Cats make wonderful pets, but they are expensive to take care of properly. Between vet bills, cat food and litter and cat toys, you may need to reconsider if you can afford a cat. These tip can help you keep your cats and save some money while you care for them.
Contact local shelters if you want to adopt a cat. There are so many great cats at shelters. The fee you will have to pay typically includes vet care. When a cat is adopted from an animal shelter it saves its life and it helps control the cat population.
To help your old cat feel comfy, keep a tile that’s heated under their bed. You should heat a terra cotta tile with your oven, at about 200 degrees, for around fifteen minutes. Keep this underneath your cat’s resting space for extra warmth. If possible, re-heat several times throughout the night.
Generally, cats love to stay on the counter. They love to be able to look around from up high. To help prevent your cat from doing this, you can establish tall places specifically for your cat. A cat tower near your kitchen can give them a place to watch you that is out of the way.
It is a good idea to microchip your cat. You may not have had trouble with your cat getting loose previously, but it can happen at any time by accident. Other measures like tags and collars are better than nothing, but your cat may wriggle out of them or they may be torn off by outdoor hazards. Microchips are very small, approximately as large as a single grain of rice. Although they are small, they can hold your entire contact information. Nearly every vet and shelter owns a scanner which can read a microchip, and since they’re implanted, there isn’t a risk of the chip falling out or getting lost.
Location is key when placing a litter box. Don’t put it close to your cat’s food or in an area that gets too much traffic. You’ll want to place the box in a spot with good ventilation to avoid unpleasant smells. Both you and your cat will reap its benefits.
Cats can be great pets for children, but some younger children may be a bit too rough with cats. Make sure that you teach your children the proper way to handle a kitten or cat. Demonstrate how the cat should be petted and handled and encourage your children to be very gentle. Cats have more fragile bones than dogs so it is important to treat them with care.
Are you the proud owner of both a cat and dog? Dogs take every opportunity they can get to eat the cat’s food. Try locating your cat’s food in an area where the dog cannot go. This will prevent the two from fighting over the water when the food dishes are empty.
Identification Tags
Make sure your cats always have identification tags on. This is crucial even if the cat lives inside. Cats tend to be curious and open doors and windows can be inviting. The identification tags should contain your home phone number and the number for your veterinarian. This is very important if your pet is likely to get lost or has some medical needs.
Cats need to have play in their life. Really play is something that all mammals share, no matter the age. While older cats aren’t near as energetic, they still enjoy playing often. Take the time to play and have a little fun with your kitty.
Check your cat if they suddenly stop using their litter-box. There are many health conditions that can cause your cat to use the restroom in places other than their own litter box. A potential bladder or kidney infection may be the reason for this. You should take your cat to the vet if you think there is something wrong with your pet.
If you have a cat who won’t use the litter box, try moving it someplace else. Cat’s sometimes just don’t like the location you’ve picked for the box. Low-traffic areas like basements and laundry rooms are great places to put the litter box.
Dogs will wag their tails often to show their owners that they’re excited to see them. While cats are also prone to tail wagging, they do it for very different reasons. Cats wag tails if they sense conflict, or if they’re trying to decide whether to fight or flee. If kitty starts wagging his tail while you’re holding him, it’s best to put him down so you don’t get scratched.
Pets can take a lot of money to care for properly, and this includes cats. There are a lot of responsibilities that you will have. As you now know, you can curtail the expenses of having cats while you still get to enjoy giving them good care.