Like people, cats require balanced diets with good nutrition. If your cat’s diet isn’t up to par, they may become overweight or malnourished. You will learn a lot about caring for your feline friend if you read this article.
A vet trip should happen for your cat yearly. Your vet can give you an idea of your cat’s overall health, in addition to administering any shots it may need. Try keeping the same vet throughout your cat’s life. They will understand your cat and its issues better this way.
Flea Products
Never use something that is intended for a canine on your feline. This can irritate your cat or cause an allergic reaction. Flea products should not be used on cats in any circumstance. Canine flea products can be lethal to a cat. You need to separate your pets when you treat them for fleas.
A tagged collar is essential if you let your cat outside regularly. If your cat gets lost during its time outdoors, a tag makes it easier to locate the animal. At the very least, you should include your contact info and the name of your cat on the tag.
Don’t let your cat’s days pass without stimulation and excitement! They need exercise and they get it through play. Sometimes, cat owners don’t realize this. Cats who become bored often have issues that can affect them in a big way. Some of these issues are obesity due to eating out of boredom, OCD issues, fighting with other pets and depression. Give them time and space where they can exercise and toys they can play with. Provide them with an indoor climbing area or scratching post.
Some male cats get urinary crystals, but this is preventable with proper diet. If they have to pass the crystals it can cause the cat a lot of pain and paying a vet to help with this can cost you a lot of money. Give your cat foods that are low in magnesium. Be sure that you read the label. Fish products tend to be higher in magnesium than poultry products.
You should try your hardest to figure out the reason that you are hearing your cat meow. As you develop a relationship with your cat over time, it will become easier to determine why she is meowing. She could be signaling that she is hungry, or she might want to go outside. Getting to know your cats cues will help you to interpret her meows.
Cats like to be up high. A cat will only be happy if you give it a safe spot to look over everything. If you don’t want a large cat tree in your home, a sturdy shelf cleared of breakables will work in a pinch. For an additional treat, put a little bed or blanket in there, too.
Cat Owners
If your cat experiences major problems, don’t be afraid to talk to other cat owners. Other cat owners may have had experience with what you’re going through right now. Participate in online discussion boards for cat owners, or pick up the telephone and speak with your vet.
If your cats create messes near the litter box, don’t punish them. Most of the time when this happens, it is because you are not taking proper care of the box. If you punish your cat for this, it will fear you later in the future.
Carriers are great devices for you to have as a cat owner. Understand that cats don’t react to punishment as well as dogs. Cats usually respond well to encouragement. Put a nice blanket inside the carrier then leave it where the cat is most often. Eventually, the cat will go into the carrier naturally and feel comfortable. Once this is achieved, you can transport your cat inside the carrier much easier.
A battered appearance isn’t a good reason to discard a beloved cat condo or scratching post. This is the condition that cats most appreciate. If you throw it away too soon, that cat may look to your furniture for some clawing while it slowly breaks in a new scratching post.
Your cat should be given food from a can. Dry food is less expensive, but there are added benefits to be had in canned cat food. Your cat can get more water, fat and protein from canned food. It’s easier for older cats to chew as well. Talk to the veterinarian prior to making any big changes; but, usually, canned food is best for your cat.
Getting a second cat is usually beneficial to both, but you have to give the two cats a few weeks to get acclimated to each other. They may fight with each other initially. Give them a bit more time to begin to get used to each other face to face, too.
Some foods that you like to consume daily might not be good for your cat to eat. Onions, garlic, grapes and green tomatoes are among these foods. Even a little taste of these foods can make your cat seriously sick. Your cat should also steer clear of dairy products.
Never have a declawed cat to spend time outdoors. They can’t defend themselves against other animals and cats, which can risk injuries or death. Indoor cats are the only ones that you should declaw. However, you should still only remove the cat’s front claws. There is no need to remove the back claws since the cat does not use them when clawing furniture or fabric.
A cat’s diet is important to its overall health. A diet with an overabundance of bad food or even just minimal amounts of right foods can leave your cat unhealthy, unhappy and even dead too early. This article should have shown you all you need to know.