In case you are unfamiliar with the word, feral cats are the population of cats that live wondering along the street. These abandoned kittens make up nearly half of the population of domesticated felines and can become a troublesome pest if you live in urban areas. Continue reading to learn all you can about having a pet cat.
Be sure you have a vet that your cat sees regularly so it stays healthy. They need a routine check-up every year, maybe more of important shots are necessary. Cats should see a vet right away if any health problems or injuries needing treatment occur.
Use bitter apple on your electric cords to keep your kitty away from them. If your cat plays with cords, put them up and out of the way, or you can hide them in old paper towel rolls. Any loose cords should be bundled up and placed in things like paper towel rolls. Any electrical cords that are really thin (and very tempting) should really be hidden whenever possible.
Contact Information
A microchip for your cat is something that you should really consider. Your pet may be an indoor cat, but that doesn’t mean it’ll never dash through your door or slide outside via an open window. Collars and tags can help get your cat home, however cats are experts at wiggling out of these, not to mention the risk they pose if they were to get snagged on a bush or tree branch. A microchip about as big as a grain of rice and holds all the contact information your cat needs. Most vets and all shelters can scan these chips to get your contact information and there is no risk of losing the chip.
Keep smaller children away from pets as they are typically too aggressive. Make sure that you teach your children the proper way to handle a kitten or cat. Give them examples of how to be gentle with it and what should and should not be done. A cat’s bones are not as strong as a dogs, and they should be treated more gently.
Try to figure out why your cat makes meowing sounds. As you develop a relationship with your cat over time, it will become easier to determine why she is meowing. She may be hungry, or she may want you to let her outside. When you understand what each type of behavior indicates, you can improve your relationship.
Do you happen to own both a dog and a cat? Dogs will always try to eat a cat’s food. That’s why you should place your cat’s food in a place which is hard for your dog to reach. This will also prevent squabbles between them.
Litter Box
If your cat relieves itself away from its litter box, do not spring into action with punishment. If your cat makes a mess, it’s probably because their litter box is not properly cared for. If you punish the cat, it may shy away from you at future times.
Acclimate your cat to a cat carrier. Cats can’t be punished like dogs. Cats usually respond well to encouragement. Inside the carrier, put a favorite toy and blanket. Leave it open in an area the cat will see. Soon that cat will walk into the carrier on its own. Once the cat is comfortable with the carrier, you can transport it easily.
New cats are sometimes not welcomed in the home. In the beginning, they may not seem to get along at all. But, eventually, they will get used to the idea, and begin to tolerate, and even enjoy, each other’s company.
Haired Cats
There is more care to consider with long-haired cats. The hair looks good, except when it’s all over your furniture. Unless you have time to dedicate to cleaning up their fur, don’t get long haired cats. It should also be noted that long haired cats are much more susceptible to hairballs.
Make sure you consider where you are going to place the cat’s litter box. You may really want to hide that box from everyday life. However, it is important to keep their litter box in an area they can easily get to. Cats can be finicky, so it is important that you give them an environment they feel comfortable in. If the box is placed on a cold floor, place a mat under it.
One way a dog shows affection for his owner is to wag his tail. Cats move their tails for a very different reason. Tail-wagging in cats tends to suggest conflict or anxiety. If you’re snuggling your kitty and you see its tail wag, it’s a sign you should put it down before you get scratched.
You should have a better idea of how you can take good care of your cat after reading this article. Learn as much as you can about proper pet care and incorporate it into your life. Cats are very sensitive and you should take good care of them. You may even find your best friend in a cat.
