Few pets offer the unique blend of grace, strength, independence, and affection available in the common house cat. They are certainly a very common pet, and you are likely to see many cats in cities, towns, and the countryside. Learning to live indoors with these animals is a new challenge entirely. These critters can be stubborn little guys and can pose a big challenge to understanding all their little nuances.
Grooming is an essential part of your cat’s care. Cats require frequent brushing or combing. Brushing rids your cat’s coat of dirt and helps keep them clean. It helps your cats shed much less too, which keeps them from spitting those hairballs up. Grooming a cat properly will improve the appearance of your home and cat.
Cats can get into even the tiniest of spaces. If you keep a collar on your pet, getting stuck in one of these spaces can be very dangerous. Breakaway collars are designed to release in these situations. This can keep your cat alive.
Generally, cats love to stay on the counter. Cats naturally love heights so they can easily see everyone and everything. Provide your cat with a few high places it can uses. A cat tower near your kitchen can give them a place to watch you that is out of the way.
Consider having your cat fitted with a microchip. Indoor cats can slip out an open door. Tags and collars are great, but if a cat escapes them, there’s no guaranteeing they’ll make it home safe and sound. Microchips are as tiny as a piece of rice and will tell people where the cat belongs. Every shelter and most veterinarian offices have microchip scanners that can read the chips, and best of all, they chips can’t be lost.
Cats love to be clean. Long hair encourages hairballs. Buy your cat specialized food to prevent this problem. They help the hair pass through by breaking it down.
Set a tablecloth under your cat’s food bowl. Some cats like removing food from their bowl and eating it beside their bowl. Sometimes, this results in food outside the bowl that you have to clean up. 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.
Do you have dogs and cats? Keep in mind that the two animals have separate dietary needs, and dogs will try cat food if given the chance. This is why you should have a feeding area for your cat that is too high for the dog to reach. That also means they don’t fight about water after eating the food.
Cat Owners
You should talk to other pet owners if you have an issue with yours. Other cat owners may have had experience with what you’re going through right now. The Internet will allow you to contact many forums and online communities for cat owners. Don’t forget, your vet’s office can also provide sound advice.
Brush your cat often. Brushing can help to spread the natural oils and stimulate the skin’s blood flow. It also loosens hair that is about ready to fall out. This can reduce hairballs which can be harmful to a cat and build up in their stomachs.
Don’t toss an older scratching post just because it looks worn. This is the condition that cats like the most. 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.
It is important for a cat to have play time. Play is important for all mammals, even people, regardless of their age. A cats energy might fade over time, but that does not mean that it no longer likes to play. Take time to have fun with your cat.
Keep cats inside as much as you can, or at least close to you or your home. Free-ranging cats who spend most of their time outdoors have a shorter lifespan than those that are raised and accustomed to indoor living. Make sure your cat is trained as an indoor cat if you don’t want it to get diseases or other things that can happen when it’s outdoors.
Don’t give your cat medicine that is meant for humans. Some people incorrectly give cats human medications thinking it will be okay in small doses, but it can kill him or her. If your pet has any issues, take them to a vet for proper pet medication. You can kill a cat by giving them human grade medications.
Cats have shockingly sharp noses, which means they can spot changes in their home with ease. This can lead to issues when you introduce something new, such as a new toy, bed, or food dish. Don’t be discouraged if your cat decides to ignore these items at first. Once your cat becomes accustomed to this smell, he or she will begin to like it.
If you have a cat with frequent hair ball problems, and brushing has provided no relief, the following tips might be useful. Consider mixing cat food with a single teaspoon of pumpkin. Try also mixing in some water from tuna with the pumpkin. It is also possible to get help from cat food varieties containing fiber and other ingredients.
If your cat was adopted while you were not working, your cat will get lonely when you go back to work. Provide them with something to do while you’re gone, or consider adopting another cat.
Do a safety check to make sure there are no places where your cat could potentially get trapped. Cats can wriggle into surprisingly small spaces. Kittens are especially vulnerable. Keep this in mind when bringing new cats into your home. Cover or repair large holes you see.
By applying the tips that you have read, you’ll be outsmarting your cat before you know it. Soon, they will learn where to go and where to stay away from. Although it may be difficult to train a cat, in actuality they are just as likely to be well-behaved and trained as your typical dog.