There are few pets as rewarding to own as a cat. Cats are lots of fun, and they also rid the house of mice and similar pests. Read on to find out how to care for your kitty.
Check with your shelter before you purchase a cat. Shelters are overflowing with wonderful cats, and the adoption fee usually covers essential 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.
If your cat is female, you need to get it spayed at the proper age. Even though your cat stays indoors all the time, there might be that one time she slips through the door when she goes into heat, which results in a litter of unexpected kittens. If your cat has been spayed, however, you won’t have to worry about this happening.
Taking your cat to the vet is part of being a responsible pet owner. Cats should go to a vet at least once each year for a check up, and more frequently for required shots. If a condition, illness, or injury happens, your cat should be taken to the vet immediately.
Put a collar on any cats which go outside. The collar and tag will make it easier to find the cat if it gets lost. Some required information on the tag would be the cat’s name and your personal phone number.
Contact Information
Think about having a microchip inserted in your cat. Even an indoor cat can get the urge to run out of a door or leap through a window. Collars and tags can help get your cat home, however cats are experts at wiggling out of these, not to mention the risk they pose if they were to get snagged on a bush or tree branch. Microchips are tiny and contain all your contact information. Almost every vet and shelter has a scanner these days, and they can retrieve your contact information should they find your pet.
Be attentive to your cat and give them your love and company, often. They give lots of affection and need some in return. Cats need social time with the family just like people do so that they know that they are valued. They want to feel like a contented and satisfied member of the family.
Cats spend a ton of time grooming themselves. In long-haired cats, hairballs can result from excess grooming. There are special foods you can buy to try to help with this particular problem. Some cat foods are specially formulated to help reduce hairballs, which is good for both you and your pet.
Cats love to be high up. To keep your cat happy, offer him a spot of his own up high where he can survey his kingdom. If you don’t want a large cat tree in your home, a sturdy shelf cleared of breakables will work in a pinch. For an additional treat, put a little bed or blanket in there, too.
Be sure to brush or comb your cat’s fur on a regular basis. This will reduce the amount of bacteria on the fur. You will also decrease the amount of fur throughout your home. This helps to stop hairballs and their associated medical problems.
Feeding your cat different types of food helps ensure they don’t get finicky. When you give the same thing day after day, it becomes boring.
You should not get rid of your cat’s old scratching post. Your cat will enjoy the post most when it has been well used. Tossing it and getting a new one may cause your cat to find something old to scratch like your furniture.
Treat your cat to a good quality cat food. Your cat needs a lot of protein from meat, so read the labels before you choose a food. Steer clear of food made primarily of corn and fillers. 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.
Ensure your cat is collared and wears an identification tag. Even if it’s an indoor cat, this is important. Your cat will go out as soon as you leave a door or a window open. Tags should include contact information for you and your vet. This is especially true for cats with medical conditions.
When compared to dogs, cats may not seem like top hunters, but cats pay close attention to smaller creatures. Cats are quite good at all they do and do not mind sharing their life with you. With so much going for them, the cat’s popularity is easy to see.