Cats make wonderful pets, however, they can also be a bit finicky. With so many needs ranging from vet visit to nail clipping, they require you to know a lot of things. This article can teach you all about basic cat needs.
You never want to leave the cords of your drapes dangling down. Cats love to play with hanging cords and this poses the threat of your cat hurting themselves or becoming entangled. This could hurt or kill them. All drape cords should be fastened and kept away from any harm that might come to the cats.
If you own a female cat, you should have her spayed when she is old enough. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands. You can prevent this by spaying or neutering your cat.
Lessen the chances of your cat becoming harmed or killed by spraying all electric cords with something to keep them from chewing it. Bitter apple is a good choice and can be found at most pet stores. Cats who love to chew need to be kept away from cords. Any loose cords should be bundled up and placed in things like paper towel rolls. Personal electronic devices should be stored when not needed to keep their cords out of reach.
You may want to have a microchip put into your car. Even indoor cats may get out of your home at some point. A collar and identification tags can help bring your pet back to you. But experts point out that collars that do not snap apart quickly if your cat gets it caught on a branch or even a bush can accidentally strangle your cat. A microchip, on the other hand, is inserted near your cat’s shoulder blades, takes only a second to do, and all of your current contact info can be read through the chip. Almost every vet and shelter has a scanner these days, and they can retrieve your contact information should they find your pet.
Receiving plenty of positive, loving attention is important for your cat. Cats are by nature companion animals, but that companionship goes two ways. Like most folks, cats have the need to socialize to feel like part of the family. They should feel like a valued family member as well.
You should create a tablecloth for the cats in your home. Some cats prefer to remove their food from the dish and eat it off to the side. This creates extra work since you must then clean up the leftover loose food. It’s easier to clean up this food by purchasing a placement and inserting it under your cat’s food bowl, or you could simply cut some fabric and make it into a tablecloth so you can easily pick up the food and throw it away.
If your cat constantly meows, you need to try to figure out why. Over time, you will pick up on the reasons why your cat is making this gesture. She may be hungry, or she may want you to let her outside. Pay attention to her cues, and you can understand your cat that much more.
Just because your family did it when you were a child, does not mean allowing your cat to go outside is a wise decision. This could be harmful and unsafe. You cat might pick up pests or fleas. Your cat may be targeted by another animal, or get injured by a vehicle or another person. If you think your pet needs to go outside, think about enclosing a back patio with metal mesh or some type of heavy screen to keep your cat inside, yet allow them to experience the outdoors.
You shouldn’t be training your cats for litter box use. This comes naturally – you can’t teach it. A common misconception is to rub your cats paws into the kitty litter however this isn’t a good idea.
Frequent or misdirected urination may warrant a trip to your vet’s office. Many cats develop these behaviors in response to a health problem, such as urinary tract infections. Some cheap antibiotics can get rid of some dangerous illnesses.
Think about how much extra care is entailed in bringing a long-haired cat into your home. Although it may look nice, it will look much worse when it sheds all over your home. Only choose a cat with long hair if you can clean up after it consistently. Hairballs are something that you will often deal with if you own a fluffy cat.
When dogs are excited their tails wag from side to side. Cats wag their tail for a different reason. 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 kitty starts wagging his tail while you’re holding him, it’s best to put him down so you don’t get scratched.
The foods you eat might not be very healthy for your pet. Examples of problem foods include garlic, green tomatoes, onions and grapes. If your cat eats these, it may cause him to get really sick or even worse. Too much milk can also be a bad thing for a grown cat.
Looking after a cat is a lot of work, but you will also find that owning a cat is a very rewarding experience. Take what you have learned here and apply it to being a successful and happy pet owner. Your thorough research will result in a good experience for both you and your cat.
