For those who don’t know, feral cats live in the streets. In most cities, a massive feline population exists split evenly between feral outdoors cats and well-kept household pets. Dealing with these issues is troubling.
If your kitty is a female, make sure to plan a spaying once she is of age to breed. Even if you own an indoor cat, it might produce many kittens if it escapes during mating season. Spaying your cat is the best way to prevent this from happening.
Be sure your cat gets regular checkups at the vet. A yearly visit for a regular check-up is important, with more frequent visits for shots as required. If there are more pressing health problems, take your cat to the vet right away.
Cats are generally nocturnal. In other words, they’ll be up and about late into the night. If your kittens are keeping you awake into the middle of the night, close the door to your bedroom. You can keep them from bothering you at night and getting your feet while you’re under covers.
While cats are good pets for children generally, smaller children may treat them too roughly. Guide your kids in handling a feline. Demonstrate the proper way to pick up a cat and what they can do with the cat. Cats don’t have strong bones like dogs do, so they need to be treated gently.
Are you the owner of both a dog and cat? Dogs take every opportunity they can get to eat the cat’s food. You should keep your cat food away from the dog. Separate eating spaces are a must to avoid fights between your pets.
Talk to people you know about any cat problems you’re having. Advice from other people can be very beneficial for you. There are many online forums that discuss cats. Most vets will also be happy to help you with some advice.
Brush your cat’s coat often. Brushing can help to spread the natural oils and stimulate the skin’s blood flow. As an added bonus, it cuts down on loose fur. This keeps hairballs at bay, which may cause choking and build up inside their stomach from self-grooming.
Don’t punish cats for making messes outside the litter box. It might be happening because you aren’t caring for the box good enough. If your pet is punished, you won’t do anything but make it afraid of you.
Getting a second cat is usually beneficial to both, but you have to give the two cats a few weeks to get acclimated to each other. They might hide from each other or hit each other. After a bit of time, you’ll have two cats that will tolerate, and possibly enjoy, each other.
Is cat hair getting into everything you own? Cats shed considerably; therefore, it is very important you brush them frequently. Cats that shed a lot need to be brushed more frequently. Brushing is a good way to keep your cat’s coat from getting matted and tangled.
If your cat will not use the litter box, try placing it at a different spot in your home. Make sure to put it in a quiet spot in your house. Some great examples of such locations are basements, laundry rooms or any other less frequently used room in your home.
Your food isn’t necessarily good for your cat. Grapes, onions and garlic are a few of the food items. If your cat eats these, it may cause him to get really sick or even worse. Even a commonly fed food, milk, can make your kitty ill.
Never use chemicals that have phenol in it near your cat. This chemical is often in Lysol and certain other regular household cleaners. It causes liver problems in felines.
Your cat should stay inside most of the time, and when it’s outside, you should ensure it remains close to home. Indoor cats live longer and stay healthier. While cats can get their exercise roaming the neighborhood and squaring off against other cats, they can also get diseases and injuries this way. Vigorous indoor play with an owner is a preferable way to get exercise.
A cat that is declawed should never spend time being outside. The cat will be unable to defend itself against other cats or animals, risking injury or even death. An indoor cat can be declawed. If you do choose to have your cat declawed, only the front claws should be removed. You do not have to touch claws on the back, as these claws do not damage the floor.
Overfeeding your cat can dramatically affect its future health. If your pet eats much more than it should, it may become overweight, which can lead to a number of illnesses. Monitor your cat’s meal portions, and be sure he is getting a well balanced diet.
Look out for holes around the home you would rather your cat didn’t get into. Cats are able to fit into gaps that are tiny. This is particularly true for kittens. Take care of this issue when you have a new cat coming into your home. Repair or cover any holes or openings that may attract a cat.
You may want to avoid treating your feline with table scraps. Human food isn’t always good for cats. Egg, chicken, beef or fish are good options for a cat. This is not necessary, though. If you feed them the right food appropriate to their size and age, they need nothing else.
You should have a better idea of how you can take good care of your cat after reading this article. Cats are prone to a number of issues, but with the right knowledge, you’ll be able to handle all of them. They can also be loving pets. Maybe you’ll find one you fall in love with.