Once a cat is adopted, many obstacles may present themselves to the family taking on the new pet. No one should get a pet without taking the steps to prepare. Some problems come even with total preparation. The best solution is to prepare yourself with tips like these and then expect the unexpected!
If you plan on getting a cat for a pet, try looking into a local shelter. Shelters have great pets available for adoption, and the fee isn’t that high. When you bring home a shelter cat, you will be saving its life and you will be doing your part to help out.
Make sure your cat sees a vet regularly to maintain their good health. They should go in for a routine check-up at least once a year, possibly more if they need important shots. If a condition, illness, or injury happens, your cat should be taken to the vet immediately.
Never use a product on your cat that is intended for dogs. Products designed for dogs or other animals could cause a negative reaction from your cat. Be very careful with the flea products you use. Your cat can die if you use a dog flea product on it. Keep your cat away from your puppy after treating it with some flea products.
Your cat needs a collar and tag if it goes outside. Tags can save you a lot of trouble if your cat gets lost. Some required information on the tag would be the cat’s name and your personal phone number.
Contact Information
You can also consider outfitting your cat with a chip so you can monitor its whereabouts. One day, your indoor cat might leave through an open door or get outside through an open window. Cats can get out of a collar or, worse, have that collar choke them to death. 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.
Put your cats’ litter box where it is most acceptable to him. It should not be placed in a high traffic area, and it should be far away from the cat’s food. Allow for adequate ventilation to dispel any odors. This will make you and your cat happy.
Cats are known for spending inordinate amounts of time grooming themselves. If your cat has hair that’s long it could get hairballs. Buy your cat specialized food to prevent this problem. The are specially formulated cat foods that help reduce the instances of hairballs, which is not only good for your cat, but also good for you and your feet in the middle of the night.
You need to establish some boundaries if you are getting a cat for your children. You can then teach your kids which areas your cat can go into. Make sure that your children know if the cat is strictly an indoor cat. Setting up rules ahead of time can help your kids understand better.
Unlike most humans, cats love heights. To keep your cat happy, offer him a spot of his own up high where he can survey his kingdom. If a cat tower is not ideal, a simple shelf that does not have any breakable items can work. Make it extra comfortable by adding a blanket or cushion.
These tips should be useful whether you have a Siamese kitten or an old Bengal. There are certain common problems that arise when raising a kitten, but some cats will exhibit unique problems. More important than anything else is to enjoy every precious moment with you new little kitten.