It isn’t easy to adopt a cat and quickly get up-to-speed on how to care for it. When one adopts unprepared, bad things can happen. But because they are curious creatures, some mishaps will still occur even with planning. The best plan is to use the tips in this article to prepare yourself and then expect to be surprised.
You should make sure your cat stays groomed properly. Brushing is a very important component towards taking care of your cat. This leads to a cleaner cat. This will also reduce things like shedding and hairballs because it keeps them from having extra hair. Regularly grooming your cat will help keep it and your home looking great.
Be sure you have a vet that your cat sees regularly so it stays healthy. They should have regular check ups annually, and more appointments should be made if they need to get important shots. Never hesitate to have your cat checked out if you think that something is wrong; remember that your cat can not tell you they are not feeling well.
If your cat ventures outdoors, it’s key to get your cat a collar which has a contact tag. Cats can go far from home and without a tag they could become lost forever. The tag should contain at least the cat’s name and your contact information.
Electrical Cords
Spray electrical cords with some bitter apple to prevent cats from getting electrocuted. If this does not work, make sure you cover the cords. If you have loose electrical cords, you can bundle them up and stow them away in a cardboard tube (think toilet paper or paper towel rolls). Electronics with thin cords must be put out of reach when they aren’t being used.
When it comes to litter boxes, placement is everything. It should not be placed in a high traffic area, and it should be far away from the cat’s food. Additionally, don’t make the mistake of putting it in a poorly-ventilated area, or the smell will become overpowering. Your cat will certainly appreciate your efforts, and you will too!
If your cat is male, understand that he could develop crystals inside his urine, which can be very painful to him. Therefore, prevent this issue from occurring in the first place by feeding your cat the right type of food. A cat passing the crystals can be very hurtful with an expensive vet bill to boot. Choose a cat food with low magnesium content. Look over the label. Fish products tend to be higher in magnesium than poultry products.
If you’re taking a trip with your cat, be sure to protect its ears. You may prefer loud music as you drive down the freeway, blasting your stereo, but your feline friend likes softer sounds better. This means that you should keep your music turned down or off so the cat can relax.
Do you have both a cat and dog? Most dogs will not hesitate before munching on your cat’s food. This makes it a good idea to have a cat feeding place high up enough that your dog can’t get to it. This will help you to be sure that the animals won’t fight over the water either after they’ve eaten all their food.
Think twice before leaving a child alone with a kitten. If a child is under the age of five, you should not leave the pet alone with them. They simply lack the maturity to comprehend the harm they can potentially do to kittens. As they grow, you will be able to decide when it is the right time for them to handle a cat or kitten without supervision.
The tips you just read over can help any cat owner, no matter what their cat’s breed is. You have learned fundamental ideas on how to raise a happy and healthy cat; however, understand that all cats are different, and you will have to continually change your strategy. If you’re not having fun after you adopt a cat, there is a serious problem.