Cats are very interesting animals and you will love yours right away if you decide to adopt one. If you’re going to own one, you must know all you can about proper cat care. Read here about some ways to achieve your goals as a good cat owner.
Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. Cats have to be brushed or combed on a regular basis. If yu do this quite often, it will help them stay clean. Doing this will also help alleviate hairballs and excessive shedding. Regularly grooming your cat will help keep it and your home looking great.
If you’d like to make an elderly cat’s bed more comfy, stick a heated tile beneath its bed. Use a 12″ terra cotta tile and heat it by putting it in a 200ºF oven for 20 minutes. Wrap it tightly in a towel and place it under the cat bed. You can even switch it out every few hours.
Your cat’s claws can wreck havoc on your furniture. If your beloved feline friend is shredding and damaging parts of your home, try investing in a cat tower or a scratching post. They can scratch this instead. Sooner or later, they’ll love to use it.
It may prove quite a challenge to make your cat stay off counter tops. They love to be able to look around from up high. You can remedy this by creating some place up high that you can can enjoy hanging out in. Having a cat tower near your kitchen will keep them off your counters.
Avoid letting your cat get bored. Just like dogs, cats need playtime and physical exercise, too. But, too many cat owners fail to realize this. A bored cat may fall victim to depression, compulsive disorders or issued that can be harmful to their health. Give them room to play and a large number of toys. If your cat is an indoor cat, a cat tower or scratching post makes an ideal source of fun and exercise.
Most cats are nocturnal. Do not be surprised if your cat is very active at night. If your kittens are keeping you awake into the middle of the night, close the door to your bedroom. This will keep them from pouncing on you and trying to play in the middle of the night.
Give your kitty lots of love. Cats need companionship as much as we do. They are social creates which need reassurance. They also like feeling important and a big member of the family.
Avoid bladder crystals and stones by feeding high quality food. These are very painful and expensive to treat. Feed cats food that’s low in magnesium. Check the label. Poultry products will tend to have lower amounts than seafood based products.
It’s often cheaper to buy medicine for your cat on the Internet instead of through your vet. There are some times when this isn’t a good idea, like when you’re dealing with a pet related emergency. But for routine medication purchases, you may find a discount of 50 percent online.
When you get a cat for your kids, make sure your kids know the rules in advance. Explain where the cat is and isn’t allowed. If you’re planning to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that the cat is not allowed to be outside. Clearly explaining the rules will limit future mishaps.
If your cat constantly meows, you need to try to figure out why. After living with your cat for long, it’s easier to interpret its meows. She could be signaling that she is hungry, or she might want to go outside. Look for the cues and you’ll be much more in tune with your pet.
Do you happen to own both a dog and a cat? Dogs won’t hesitate to eat food from your cat’s bowl. This is why it’s important that the cat’s feeding area is in a spot that’s too high for a dog to get to. This also has the effect of stopping fights over the water before they start.
Get your cat a drinking fountain. A cat will always drink from running water if possible. Cats generally respond better to a stream of water. Really, there are many cats that would much prefer to drink from a running sink faucet as opposed to their own bowl. Fountains keep the water cool and clean.
Anytime you get a new pet, you must introduce them to your cat slowly to help to avoid problems and let the cat get used to it. Keep them separated for at least two weeks, but let them sniff at each other under a closed door. In the early days, you may see a lot of posturing from the cats including hissing and swatting at each other. After the initial period though, they should start to settle and begin to get along like old friends.
Make sure play time is an important part of your cat’s life. As a matter of fact, exercise is crucial for all animals. While older cats have less energy than their younger counterparts, they can still play a little. Make sure you have fun with the cat whenever you can!
If you want a cat with long hair, be prepared to put in extra time and care. That lovely, silky coat won’t look nearly as good all over your floors as it does on the cat. Realize the extra effort needed to keep a long-haired cat. Hairballs are something that you will often deal with if you own a fluffy cat.
You should never give a cat medication that is for humans. If your cat is suffering from a medical condition, be sure and take them to a vet to get the proper medication. Drugs and medicines designed for human consumption can cause serious health problems for cats, and in extreme cases, can even be fatal.
As you are no doubt aware, cats can be wonderful pets. To ensure that your cat stays healthy and happy it is imperative that you educate yourself on proper cat care-taking. Read back over the advice again, then start applying the knowledge to your home environment. Your cat will be grateful!