s food. The area should also be well ventilated so that it doesn’t smell too badly. Your cat and your nose will thank you for the effort.
Male cats sometimes have crystals in their urine, but this can be prevented with the right cat 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. Choose a cat food with low magnesium content. Go over the label carefully. Poultry-based foods are generally lower in magnesium than fish.
If you give your kids a kitten, provide them with firm boundaries at the same time. Let your children know which rooms their cat can be in. If you want to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that they cannot let it go outside. Knowing the rules ahead will help your child understand.
You shouldn’t leave a young cat with children unattended. Children under 5 years of age should not be alone with the pet. Small children don’t have the mental capacity to understand that certain activities are dangerous to the kitten. Find your child’s age of maturity when it comes to handling pets.
You should not train your cat to use a litter box. Cats instinctively understand what to do and teaching is not required. It’s not a good idea to rub your cats paws in litter. Some people think this is the way to train. It isn’t.
Regularly brush your cat’s hair. This will help spread the natural oils within their fur while stimulating their skin’s blood flow. It is also a good way to reduce shedding. Brushing eliminates the formation of hairballs which may choke your cat and lead to buildup of excess hair in the abdomen when the cat grooms himself.
Go pick yourself up one of those water fountains for cats. Wild cats like to drink flowing water, and domestic cats are the same. Cats will respond more positively to streams of water. You may have noticed that a dripping sink faucet quickly attracts their attention. A fountain keeps the water moving without letting any go to waste.
If your cat or kitten begins to urinate frequently or in places other than his litter box, a trip to the vet may be in order. It could be an indication of a serious health problem. You can solve this problem thanks to some very affordable antibiotics.
By getting your cat the shots and check-ups that it needs, you’ll be able to make sure that your cat lives as long as possible. Your cat needs to get some shots regularly to prevent different illnesses and parasites. You love your cat, so take the best care of him as possible.
After reading this article, you should have a better understanding of your cat’s needs. A cat can be a constant companion or just a decent neighbor – if you know how to treat it right. It takes a certain level of basic preparation and know-how to handle a cat properly. Now that you’ve read this article, you are more knowledgeable on how to deal with all cats.