If you own a cat, it is a beloved family member. It is important to know how to properly care for your cat, so that it can enjoy a long and happy life. They have needs that are different from dogs, and they should not be treated the same way. Continue reading to learn some excellent cat-care tips.
Prevent your cats from playing with drapery cords. Keep the cat away from these cords as they tend to form loops when the cat is playing around, and it could accidentally go around their neck and strangle them. This is incredibly dangerous as it could be fatal for your cat. To stop this from happening, pin your drapes and hide them out of sight.
Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. Cats should have regular combings. If you do this often, their coat will stay clean. It also reduces their shedding and hairballs. A well groomed cat, then, is a happy and healthy cat.
If you own a female cat, you should have her spayed when she is old enough. If an indoor cat gets out, you may soon have kittens. The best method of stopping this is to have your cat spayed.
You may want to have a microchip implanted in your cat. You may not have had trouble with your cat getting loose previously, but it can happen at any time by accident. 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. Microchips are minuscule, but can hold all the essential information about your cat and its hope. Most shelters have a scanner that can pick up the facts located inside the chip.
Cats can spend hours keeping themselves and their fur clean. If your kitty is a long-haired breed, the result of this might be hairballs. Special food can help. Look for cat food that is designed to minimize hairballs to keep you and your cat happier.
If you’re taking a trip with your cat, be sure to protect its ears. They don’t want to hear you singing at the top of your lungs. To ensure your cat’s trip is pleasant, turn off the music or keep the volume low.
Place a “tablecloth” under your cat’s food bowl. Often cats prefer moving food from a bowl onto the floor to eat. This leaves food on the floor outside their bowl that must be cleaned. To simplify your clean up duties, place a ready made placemat under the dish or purchase some inexpensive fabric and use it like a tablecloth.
When you buy a small kitty for your children, set the boundaries ahead of time. You can then teach your kids which areas your cat can go into. Make sure the kids know if your cat is indoors only. By getting these rules into place before having a cat, you’ll be sure that your children can understand.
Try figuring out why the cat is purring. By paying attention, you should eventually learn why your cat is meowing. Possibilities include that she is hungry or wants to be let outside. You’ll learn her cues quickly.
Cats like to be high up to see the surrounding area. For a truly happy cat, provide a safe place for your cat to survey his surroundings. If you don’t want a large cat tree in your home, a sturdy shelf cleared of breakables will work in a pinch. Additionally, you can place a bed or blanket in this space.
Speak to other people if you’re having cat troubles. Advice from other people can be very beneficial for you. You can find several cat forums online where you can ask questions, or you can choose to simply call your vet for advice too.
To help avoid a finicky cat, feed your cat different brands of cat food. If you feed them the same thing day in and day out, it will be the only thing that they are able to eat later on down the road.
If the cat stops using their litter box all of a sudden, keep an eye on this. There are a number of medical issues that can cause your cat to suddenly stop using their box. A bladder infection is often at the root of the problem. Ask your vet if your cat begins missing the litter box.
If your cat is pregnant, make sure she has plenty of room to give birth. You need to be patient, as it will be three or four hours before all the kittens have been born. If you believe your cat is still giving birth after six hours, you should immediately drive to the vet’s office.
Litter Box
If your feline just won’t use the litter box, try moving it to a different location. A cat’s instinct tells him that eliminating puts him in a vulnerable state, so try putting his litter box in a safe, quiet area of the house. A basement, laundry room, or another area that doesn’t experience much household traffic is the ideal spot for the litter box.
The best way to protect your cat is to ensure that it is properly cared for at all times. Parasites will remain with your cat until taken care of. You can take measures to get rid of or even prevent parasites. This will make life happier for your cat and you, too.