Cats are great, but they’re not cheap to take care of. Between vet bills, cat food and litter and cat toys, you may need to reconsider if you can afford a cat. The following are a few tips that should help you to find more enjoyable, less expensive ways to care for your cat.
Take your cat in for regular vet exams. Your vet will provide your cat with the shots it needs to prevent disease. Your vet can also check the overall health of your cat. For the most consistent pet care, choose one veterinarian and stick with them. They will learn your cat’s history best.
If you own a female cat, make sure the cat is spade when she’s old enough. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands. Getting your cat spayed is a great way to stop this from going on.
Be sure you have a vet that your cat sees regularly so it stays healthy. Cats should go to a vet at least once each year for a check up, and more frequently for required shots. If you notice that your cat appears to be experiencing some sort of illness or injury, do not delay a trip to the vet.
Cat claws are one of the worst enemies of your home and furniture. If your couch is starting to look like it’s been put through a shredder, it’s time to invest in a nice scratching post or cat tower. They can scratch this instead. Eventually it will cause you less of a headache.
Most cats tend towards nocturnal behavior. This means that they will be the most active at night time. If your cat is keeping you up at night, you should close the door to your bedroom. This will stop them from bothering you at night, and playing with your feet beneath the covers.
If your cat is excessively meowing, try to figure out why. As you develop a relationship with your cat over time, it will become easier to determine why she is meowing. She could be trying to tell you she’s hungry or needs to go outside. By giving her the proper amount of attention you can better attend to her needs.
Discuss any issues you have with your pet with others. You may think it’s something you can take care of on your own, but other people that own cats could help. Your vet is a great source of advice, or you can find forums on the Internet to connect with other cat owners.
Litter Box
Do not punish your cat if they make a mess in the area outside of the litter box. If your cat makes a mess, it’s probably because their litter box is not properly cared for. Your cat will become afraid of you if you punish it or scold it too often.
Feeding them lots of different foods can lower their chances of becoming finicky eaters. By giving them one kind of food all the time, it will be all they want to eat.
Cat Needs
Plan on spending the money for good cat food that contains the nutrients that your cat needs. Your cat needs a lot of protein from meat, so read the labels before you choose a food. The foods to avoid are those with a large amount of corn and low amounts of protein. Cats are carnivores and their diet should reflect that.
Cats are a wonderful creature to share your space with, though they can be pricy. Being a cat parent can be labor and time intensive. Fortunately, you have many options for providing essential care to your cat.