Cats can be the best pets as long as you do everything they want you to do! As a cat owner, it is important that you take the time to educate yourself on all of the best cat care tips and advice to ensure that your feline friend enjoys a great life. You can find the information that you need to know in this article.
Your house can really get torn apart by a cat’s claws. If your couch is starting to look like it’s been put through a shredder, it’s time to invest in a nice scratching post or cat tower. When your cat scratches inappropriately, redirect him to the scratching post. It doesn’t happen overnight but with some patience, you should be able to save your house from the claws.
Make sure that you never neglect your cat. Your cat will enjoy your company if you pet and play with her. Similar to people, cats like to socialize and feel as if they are important to their family. They want to feel like a valuable, happy family member, too.
Grooming is something that most cats do all the time. However, if it has a lot of hair, hairballs can occur. There are special foods you can give to your cat to reduce this problem. Certain cat foods are made just for decreasing hairballs, benefiting both your cat and yourself.
Crystals in the urine, an issue many male cats have, can be avoided with the proper food. Passing stones or crystals hurts and can cost you a ton in vet bills if they don’t come out naturally. Choose foods low in magnesium for your cat. This means you should pay attention to labels on food. Fish-based foods usually contain more magnesium than poultry-based foods.
Be very careful about allowing children to be alone with a kitten. This is especially true if your child is less than five years old. They are just not mature enough to understand the danger they can pose for the kitten. When children get a little older, they develop the skills needed to be around small animals.
Give your cat a good brushing regularly. This will reduce the amount of bacteria on the fur. Also, it helps manage loose hair. This helps prevent hairballs, which can lead to choking and other health issues.
Carriers are great devices for you to have as a cat owner. While punishment is a good strategy to train dogs, it is not adapted to cats. Encouragement is a much better strategy. Leave the door to a carrier open at all times, and make the interior enticing with a beloved toy and blanket. Your cat will want to inspect the carrier and probably enjoy hiding inside. Transporting the carrier with your cat inside makes your next trip out much easier.
Buy your cat a fountain it can drink from. Cats like their water to move. Cats generally respond better to a stream of water. Actually, you will see many cats prefer running tap water from the sink instead of the water bowl. A drinking fountain is a more environmentally-friendly way to allow them to drink naturally.
Ensure your cat is collared and wears an identification tag. This is essential, even for indoor cats. Cats can slip out a door in a flash. The tag should have your phone number on it. This is also essential if they have specific medical needs.
There is a lot of responsibility involved with a long-haired cat. While the long hair on a cat is beautiful, it doesn’t look so beautiful all over your home. You must be willing to spend more time cleaning your home. Also, cats with long hair tend to have frequent hairball issues.
Litter Box
Put some thought into where you place the litter box. It is temping to put it someplace where the odor will not be noticed. The litter box needs to be placed in a spot that your cat can reach very easily. Cats can be finicky, so it is important that you give them an environment they feel comfortable in. Instead of just keeping the box on cold cement, add a rug or mat beneath it.
You cannot keep a cat as a pet if you are not prepared to properly care for it. As a good pet owner, read through this whole article several times and use the information for your own cat. Applying the insight learned in these tips will help to ensure that your pet has a happy life and provides wonderful companionship.
