Cats are a wonderful thing to behold. However, caring for a cat can be difficult if you are not well-informed about proper cat care. Continue reading to learn all you can about having a pet cat.
Be sure your cat gets regular checkups at the vet. They need a check-up one time a year, or more if they require certain shots. If a condition, illness, or injury happens, your cat should be taken to the vet immediately.
Flea Products
It is not safe to use dog products for your feline friend. Cats are known to have severe negative reactions when exposed to products designed for dogs. Be very careful with the flea products you use. These dog flea products can even cause feline death. Actually, it is best to separate the cat from the dog once the flea problem has been treated.
Create a little tablecloth for your cat. Some cats like removing food from their bowl and eating it beside their bowl. That can mean a bigger mess for you to clean. An easier way to do that is to either buy a placemat and put it underneath the cat bowl, or to cut a bit of fabric to use as a tablecloth that you can pick up and wash or shake over the garbage can.
Do you have a cat and a dog? Dogs often take advantage of dining on the cat’s food. That’s why you should place your cat’s food in a place which is hard for your dog to reach. The added benefit is that you will prevent fights over the other animals food and water when one of them runs out.
Cat Owners
When something seems amiss with your feline friend, speak with other cat owners. Although you might want to attempt to handle the problem yourself, other cat owners can provide you with excellent advice that may help you to resolve it. Participate in online discussion boards for cat owners, or pick up the telephone and speak with your vet.
Cats do not need to be taught how they should use the cat litter box. Using the litter box is instinctual for cats, and they require no training. A common misconception is to rub your cats paws into the kitty litter however this isn’t a good idea.
Brush your cat’s coat often. This will help stimulate blood flow. It also loosens hair that is about ready to fall out. Loose hair causes hairballs, a common problem for cats. The hair enters the pet’s stomach and they later cough it up.
Reduce the chances of raising a finicky cat by feeding them several brands of food while they are young. If you feed them the same cat food every day, they may not accept anything else. This makes it difficult to find food they’ll eat when a store runs out of a certain brand, or you are traveling.
Drinking Fountain
Think about getting a drinking fountain for your cat. Cats normally look to drink from running water. This is true in the wild or at home. Your cat, if its like most, will really respond to this running water. Cats often like the running water more than their own bowl of water. A drinking fountain will be good for the environment and can help the cat to enjoy its water more.
There is a lot of responsibility involved with a long-haired cat. That hair will truly get everywhere! Only choose a cat with long hair if you can clean up after it consistently. Also, give them the right food which is anti-hairball.
You should worry if your cat is no longer using its litter box. There are a number of health conditions that can make your kitty urinate and go to the bathroom in places other than the litter box. For example, the behavior may be caused by an infection of the kidneys or bladder. When your cat stops using the litter box regularly, a call to the vet is definitely in order.
Dogs wag tails out of joy. When a cat wags its tail, it means something very different. For cats, tail-wagging usually indicates some type of conflict or that he is deciding whether or not to attack or flee from a situation. If kitty starts wagging his tail while you’re holding him, it’s best to put him down so you don’t get scratched.
Don’t use chemicals near your cat that have phenol. Lysol and Pine-Sol are two examples of products that contain this chemical. The smell offends them and being exposed to it for several hours can cause liver problems.
If hairballs are a problem that brushing won’t solve, there are some other things you can try. Add one teaspoon of pumpkin to your cat’s food. You may also use some tuna packing water to mix with your pumpkin. Some cat foods have components, such as fiber, that prevent hairballs.
You should reconsider a choice of providing table scraps to your cat. Human food is just that, meant for humans. It contains ingredients that aren’t meant for cats. If you really want to treat your cat, try a tablespoon or so of cooked chicken or beef, or a little egg. So long as you are feeding your cat the correct food according to their weight and age, their diet is good.
Stray cats should no longer be a problem after reading this article. You will find that a fun cat is a great addition to your family. Therefore, give your cat as much love as possible. When you discover the perfect cat to join your family, you had best be ready for it!