Cats are wonderful pets. They have an independent nature, so they are fine if you are busy and are gone to work during the day. The following article will teach you what you need to know to take good care of your pet.
Keep your drapery cords out of the reach of your cat. Don’t let the cat play with them since they can jump into them or play with them and get them around their neck if they have loops. This could really hurt or possibly kill them. Keep all drape cords out of reach as a preventative measure.
Spay your cat as soon as she is old enough. Even if you own an indoor cat, it might produce many kittens if it escapes during mating season. Getting your cat spayed is the best in regards to prevention.
Make sure your cat sees a vet regularly to maintain their good health. Your cat should have a health check yearly, but should go in more if your cat needs 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.
Litter Box
Put the litter box in an ideal location. Place the litter box away from high traffic areas. Additionally, the litter box should be placed away from your cat’s food and water. Also make sure the area is well ventilated to keep the smell to a minimum. This will keep both you and your cat happy.
Be sure you show your cat lots of love. Cats are by nature companion animals, but that companionship goes two ways. Your cat needs to socialize and get plenty of attention from everyone in your family. They need to feel as though they are an important part of the family, as well.
Male cats sometimes have crystals in their urine, but this can be prevented with the right cat food. This problem is painful for the cat and to your wallet, as well. Food with a low magnesium content will help. Go over the label carefully. Fish-based foods usually contain more magnesium than poultry-based foods.
When you purchase a kitten for your child, set rules and boundaries beforehand. Let your kids know where the cat can go. If you’re planning to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that the cat is not allowed to be outside. Your children will be able to understand the rules more easily if they know them ahead of time.
There is no need to spend hours trying to litter train your cat. Using the litter box will come naturally to your cat. You may have heard that rubbing your cat;s paws in litter will help them learn, but that may have a traumatizing effect.
Make sure that you brush your cat’s coat often. This can help spread their fur’s natural oils around and stimulate blood flow to their skin. As an added bonus, it cuts down on loose fur. Doing so reduces the occurrence of hairballs, which are a choking risk. It also benefits the cat’s stomach by reducing the animal’s need to clean itself.
Don’t throw away your cat’s old scratching post. This is the condition that cats like the most. Something new is not necessarily better for a cat, and it may lead them to scratching the furniture.
If you wish to add another cat to your home, give it a couple weeks for your old cat and your new cat to grow accustomed to each other. Two cats may fight, hiss, or hide from each other until they become more comfortable. Eventually, they become used to each other and are comfortable together.
Do not use chemicals around your cat that contain phenol. This chemical is often found in cleaning products such as Pine-Sol and Lysol. The smell from this chemical is disliked by cats. Also, when exposed to phenol for too long, it can cause issues with their liver.
Health Problems
It is crucial that you never make the mistake of giving your cat any medications that are meant for human use. If your cat has any health problems, you should take them to the vet and administer whatever he provides. Drugs and medicines designed for human consumption can cause serious health problems for cats, and in extreme cases, can even be fatal.
Cats have shockingly sharp noses, which means they can spot changes in their home with ease. When you offer a new feeding bowl, cat condo, or bedding, your cat may resist. Don’t get discouraged if you find that your cat is not interested in these things right away. As the smell of your home gets onto the items, they’ll warm up to them.
Cats do best on a diet high in dry food. Small kittens do well on wet food, since their teeth are small. As they get older and get adult teeth, they will have stronger teeth by eating dry food. If you have an extremely finicky cat, you could mix dry and wet food together.
Cats are wonderful pets, as they are smart, loveable, and independent. All cat owners should know how to care for their cats in the best ways. Use the information you have learned in this article as a guide to communicating better with your cat. This way, your cat can enjoy a fun and fulfilling life.
