Cats make wonderful pets, but they are expensive to take care of properly. Litter, toys, food and vet bills all add up. For ideas to improve your cat’s health and happiness, read on.
Your cat needs to be groomed properly. Cats require frequent brushing or combing. If you brush cats on a regular basis, it will keep their coats clean and attractive. It also stops hairballs. Keeping a cat well groomed basically helps keep them looking their best, along with your home.
Keep your older cat comfortable by placing a heated tile underneath its bed. Place a tile made of terra cotta or a similar material in an oven heated to 200 degrees for around 15 to 20 minutes. Place it in an older towel and place it underneath of the feline’s bed. Change it frequently if you like.
If your cat is an outdoor cat, then you should ensure it wears a tag collar. The collar and tag will make it easier to find the cat if it gets lost. The tag should contain at least the cat’s name and your contact information.
Spray bitter apple on electrical cords to keep cats away from them. Cords should be covered, especially if your cat tends to chew on them. You can bundle loose cords into paper towel rolls that are old. Electronic items with tasty-looking, thin cords (video game controllers, phone chargers, and so on) should be stored securely when you’re not using them.
Scratching Post
The claws of a cat can really destroy parts of your house and furniture. If you find your cat tearing up things around your home, buy 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. It may take some time and some corrections, but it can usually eliminate the problem.
Think about getting a microchip for your feline friend. Even indoor cats may get out of your home at some point. Cats can get out of a collar or, worse, have that collar choke them to death. Microchips are very small, approximately as large as a single grain of rice. Although they are small, they can hold your entire 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.
It’s important that you don’t forget your cat and allow them to become bored too easily. Every cat needs exercise time and play! The unfortunate thing is that many owners of cats don’t realize this. Cats who become bored often have issues that can affect them in a big way. Some of these issues are obesity due to eating out of boredom, OCD issues, fighting with other pets and depression. Give them time and space where they can exercise and toys they can play with. An indoor cat needs a good scratching post.
Cats are partially nocturnal. They are often active at nighttime. Close your bedroom door if your cat is driving you nuts at night. Your cat will not bother you in the middle of the night if this area is off limit.
Give your kitty lots of love. Cats need just as much companionship as they give out. Cats are social animals and will thrive when they are included in daily activities and life. They’ll know they are accepted as members of the family if they get plenty of loving attention.
If your cat is traveling with you, remember their ears. You may like music loud and booming, but a cat will prefer lower volumes as their ears are more sensitive. So, keep your volume down, or turn it off to give your cat a better travel experience.
Sometimes children get too excited when playing with a new cat and may mishandle them. Make sure your kids understand how cats should be handled. Teach them what are appropriate activities and how to gently touch it. A cat’s bones can be quite fragile and they need to be treated gently.
Think twice before letting your cat outside. Going outdoors isn’t very safe for a domesticated cat. Your cat may pick up some fleas, or worse. There is the possibility they may get injured by another animal, even people and cars too. If they have to go outside, make sure it’s a small area like your lawn or backyard.
Cats like to be high up to see the surrounding area. A cat will only be happy if you give it a safe spot to look over everything. If a cat tree is not your style, clear off a sturdy shelf that he can jump up on. Putting a soft cat bed on the shelf can help to add a little comfort.
Pets can be expensive to care for, and cats are no exception. The care they need is similar to that of children. As you now know, you can curtail the expenses of having cats while you still get to enjoy giving them good care.
