Many people really are not prepared for the full responsibility of cat ownership. It is a serious mistake to bring a pet home without first preparing yourself and your home. However, it is impossible to anticipate every problem that can arise when you bring home a frisky feline. You should keep reading to learn more about how you can properly care for your cat.
Drapery Cords
Keep your cat away from your drapery cords. If the cat becomes caught in a loop, they could choke to death. They could be seriously hurt or even killed. Make sure drapery cords are kept back to avoid this.
If you want a cat to feel like it’s more comfortable, a heated tile may be able to help. Allow a terra cotta tile to heat in an oven for 15 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Use an old towel to wrap around it, then place it beneath the cat’s blanket or bed. Change it frequently if you like.
If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. Cats love to roam, so you need to give someone who finds your cat a way to contact you. You have to be sure you have your pet’s name and number written on the tag.
It may prove quite a challenge to make your cat stay off counter tops. Cats love being up high so that they can see. To help prevent your cat from doing this, you can establish tall places specifically for your cat. For example, give them a cat tower nearby.
Never let a cat become bored. Play is important to the health and vitality of your cat. This is sadly overlooked by some cat owners. Cats that are bored may develop obsessive compulsive disorders, depression, or other issues that can harm their health. Provide them with space to exercise and lots of toys to play with. Indoor cats will be happier if you provide them with climbing resources and practical things such as scratching posts.
Try not to let your cat go outside. It can be unsafe. Your cat may get fleas or something even worse than that. Other animals, cars and people can hurt your cat. If your cat has to be outside, make sure it is only in a small area near the house.
Never make the mistake of leaving a kitten in a room alone with small children. Children under five years of age should not be left alone with a kitten. They aren’t mature enough in order to handle the potential dangers of a kitten. As a kid ages, they can show maturity with handling a little pet.
Cats love to be high up. Allow them the space they need to feel safe while checking their world out. If you don’t wish to have a big cat tree inside your house, try a sturdy shelf made of breakables. You could even place a small bed or blanket on the shelf to make your cat feel more comfortable.
If you offer a variety of foods to your cat, it will be less picky about what it eats. If they only eat the same food, they may never eat another food in the future.
You should not get rid of your cat’s old scratching post. This is the condition that cats like the most. If you replace it with something new, your pet might seek out something a little more worn to scratch – like your furniture.
You should feed your cat food out of a can. Dry food may cost less, but canned food has more benefits. Canned foods are also richer in fat, proteins and will help hydrate your cat. For older cats, canned food chew easier. Speak with the vet, but food in cans tends to be better.
Anytime you get a new pet, you must introduce them to your cat slowly to help to avoid problems and let the cat get used to it. Keep them separated for at least two weeks, but let them sniff at each other under a closed door. They might have conflict, hide from each other or swat one another. Eventually they will grow accustomed to it and start tolerating or even enjoying each other’s company.
Your cat should be kept healthy so that it can live a longer life. This can be done by making sure the cat is checked on by a vet and it has its shots. Kittens need proper medical care just like young children, and its best to bring them in every so often for health checks to ensure nothing terrible is going on. Your cat is a family member, so treat them like anyone else you love in your home.
If you have been at home with your cat for an extended period and then return to work, it is quite possible that your cat will show signs of loneliness. In order to prevent them from becoming too lonely whenever you’re away, consider adopting a second cat.
These tips should be useful whether you have a Siamese kitten or an old Bengal. You also need to get to know your cat better so you can adapt to its needs and habits. Remember to enjoy your new kitten because that’s the most important part of the process.
