As pets, cats are always a great choice, except that they can get a little pricey. Vet bills, toys, cat litter and food add up. The following article details how you can own a cat without breaking the bank.
Grooming is an essential part of your cat’s care. Cats have to be brushed or combed on a regular basis. Brushing rids your cat’s coat of dirt and helps keep them clean. Having a clean fur coat helps reduce the amount of hairballs that get spit up around the house. A cat that is well-groomed is one that looks the best at home.
Making sure your cat doesn’t jump on the counters is hard to do. They love to be able to look around from up high. Therefore, you should create high areas for resting. Putting a cat tower in or near the kitchen can help keep the cats from laying on the counter.
Become Bored
Don’t allow your cat become bored. Every cat needs exercise time and play! A lot of cat owners do not keep their cats busy. Cats who become bored often have issues that can affect them in a big way. Some of these issues are obesity due to eating out of boredom, OCD issues, fighting with other pets and depression. Give them exercise space and a lot of toys. If you have an indoor cat, offer him a variety of toys, scratching post or objects he can climb on.
Give your cat lots of attention and love. Cats provide warmth and affection, and they also require the same from you. Like humans, cats want to feel wanted and needed. They want to know they are a valuable part of the family too.
Cats sometimes will spend hours grooming themselves to perfection. If the cat has longer hair, it can be the cause of hairballs. There is a special food on the market that does help out with hairball issues. They help the hair pass through by breaking it down.
Keep smaller children away from pets as they are typically too aggressive. It is important to show your child how to approach and handle a cat. Show them to pick up kitty gently and the types of activities which are appropriate. Keep in mind that a cat’s bones are much more fragile than a dog’s.
Try to figure out why your cat makes meowing sounds. The more time you spend with your cat, the better you’ll understand what its meows mean. Possibilities include that she is hungry or wants to be let outside. By taking note of your cat’s cues, you’ll understand it more.
Are you the owner of a dog and a cat? Dogs won’t hesitate to eat food from your cat’s bowl. This is why you should have a feeding area for your cat that is too high for the dog to reach. This will help you to be sure that the animals won’t fight over the water either after they’ve eaten all their food.
Don’t leave a kitten with small kids. This is especially true if your child is less than five years old. The maturity level isn’t there when it comes to your child. When your children age, you will realize when they’re able to deal with a pet.
Cats enjoy climbing on things. A happy cat is one that has a safe living environment. If you’re averse to cat trees for some reason, a shelf without breakable items will work. Additionally, you can place a bed or blanket in this space.
Feed your cat quality cat food. Carefully look over ingredients, and be sure that a quality protein source like chicken, fish, or beef is at the beginning of the list. Don’t choose a food which is mainly corn. Your cat is a carnivore, and for proper nutrition, he should have a food high in animal protein in order to keep him at his best.
Despite their independent nature, cats are no less expensive than any other pet. You should care for your pet like you would care for a child. You can reduce your expenses while still taking the best care for your kitten.