Owning a cat is a lot of fun. That said, they’re not easy to care for. There are a variety of important responsibilities that all cat owners must understand. Thankfully, this piece will explain some of these responsibilities. Keep on reading for excellent information on caring for your pet.
Taking your cat to the vet is part of being a responsible pet owner. They should have a routine check-up once a year or more if important shots are due. If there are obvious issues with your cat, it needs to see the vet immediately. Don’t wait!
It can be tough to keep cats off the countertops. Cats instinctively want to be at a high vantage point so they can survey their surroundings. One way to nip this problem in the bud is to give your cat a dedicated perch of their own as an alternative to using your space. If you place a cat tower around the kitchen area, they may be less likely to lay on your counters.
Give your kitty lots of love. Cats are by nature companion animals, but that companionship goes two ways. Like people, cats like to socialize and need to feel like they’re an essential part of your life. They’ll know they are accepted as members of the family if they get plenty of loving attention.
If you want to let your cat outside, think again. It can be unsafe. You cat can get fleas and contract diseases. Your cat might be injured by people, other animals and even vehicles on the road. If they have to go outside, make sure it’s a small area like your lawn or backyard.
Always watch a kitten around small kids. Up until your child is five, children shouldn’t be alone with your pet. These children just do not possess the maturity to handle a kitten. They aren’t aware of the danger that they can cause to it. As kids age, you can then determine whether they are mature enough for small pets.
Brush your cat daily. This keeps the fur well oiled and the skin healthy. As an added bonus, it cuts down on loose fur. This is a good way to avoid hairballs, which are a serious health problem since they can cause choking.
Mix up the food you feed your cat to avoid them becoming a picky eater. If they eat the same food all the time without changing it, that may be the only one they’ll eat later on.
Is there cat hair all over every surface in your home? Cats shed considerably; therefore, it is very important you brush them frequently. The more your cat sheds, the more often you want to give them a good brushing. This will make your cat’s coat nice and smooth.
Litter Box
Pay attention if your cat won’t use their litter box. Lots of cat conditions will make it difficult for a cat to defecate or urinate in their litter box. Kidney, bladder and infection issues can make this occur. When your cat stops using the litter box regularly, a call to the vet is definitely in order.
Happy dogs wag their tail. Cats wag their tail for a different reason. Tail-wagging in cats may indicate conflict. If you notice you cat begin to wag his tail when you are holding him, put him down to be sure you are not scratched or swatted.
Give your cat a collar with your contact information. Even a cat you plan to keep indoors can sometimes get out or get lost. If this occurs, you must be sure that your animal can find its way home.
Don’t use chemicals near your cat that have phenol. Phenol is typically found in cleaning products such as Pine-Sol and Lysol. It causes liver problems in felines.
Preventing hairballs can help keep your cat sanitary and safe. You can try adding a teaspoon or so of pumpkin to your cat’s food. Flavor the pumpkin with a teaspoon of the water from a can of tuna. Some cat foods also contain a component for anti-hairballs, generally extra fiber, which may resolve the problem.
Keep your cat on a diet of dry food if at all possible. Kittens need some wet food because they have very small teeth. As they get older and get adult teeth, they will have stronger teeth by eating dry food. You can also mix wet and dry food together if your cat is really picky.
Cats can get sick, too. Pay attention to changes in your cat’s mood and behavior as they may be a sign your cat is feeling poorly. Bring him or her to the veterinarian if this is the case. It can be dangerous to avoid taking your cat to the vet when it is sick because there may be serious conditions that need checking. A vet can check for these.
Keep your cat inside if you don’t want him getting fleas, rabies or anything else. While issues can affect your cat while inside as well, you run the risk of more when you offer outside as an option.
Cat ownership brings many benefits. Of course, the only way to experience this is to provide everything your cat needs to be healthy and happy. Take heed of the advice you’ve just been given if you’re going to bring a kitty home.