Cats are wonderful to have around, but they aren’t always easy to live with! Whether your cat needs a special diet or hates to be groomed, you’ll encounter a number of issues while caring for your pet. In the paragraphs below, you’ll find suggestions on how to provide your pet with all it needs.
Drape Cords
Make sure you don’t allow your cat to be around drape cords. These can cause your cat to choke if they get a hold of it. This may harm or kill them. Therefore, ensure that drape cords are pinned away from your cat’s reach.
Part of caring for your cat is taking it to regular veterinarian checkups. They should go at least once yearly for a check-up, and more often if they need any shots. Make vet appointments immediately if your cat has a medical condition or has become injured.
Dog products shouldn’t be used on cats. Cats can have strong negative reactions to a product that is formulated for a dog. This will especially be true if it’s a product for fleas. Using dog flea products on your cat can kill them. After your dog receives a flea treatment, keep your cat away for at least a few hours.
A cat generally spends quite a bit of time grooming itself. If the cat has longer hair, it can be the cause of hairballs. If you’ve got a cat with this issue, get it special types of food. There are foods that are made to reduce the frequency of hairballs. It’s a smart move for your cat and your sanity.
Male cats may develop crystals in the urine, which usually occur as a result of a poor diet. Passing such crystals is a painful experience for your cat, and your wallet isn’t going to enjoy the vet bill. Keep your cat’s diet low in levels of magnesium. Check the label. Products that have fish in them have more magnesium usually when compared to products with poultry.
Rules Ahead
If you get a small kitten for your children, make sure they understand the rules ahead of time. Let your children know which areas of the house are off-limits for the cat. Advise your children not to let the cat out if it is to be an indoor cat. Setting up rules ahead of time can help your kids understand better.
When something seems amiss with your feline friend, speak with other cat owners. You can often get great advice from friends and family. Your local veterinarian can be a valuable source of information, but there is also help available online by joining user forums geared toward cat owners.
Never try to teach a cat how to work a litter box. They do this by nature and don’t need to be taught. A common misconception is to rub your cats paws into the kitty litter however this isn’t a good idea.
Brush your cat’s coat often. This keeps the fur well oiled and the skin healthy. Also, it helps manage loose hair. This prevents hairballs, which can cause choking, and builds up in the cat’s stomach from self grooming.
If you offer a variety of foods to your cat, it will be less picky about what it eats. If your cat only eats one brand of cat food from the beginning, he will probably not like any other brand.
You eat quality food, and if you want your cat to stick around a long time, they need quality food, too. Read the ingredient label, and make sure a protein from meat tops the list. Avoid foods like corn or other items without protein. Cats in the wild are meat eaters, and domestic cats need meat to ensure optimum health.
Cats Prefer Running
Get your cat a drinking fountain. In the wild, cats prefer running water to drink from, and they do in the home as well. Cats usually like to drink from a water stream. In fact, some cats prefer running sink water to their own water bowls. This is a more natural way for them to drink.
Let your cat take its time when you add a new cat to your home. In the early days, you may see a lot of posturing from the cats including hissing and swatting at each other. But, eventually, they will get used to the idea, and begin to tolerate, and even enjoy, each other’s company.
If you have a pregnant cat ready to birth her babies, be sure she has enough space. Giving birth to all the kittens can take hours, so you shouldn’t expect things to be over and done with quickly. If your cat has still not given birth to all her kittens after six hours, get her to a vet right away.
Litter Box
It is possible that placing the litter box in a new part of the house will help your cat to bond with it. A cat’s instinct tells him that eliminating puts him in a vulnerable state, so try putting his litter box in a safe, quiet area of the house. Some great examples of such locations are basements, laundry rooms or any other less frequently used room in your home.
Any chemicals that have phenol should be kept away from your cat. Lysol, Pine-Sol and many other products contain this chemical. The smell offends them and being exposed to it for several hours can cause liver problems.
Cats are able to smell very well and will notice changes to their environment. For example, your cat will instantly detect a new scratching post, bed, food dish, etc. Your cat may not initially appreciate a new pet. When your cat becomes more comfortable, he or she will adjust.
Caring for a cat may appear simple if you luck out and get a cat that doesn’t cause major issues, but many needs lots of TLC, some vet check-ups, and lots of attention. With the suggestions provided above, you’ll be in a better position to address your feline friend’s needs and even anticipate them before they can cause problems. The research you have done will pay off in a big way, for both you and your cat!
