Cats can be the best pets as long as you do everything they want you to do! Education on the best way to care for a cat is the most important step in cat ownership. Keep reading for some great tips every cat owner should know about.
Grooming is an essential part of your cat’s care. You should comb and/or brush them on a regular basis. This leads to a cleaner cat. Doing this will also help alleviate hairballs and excessive shedding. Regularly grooming your cat will help keep it and your home looking great.
If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. A lost cat is much easier to locate if they are properly tagged. At least put your phone number and pets name on the tag.
Contact Information
Think about having a microchip inserted in your cat. Even an indoor cat can get the urge to run out of a door or leap through a window. Although they provide the information needed to find your beloved pet, they can also accidentally get caught or even be wiggled out of. A teeny microchip can hold 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.
Make sure your cat gets lots of love. Cats are by nature companion animals, but that companionship goes two ways. Cats need a social life with people just like you do with other people. They’ll know they are accepted as members of the family if they get plenty of loving attention.
Some male cats get urinary crystals, but this is preventable with proper diet. A cat passing the crystals can be very hurtful with an expensive vet bill to boot. Feed cats food that’s low in magnesium. Be sure that you read the label. Products that contain fish are normally much higher in magnesium over ones containing poultry.
Many times, cat meds can be purchased on the internet for less than they’d cost if you got them from your vet. Naturally, some stuff won’t be available online. It is possible to save up to 50% on certain medications by purchasing them online.
Younger children can be a little rough with cats sometimes. Teach your kids the right way to hold a cat. Help them learn how to pick up a cat and care for it. Keep in mind that a cat’s bones are much more fragile than a dog’s.
Before you consider buying a kitten for your children, make sure clear boundaries are set before you bring the kitten home. Explain where the cat is and isn’t allowed. Make sure that your children know if the cat is strictly an indoor cat. Make sure your children understand the rules from the get go.
Do you happen to own both a dog and a cat? Dogs take every opportunity they can get to eat the cat’s food. You should keep your cat food away from the dog. This will help prevent any fights that may occur between your animals.
Be very careful about allowing children to be alone with a kitten. A cat should not be left alone with a child under five years of age. Younger children cannot fully understand how to properly handle a small pet. When your children age, you will realize when they’re able to deal with a pet.
Acclimate your cat to a cat carrier. Punishment affects cats differently from dogs. They respond better to encouragement. Give your cat a treat every time it does something well. After some time, your cat will respond better to the carrier. As the cat becomes used to being in the carrier, it will become easier to transport them in it.
A collar and tags are a great way that your cat can be identified if it is found stray. Even indoor cats should have identification on them. Even the tamest indoors cat can be tempted by the possibilities presented by an open door or window. Those tags can help if someone finds your kitty. Make sure your info and your vets info is on it. Also make sure to note any unusual medical requirements.
While cats are awesome pets, you have to make sure you take care of them properly. If you’d like to do more for your pet, read this article with care and take advantage of the suggestions it provides. With a little TLC and effort, your cat can have an amazing life.
