Cats are very unique animals. They are very intelligent and will definitely surprise you once you get to know the cat you adopted better. However, taking care of your feline friend is not to be taken lightly. Continue reading to learn more about taking great care of your cat.
Good grooming is important for cats. Cats should have regular combings. If you do this often, their coat will stay clean. It helps your cats shed much less too, which keeps them from spitting those hairballs up. Your cat should be kept groomed so that they look great and you’ll also make your home look good.
It can be hard to prevent your cat from jumping on the counter. Cats like to be up high, where they can watch everything going on. You can control this tendency a bit by making high places in the house that you feel comfortable having your cat utilize. A carefully placed cat tower in the kitchen will keep cats away from the counter.
Consider having your cat fitted with a microchip. Even cats that live their lives entirely indoors can suddenly escape out a window or door. Tags and collars are great, but they don’t always stay on your cat. They can also be a risk, should they get snagged on something. Your important information can all fit nicely on a rice grain sized microchip. Nearly all veterinarians and shelters now have scanners capable of reading the information on these chips, and since they are under the skin, there is no chance of the chip getting lost.
Keep your cat away from boredom. Every cat needs exercise time and play! The unfortunate thing is that many owners of cats don’t realize this. Bored cats tend to develop emotional and mental disorders that may negatively impact their health. Give them plenty of room to exercise and a wide selections of toys. If they’re an indoor cat, get them an object to climb on or a scratching post.
Cats can tend to be more nocturnal than not. This means their behavior is quite active during the night. Keep your bedroom door shut if your cats make too much noise at night. They should stay away from you at night and then they will not be able to jump on your feet.
If you’re traveling with your cat, take care to remember their ears. You and your cat probably have different ideas about the ideal volume for the car stereo, for instance: Remember that your cat’s hearing is more sensitive than yours. Keep your music off, and talk to your cat instead.
A tablecloth should be made for your cats. Cats sometimes like to eat food outside of their bowl. This creates extra work since you must then clean up the leftover loose food. To make clean up a breeze, use a place mat underneath the bowl or a piece of fabric. You’ll be able to pick it up easily and shake the excess food into the trash.
Don’t think that you can teach a cat to use its litter box. This will be something that the cat does on its own and it usually is not learned fro another. While some folks think you should pick up your cat and place their paws against the litter, this can actually be traumatic.
Train your cat to tolerate a pet carrier. While punishment is a good strategy to train dogs, it is not adapted to cats. Cats are better trained by using patient encouragement. Place a beloved blanket or item inside the carrier and let it stay open near the cat’s usual haunts. Eventually, the cat will go into the carrier naturally and feel comfortable. A cat who is used to a carrier will not mind traveling, meaning it will be a much less stressful experience for them.
Reduce the chances of raising a finicky cat by feeding them several brands of food while they are young. Cats who eat the same food day after day either grow tired of it, or it becomes the only food that they will eat.
Make sure your cats always have identification tags on. Even a cat you plan on always staying indoors should have identification. Even the tamest indoors cat can be tempted by the possibilities presented by an open door or window. You should use a tag with your contact information and the address of your veterinarian. This is especially true for cats with medical conditions.
Think about extra care before you take home a cat with long hair. Although it may look nice, it will look much worse when it sheds all over your home. These breeds are best left to those with the time and energy to do a lot of cleaning. They can also have more health issues due to hairballs.
Litter Box
Carefully consider where you will locate your cats’ litter box. It is temping to put it someplace where the odor will not be noticed. The cat has to be able to easily access the box. Cats can be finicky; that’s why you should give them space for their litter box that is familiar and does not put them off. The area around the litter box should be comfortable and warm to walk on, so make adjustments as needed.
As you can now see, a cat can be the best pet you’ve ever had. Pay close attention to the tips from this article. Put the tips into practice today, then watch your feline companions thrive and grow in a healthy way.