The joys of owning a cat are endless. With great animals comes great responsibility, however, and you are obligated to take care of your pet. Cat owners need to know of the responsibilities that come with having a feline. Luckily, the article below will illustrate exactly what those responsibilities are. Keep reading for some very helpful insights you can apply today.
When looking for a new cat for your home, contact a local animal shelter. Shelters around the country are overflowing, and the cats there need more humans to help. Adoption fees often include things like spaying or neutering them, shots or other vet care. Adopting your cat at a shelter allows you to save a cat’s life while also helping mitigate overpopulation.
Your home likely has no small spaces a curious cat won’t want to investigate. If they have a collar on, this can be dangerous. A collar that will breakaway is the best idea for safety. That’ll keep kitty safe.
Heated tiles are great to put under a cat bed, especially for the comfort of aging felines. Put a square foot of terra cotta tile into your oven heated to 200 degrees. Keep the tile in the oven for about 15 minutes. Use an old towel to wrap around it, then place it beneath the cat’s blanket or bed. Change it out every few hours if you feel the need.
Microchip your cat. Indoor cats could run out your door or jump out the window. Collars or tags can identify your cat, but cats can wiggle out of those, and they are also at risk of getting hung up on something. Your important information can all fit nicely on a rice grain sized microchip. Every shelter and most veterinarian offices have microchip scanners that can read the chips, and best of all, they chips can’t be lost.
Keep your cat active and entertained to avoid boredom. Cats require physical activity. Sadly, this can be easily overlooked. A lack of stimulation can lead to psychological or medical problems for your cat, including depression, compulsive disorders, and chronic misbehavior. Give them enough space to exercise in, with fun toys to keep them entertained. Be sure your cat has something they can climb and something they can scratch if they stay inside.
You can sometimes find better prices for cat medication online than getting it from your veterinarian. When an emergency strikes, however, you may not have the option of buying medications on the Internet. But, if you’re having to buy pet medication regularly, you will be able to save up to half the price if you buy online.
Children usually take well to cats, but if you have a small child, you may need to provide some instruction. Show your kids the proper way to handle cats. Help them learn how to pick up a cat and care for it. Cats have weaker bones than dogs and need more gentle treatment.
If you give your kids a kitten, provide them with firm boundaries at the same time. Explain where the cat is and isn’t allowed. If you want your cat to stay indoors, then the children must understand the seriousness of never letting it out. By making the rules well known to your children, your children will understand what is and is not allowed.
Your cat should be acclimated to a carrier as a kitten. You have to take a different approach to training a cat rather than a dog. Encouragement is a better way to get your cats to perform. Take their favorite blanket and place it within the carrier. Then leave the carrier with the door ajar in a frequented spot. Soon, your cat will naturally enter the carrier. This takes the hassle out of traveling with your cat in its carrier.
Don’t toss an older scratching post just because it looks worn. This is the time when your cats actually most prefer it. Even if you throw it away and buy a new one, your cat may opt for tearing up your upholstery instead.
Owning a cat can be very beneficial. But good care is key to enabling your cat to maximize the duration of its life. Keep this information in mind if you want to bring a cat into your home.