Cats are beautiful creatures, but they do come with a price tag. Between toys, litter, food, and vet visits, the costs of having a cat can make a person hesitant about owning one. Read on to find out what it takes to care for your cat.
Look a local animal shelters for cats. Shelters around the country are overflowing, and the cats there need more humans to help. Adoption fees often include things like spaying or neutering them, shots or other 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.
A vet trip should happen for your cat yearly. Your cat should have regular well visits, as well as all the recommended vaccinations for his age. When you find a vet you like, stick with them. This ensures that your vet will have an excellent understanding of your pet’s medical history.
Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. You never know when your cat could get away from you. Cats can get out of a collar or, worse, have that collar choke them to death. 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. Most organizations that deal with animal care can scan your cat for microchips, and because they are implanted, they won’t get lost.
Most cats are very nocturnal. In other words, they’ll be up and about late into the night. If your cat’s activities are keeping you awake at night, try keeping your bedroom door shut. This should help them from waking you during the night, pouncing on your feet under the covers.
Prevent crystals from forming in the urine of male cats with the right diet. These crystals can cause your cat pain to pass, and your vet bill can be expensive. Choose a cat food low in magnesium. Just as in the grocery store, take the time to read the labels. Fish products can have more magnesium when compared to poultry.
Put a cloth down in your cat’s eating area. Cats often like to remove food from their bowl to eat it off to the side. This can really make a mess, and you might have to spend significant time cleaning around your cat’s food bowl. Use a placemat under your cat’s bowl or cut some fabric to create a small tablecloth. Shake the placemat or cloth over the garbage regularly.
Scratching Post
Keep you cat’s old scratching post even if it is beginning to look worn. When a post is worn, your cats may enjoy it more. By throwing away an old scratching post and replacing it with a newer one, your cat will likely look for older items to scratch, such as your furniture.
Provide your cat with a drinking fountain. Wild cats like to drink flowing water, and domestic cats are the same. Cats react better to a moving water stream. In fact, the running water in a sink garnishes more attention from a cat than their water bowl usually does. Also, drinking fountains are more environmentally friendly and gives them the ability to drink naturally.
Ensure your cat is collared and wears an identification tag. This is essential, even for indoor cats. Cats can be very curious and they may escape out of a door or a window. Include your vet’s info as well as your own on the tags. This is especially true for cats with medical conditions.
An indoor cat is a healthy, happy cat. Studies have proven that cats who live most of their life indoors live longer than outdoor cats. Daily exercise with you doesn’t need to create risks for other cat attacks or diseases from the wild.
Be on the lookout for panting in cats. Dogs normally pant on a regular basis. Cats often pant when they are anxious or overheated, but this may also signal a more serious issue. Be sure you get in touch with a vet, especially if your animal has had problems with breathing before.
If you are lucky enough to have a cat that has a lot of hairballs, and brushing doesn’t seem to be helping to lessen them, then the following tips might help. Consider mixing cat food with a single teaspoon of pumpkin. In addition to the pumpkin, try one teaspoon of water from a can of tuna. Special foods are available to help treat hairballs.
Cats, like all pets, can be expensive. Cats require a lot of care, almost like an actual human child. The tips provided will help you properly take care your cat without breaking the bank.
