Cats can be difficult to please. When you first get them, they can seem very mysterious. But even if you don’t know how to make your cat happy, you can take excellent care of them if you know what you’re doing. Here are a few helpful tips to teach you how to care for your cat.
Local rescue organizations are a great place to look for a new pet cat. Shelters are filled with beautiful cats, and the fee for adoption will basically cover the needed vet care. By adopting a cat from your local shelter, you will preserve a life and will do your part in controlling the cat population.
If your cat is female, it is very important that she be spayed when the vet feels she is old enough. Whether or not she typically goes outside, she may escape while in heat and you might have kittens! The best method of preventing your cat from pregnancy is to get her spayed.
It can be tough to keep cats off the countertops. They love being above everything so that they can watch it all. One way to combat this behavior is to proved your cat with an elevated place it is okay to climb on. Your cat will not go on your counters if there’s a cat tower close to the kitchen.
If you’re taking kitty on a road trip, don’t play loud music. 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. To keep you cat from feeling nervous, keep the volume at a lower level. A trip is already stressful for a pet.
Litter Box
Don’t try and teach your kitty how the litter box is supposed to be used. Using the litter box is instinctual for cats, and they require no training. While many pet owners try to introduce their cats to a litter box by rubbing their front paws in the sand, this can sometimes traumatize your furry friend.
Never punish a cat for a mess outside of its box. If this happens, it may be because you have not kept the box as clean as you should. If you get mad, they’ll never use the box again.
You need to buy some quality food for your cat. Beef, fish or chicken, all great protein sources, should head the list of main ingredients. The foods to avoid are those with a large amount of corn and low amounts of protein. Understand that your cat needs a lot of animal protein to stay healthy.
If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, you should take him to the vet. This sort of behavior can be caused by urinary tract infections or other, more serious medical issues in your cat. Take the cat to the vet if it stops using the litter-box and let the vet diagnose the problem.
You should think carefully before getting a long-haired cat. While long haired cats are soft and look great, understand that there will be a lot more fur around the rest of the house. You should not get a cat with long-hair unless you are ready to do a lot of cleaning. Be prepared to deal with hairballs, which are a problem for long-haired cats.
Let your cat give birth in a large space. It will take about three to four hours for all of the kittens to come out, so be patient. Once 6 hours have passed, if all the kittens have not been delivered you should seek the help of a vet.
When dogs are excited or happy, they will wag their tails when they see their owners. Cats wag or move their tails from side to side as well, but not for the reasons dogs do. Tail-wagging is usually a sign that your cat is considering attacking or fleeing. If kitty starts wagging his tail while you’re holding him, it’s best to put him down so you don’t get scratched.
Outdoor Cats
Keep cats inside as much as you can, or at least close to you or your home. Cats who live indoors live longer and are healthier than outdoor cats. Indoor cats don’t face the diseases and other risks that outdoor cats do.
A cat can get lonely when your daily routine changes and you are no longer home during the day. To improve your cat’s mood, consider adopting a second cat. They can then keep each other company while you are absent.
The advice above will aid you in caring for your cat. Use these tips so your cat will be in better health and to ensure its needs are met adequately. If you do, you might see a positive change in your cat’s behavior. Maybe not.
