Cats, like people, require a proper diet with the right amount of nutrients. If you cat doesn’t get taken care of properly, health issues could occur. Read the following tips to ensure a long life and healthy relationship with your pet cat.
Cats will try to get into many different crevices. Collars can be a safety risk if your kitty gets stuck. Breakaway collars are made to come off if tugged on vigorously. A collar like this could save your cat’s life.
Older cats will appreciate a heated bed; you can use a heated tile to create one! Allow a terra cotta tile to heat in an oven for 15 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, wrap this up into a towel and place it underneath your cat’s bed. Change it every couple of hours if desired.
Don’t use dog portions for your cat. Cats are not the same as dogs, and products meant for dogs can make cats very ill. This warning applies to products for getting rid of fleas. Flea treatments made for a dog can be fatal to a cat. If you own a dog, and they’ve been given a flea treatment, you should separate them from your cat for a few hours.
Have your cat chipped so you can find him if he runs away. You may not have had trouble with your cat getting loose previously, but it can happen at any time by accident. A collar and identification tags can help bring your pet back to you. But experts point out that collars that do not snap apart quickly if your cat gets it caught on a branch or even a bush can accidentally strangle your cat. A teeny microchip can hold your contact information. Every shelter and most veterinarian offices have microchip scanners that can read the chips, and best of all, they chips can’t be lost.
Most cats are very nocturnal. Thus, the bulk of their activity will occur at night. If you have trouble sleeping because of cats, you may want to close the door to your bedroom. It also protects your toes from those crafty midnight pounces.
Seek the advice of others if you have a cat that’s giving you problems. You can solve most problems by yourself, but you might benefit from the experience of others. Your vet is a great source of advice, or you can find forums on the Internet to connect with other cat owners.
You should brush your cat very regularly. This helps to stimulate blood flow and circulation, and it will also help to evenly distribute the natural oil your cat’s fur has. As an added bonus, it cuts down on loose fur. This helps prevent hairballs, which can lead to choking and other health issues.
If your cat does not use the litter box, do not use punishments to try to discipline him. Many times this occurs because the box wasn’t well maintained. If your punish your car, he or she is just going to become scared of you.
Purchase good quality food for your cat. Always look at the ingredients first. You want to see either fish, chicken or beef noted. Some foods contain a lot of fillers like corn products, don’t buy those. Cats are naturally carnivorous. If you want to keep them healthy and happy, you need to feed them plenty of animal protein.
Give your cat a water fountain. When cats are in the wild they tend to prefer water that is running when they are thirsty, this applies to cats at home. Streaming water is your best bet. Cats will often drink from a running sink and actually prefer it over the water in their bowl. Also, drinking fountains are more environmentally friendly and gives them the ability to drink naturally.
Take a cat who pees all over the house to the vet. This may be a symptom of an infection of the urinary tract or another health problem in your cat. Often this problem is quickly and inexpensively cured with a common antibiotic.
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. If you don’t mind cleaning, get a long-haired cat. Be prepared to deal with hairballs, which are a problem for long-haired cats.
Some foods that you enjoy as a human aren’t any good for your cat. In part, these include garlic, onions and grapes. They can really hurt a cat if ingested. Your cat should also steer clear of dairy products.
Phenol is a dangerous chemical to use around your cat. 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.
Cats do best on a diet high in dry food. Kittens need wet food since they have tiny teeth. As they develop adult teeth, the harder dry food helps to keep their teeth strong. If your kitty is especially finicky, you can try feeding him a mix of dry and wet food.
As you’d expect, your cat’s health is very dependent on its diet. When your cat is not properly cared for, its life span decreases significantly. Ensure your cat’s longevity and health by providing it with the food it needs.