Cats are pretty awesome. A blend of inquisitiveness, autonomy, and intelligence creates a charming companion. But, it’s not so simple to take proper care of a cat. Read the following article for an education on cat care.
If you’re thinking of getting a cat for a pet, you should look to the local shelter. Many shelters are overcrowded with lovable and adoptable cats. Adopting your cat at a shelter allows you to save a cat’s life while also helping mitigate overpopulation.
Regular vet visits are very important for your cat’s health. Cats should go to a vet at least once each year for a check up, and more frequently for required shots. If your cat is having a health issue or injury, they need to be seen by their vet right away.
Microchip your cat. Even though a cat may live inside, you never know if it will run out the door to escape. Even if you put a collar or tag on your cat, be careful as they can wiggle out of these very easily and can be dangerous if they get caught on a foreign object like a tree branch. Microchips are as small as a rice grain and have all of your important contact information. The majority of veterinarians possess scanners that can read your chips. Because these chips are placed underneath your cat’s skin, they won’t get lost.
Most cats are nocturnal. The result is that cats prefer to be more active during the night. Shut the door to your bedroom. This helps to muffle the sounds of nighttime play. This can keep them from waking you up at night and from pouncing on feet under the blankets.
Be sure to show your cat affection as much as possible. Cats give us a lot of love, and they deserve to be loved back. Without love, cats may not socialize with your family. They wish to be a happy and valuable family member.
Do you have both a cat and dog? Dogs will generally try to eat the cat’s food whenever the opportunity comes along. Consider placing the cat food on a location away from where the dog can reach. This is a good way to keep your pets from fighting over food and water.
Keep a collar with ID on your cat. This is even true for indoor cats. Cats can be very curious and they may escape out of a door or a window. The tag should have your name and address and also your vet’s. This is very critical if your feline has specific medical issues.
There is more care to consider with long-haired cats. That hair will truly get everywhere! You must be willing to spend more time cleaning your home. There will be hairball issues as well.
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. The cat has to be able to easily access the box. Cats tend to be finicky, so you’ll want to provide a location that isn’t off-putting to your cat. Keep this in mind when deciding on the permanent placement for your best friend’s potty.
Take your cat for checkups and vaccinations on a regular basis to keep him healthy and strong. Just like with having kids, young cats need to be checked on to see if they’re doing okay from time to time. It also needs its shots so that you can avoid problems later on down the road. Your cat will be a part of your home and that means it should be treated as good as you would treat a family member.
Litter Box
Be aware whenever your cat suddenly quits using its litter box. Some feline health problems may cause your cat to refuse to use their litter box. Bladder troubles, kidney ailments, or infections can all cause this sort of behavior. Contact your veterinarian if your pet abandons its litter box.
As you can now see, a cat can be the best pet you’ve ever had. Carefully read over the advice found in this article. Put the information to good use for your kitty friend so that you can have them in your life for many years to come.