Cats are a lot of fun to have around, but they are often quite finicky! Whether your cat needs a special diet or hates to be groomed, you’ll encounter a number of issues while caring for your pet. In the paragraphs below, you’ll find suggestions on how to provide your pet with all it needs.
Drape Cords
Any drape cords should be hidden so the cat cannot grab hold of them. Cats can potentially strangle themselves on these cords so it is important to protect your cat from this potential danger. This may seriously injure or kill your cat. Therefore, ensure that drape cords are pinned away from your cat’s reach.
Don’t use dog portions for your cat. Your cat will have a bad reaction to anything that has been specifically formulated for a dog. Flea products are a prime example. These products can be fatal for your cat. You should keep your cats and dogs separated after using a flea treatment.
You may want to have a microchip put into your car. You may not have had trouble with your cat getting loose previously, but it can happen at any time by accident. Tags and collars may be able to help you get your cat back, but cats can sometimes take these things off or they could get hung up on a tree or something. A microchip is tiny, similar in size to a single rice grain and capable of holding plenty of information. These days, pretty much all shelters and vet offices have scanners that can read these chips, and because they’re beneath your pet’s skin, they won’t ever get lost.
Avoid the chance that your male cat will develop crystals in his system that will come out in his urine by feeding a high quality diet. These crystals can cause a lot of pain to your cat and could end up costing you a lot in medical expenses. Choose a cat food low in magnesium. The best way to find out is to read the label. Avoid fish products.
You need to establish some boundaries if you are getting a cat for your children. Let your children know which rooms their cat can be in. They should know that indoor cats can’t go outside. Creating rules and boundaries will help the children learn what is allowed.
Be very careful about allowing children to be alone with a kitten. A child under five should not be left alone with a pet. They aren’t mature enough in order to handle the potential dangers of a kitten. 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.
Be sure to brush or comb your cat’s fur on a regular basis. This can help spread their fur’s natural oils around and stimulate blood flow to their skin. Furthermore, it helps reduce all the loose hair. Avoid the choking that can be a result of hairballs which slowly build up as your cat grooms himself.
When your cat makes a mess somewhere other than their litter box, don’t get mad. Check out the box instead and see if it has been neglected; this is often a cause of accidents. The cat will be fearful of you if you punish it.
Don’t get rid of an old scratching post. Cats prefer used scratching posts. If you replace it with something new, your pet might seek out something a little more worn to scratch – like your furniture.
Feed canned food to your cat. Dry food is usually cheaper, but canned food boasts a number of benefits. The water content is higher, and there is more protein and fat in the canned food. For aging cats, it is also easier to chew. Speak with your veterinarian before making any major changes, however in general, canned food is better for your cat.
There is a lot of responsibility involved with a long-haired cat. Silky, long hair can be stunning, but that fur won’t look as pretty when it’s on your sofa, clothes, and carpet. Don’t get such a cat unless you are prepared for the extra commitment they take over regular cats. Also, cats with long hair tend to have frequent hairball issues.
Do you see cat hair everywhere you look? Cats are shedding machines, which means you need to brush them to keep the shedding under control. If your cat is shedding a lot, you should brush them more frequently. Brushing is a good way to keep your cat’s coat from getting matted and tangled.
Caring for a cat may seem easy, and if you are lucky it is, but many needs lots of attention from regular check-ups at the vet. With the suggestions provided above, you’ll be in a better position to address your feline friend’s needs and even anticipate them before they can cause problems. Do more research on the different things you can do to keep your cat happy and healthy.