Cats are very fascinating, and they also are great pets. If you have a cat, you need to learn more about the proper way to care for your beloved pet to make sure it has a long and healthy life. Go over this article to find out more about how you can care for your cat.
Keep your drape cords away from your cats. You should not allow your cat to play with drape cords since they could end up with the cord wrapped around their neck. This could seriously injure or even kill them. Keep your drape cords pinned out of sight to prevent this.
If you’re thinking of getting a cat for a pet, you should look to the local shelter. Shelters have tons of great cats and their adoption fee will generally cover necessary vet care. When you bring home a shelter cat, you will be saving its life and you will be doing your part to help out.
Regular vet checkups for your cat are very important. Your cat requires a variety of vaccines and shots to prevent illness, and it is also important to identify health problems before they become too severe. Make sure you keep the same veterinarian for your pet throughout its life. This way they will know your cat’s history the best.
To help your aging cat feel cozy, place a warmed tile under his bed. Put a square foot of terra cotta tile into your oven heated to 200 degrees. Keep the tile in the oven for about 15 minutes. Wrap it tightly in a towel and place it under the cat bed. When the tile cools down, change it out for a fresh, warm one.
Electrical Cords
Deter cats from shocking themselves on electrical wires by spraying them with bitter apple. If your cat plays with cords, put them up and out of the way, or you can hide them in old paper towel rolls. If you have loose electrical cords, you can bundle them up and stow them away in a cardboard tube (think toilet paper or paper towel rolls). If you have electrical cords laying out that are not being used, put them away as cats can play with them and then move on to live electrical cords.
When you buy a small kitty for your children, set the boundaries ahead of time. Make sure your children know where in the house the cat is permitted to be. If your have an indoor-only cat, be sure the kids understand that the cat is not to go outside. Setting up rules ahead of time can help your kids understand better.
Talk to others when you have a problem with your cat. You may wish to deal with it alone, but you may need advice from other cat owners. Your vet is a great source of advice, or you can find forums on the Internet to connect with other cat owners.
Brush your cat regularly. This will spread all of their natural oils around and help their blood flow. It is also a good way to reduce shedding. This will help you to avoid hairballs, which may cause your cat to choke. Hairballs are caused when a cat grooms itself.
Let your cat get comfortable using a carrier. You have to take a different approach to training a cat rather than a dog. They respond better to encouragement. You should place a toy or a blanket inside the carrier and place it in an area where it will be noticed by your cat. Over time, the cat will feel comfortable and go inside the carrier. Let it happen naturally or with only mild coaxing. Do not get angry. Transporting your cat inside the carrier will then become much easier.
Feed your pet canned food. While dry food is less expensive, canned food is healthier. Your cat can get more water, fat and protein from canned food. This food is easier to chew for old cat. Speak with your vet, however generally speaking, canned cat food is better for your cat.
As soon as you adopt your cat, fit him with identification tags attached to a collar. This is essential, even for indoor pets. An adventurous cat can easily slip through an open door or window. Tags that have your vet’s name and phone number are good things to put on the collar. Also make sure to note any unusual medical requirements.
If you just own one cat but are considering obtaining another one, then you should ensure you allow a few weeks for your old cat and new one to become familiar with each other. They may swat at each other or hiss; that’s nothing to be concerned about. Give them a bit more time to begin to get used to each other face to face, too.
Cat Owner
As you know already, it can be very rewarding to be a cat owner. You need to know all you can about cat care to ensure the happiness of your pet. Internalize the tips you have read here to be the best cat owner possible. Your furry friend will say thank you in his own special way when you reward him with all your new knowledge!