There are some unexpected obstacles that you will face with a cat. You should not adopt a cat until you are better prepared. Even well-educated cat owners are often faced with unexpected challenges. However, preparing yourself in advance is best, and it helps you be ready for your new pet.
Don’t leave drape cords near your cats. Don’t let the cat play with them since they can jump into them or play with them and get them around their neck if they have loops. This could kill them. Pin the cords of your drapes up where your cat can’t get to them.
Your home likely has no small spaces a curious cat won’t want to investigate. If they’ve got a collar on, this may put them in danger as it can get stuck. A collar that is a breakaway model will detach itself if it gets pulled on. This could save your cat’s life!
A heated tile for underneath your cat’s bed can provide real comfort. A terra cotta tile heated in your oven on about 200 degrees and for 15 minutes will do. Use an old towel to wrap around it, then place it beneath the cat’s blanket or bed. You can even switch it out every few hours.
Take your cat to the vet regularly to make sure they remain in good health. A yearly visit for a regular check-up is important, with more frequent visits for shots as required. Don’t hesitate to take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice anything unusual about their health or if they are injured.
Your cat’s claws can wreck havoc on your furniture. If you are having problems with your cat clawing up furniture, then purchase a scratching post or kitty tower. Teach them to scratch on it instead of your belongings. It doesn’t happen overnight but with some patience, you should be able to save your house from the claws.
Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. Even a house cat may end up lost outside, no matter how careful you are. Although collars and tags are beneficial, some cats may even wiggle out of them. Microchips are very small, and you can note your name, address and phone number in there. Scanners to read pet microchips are available in every town and they will not come out from under the skin.
Give your cat a good brushing regularly. This helps spread out the cat’s natural oils in their fur and stimulates blood flow in the skin. It’ll also remove all that loose hair. Doing so reduces the occurrence of hairballs, which are a choking risk. It also benefits the cat’s stomach by reducing the animal’s need to clean itself.
Feed your cat quality cat food. Look over the ingredients in the food, and be sure there is some kind of a protein source in the food. Don’t give your cat foods that have corn or other elements that have no protein. Because cats are carnivores, their diet need only consist of a good source of protein.
Cats Prefer
Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat. In nature, a cat prefers to drink from running streams. House cats prefer this as well. Cats react better to a moving water stream. In fact, some cats prefer running sink water to their own water bowls. A drinking fountain is a more environmentally-friendly way to allow them to drink naturally.
Think about extra care before you take home a cat with long hair. There is no denying that long-haired cats are beautiful, but that beautiful coat takes a lot of work and also means a lot of shedding. If you can handle the extra grooming and cleaning time, then a long haired cat might be a good choice for you. Long-haired cats are also more prone to hairballs.
Do you see cat hair everywhere you look? Since cats shed so much, they need to be frequently brushed. If your cat is a big shedder, you definitely want to brush him often. Frequent brushing or combing keeps the cat from getting a tangled, matted coat.
When a dog wags it’s tail, it’s telling you that it is excited or happy. A cat may look like it is wagging its tail, but it is completely different than what a dog does. Tail wagging in a cat usually indicates a mental conflict that your cat is mulling over, such as deciding whether to flee or attack. If you notice you cat begin to wag his tail when you are holding him, put him down to be sure you are not scratched or swatted.
Use a cat collar that gives name, address, and phone number info. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, there is that small chance he or she might get out one day. If this happens, ensure there’s a way they can find home again.
Your diet isn’t necessarily the best thing for your cat; some foods just aren’t good for them. Examples include garlic, grapes, green tomatoes and onions. Ingesting these foods can end up making your cat really sick or worse. Milk can also end up giving your cat an upset stomach.
Avoid overfeeding your cat. Many health issues can arise from doing so. If your pet eats much more than it should, it may become overweight, which can lead to a number of illnesses. Know how much your cat is eating and be sure the cat has a diet that is balanced well.
You can deter cat scratching with something as simple as tape. If you have a cat that scratches your upholstery you need to place tape on that as well. There is specific tape for this purpose. Booby-trapping furniture and getting a scratching post can help you break your cat of this habit.
Such training concepts are useful for all types of cats. The concepts you just went over are the basics and can help you to raise a cat so that it’s a happy and healthy animal the rest of its life. A newly adopted kitten should be a fun experience, and make sure that is foremost in your mind!