When you care for a cat properly, it will bring you much joy. It pays to learn all you can about proper cat care. Thankfully, the experts have provided what you need to know below.
Keep your drapery cords out of the reach of your cat. Don’t let the cat play with them since they can jump into them or play with them and get them around their neck if they have loops. This is an extreme choking hazard and should be prevented at all costs. Keep your drape cords pinned out of sight to prevent this.
To help your aging cat feel cozy, place a warmed tile under his bed. Put a square foot of terra cotta tile into your oven heated to 200 degrees. Keep the tile in the oven for about 15 minutes. You should wrap it with a towel and place it under the bed your cat uses. Change it every couple of hours if desired.
Being nocturnal is quite normal for cats. Because of this, night time is when they are most active. Keep your bedroom door shut if your cats make too much noise at night. This should help them from waking you during the night, pouncing on your feet under the covers.
Litter Box
Pick a good spot for the cat’s litter box. Place the litter box away from high traffic areas. Additionally, the litter box should be placed away from your cat’s food and water. You’ll want to place the box in a spot with good ventilation to avoid unpleasant smells. Your cat is certain to appreciate a litter box that is put into a good location.
Male cats often develop crystals in their bladder that come out in their urine. This can be prevented with a proper diet. It is painful for your cat to pass these crystals and the cost to have this treated by a vet is high. Feed your cat food that is low in magnesium. Consult the ingredient list. Poultry products will tend to have lower amounts than seafood based products.
Be considerate of your cat’s preferences while traveling. You may love belting out your favorite tunes as you drive on the freeway, but your cat probably enjoys softer sounds. If your cat seems upset or agitated, turn down the music and speak calmly to him.
There needs to be set boundaries with your children and a new kitty. Let your children know which areas of the house are off-limits for the cat. If you plan to raise an indoor cat, let your children know that the cat cannot go outside. Setting the rules in advance will ensure your children understand.
Is your home also the home of both a dog and cat? Dogs won’t hesitate to eat food from your cat’s bowl. If you’re having a problem with this, make your cat’s eating area high enough that your dog cannot reach. In doing so, you prevent spats and spitting over competition for water.
If your cat does not use the litter box, do not use punishments to try to discipline him. Check out the box instead and see if it has been neglected; this is often a cause of accidents. Punishing your cat will just make them afraid of you later on.
You should feed your cat food out of a can. Although dry food is usually less expensive, canned food is better for your cat. Canned food gives your cat more protein and the water content helps with hydration. Canned food is much easier to chew for older cats. Your vet can give you more information specific to your cat, though canned food is usually better.
If a cat urinates often or in odd places, it should probably go see the vet. They’re trying to tell you something is wrong. Most of the time, these conditions can be resolved with relatively affordable antibiotic treatments.
Take note if the cat ceases using its litter box. This could be a side effect of a health problem. Some common issues are bladder and kidney problems. Contact your veterinarian if your pet abandons its litter box.
Proper Care
Cats are great pets, but they need proper care. As a good pet owner, read through this whole article several times and use the information for your own cat. With the proper care, your cat will be able to live a long life in great contentment.
