Cats are very pleasant and loving animals if you take good care of them. As a cat owner, it is important that you take the time to educate yourself on all of the best cat care tips and advice to ensure that your feline friend enjoys a great life. This article is like a Rosetta Stone of cat care information.
Contact local shelters if you want to adopt a cat. Shelters usually have many cats who need a home, and the fees typically include their shots and spaying or neutering. By choosing a cat from an animal shelter, you can do your part to help with overpopulation. Also, you become a lifesaver!
It’s often cheaper to buy medicine for your cat on the Internet instead of through your vet. In an emergency, this won’t be much help, of course. But, for routine medications, this can be a budget-saver.
Cats enjoy being in high places. To keep your cat healthy, provide your cat with a high place to sit. If a big cat tree is not something that can easily fit in your home, get a sturdy shelf that can be used as a perch. To complete the package, add a cat bed or blanket.
Speak to your peers about your cat issues. Advice from other people can be very beneficial for you. The Internet will allow you to contact many forums and online communities for cat owners. Don’t forget, your vet’s office can also provide sound advice.
Invest in a cat friendly fountain. When cats are in the wild they tend to prefer water that is running when they are thirsty, this applies to cats at home. They are more likely to get plenty of water when it is running. Actually, you will see many cats prefer running tap water from the sink instead of the water bowl. Drinking fountains are more environmentally-friendly and they let your cat drink naturally.
Aired Cats
Prior to adopting any long-haired cat, make sure you understand the extra work involved. There is no denying that long-haired cats are beautiful, but that beautiful coat takes a lot of work and also means a lot of shedding. You should only get a long-haired cat if you are prepared for the extra grooming and cleaning. Long-haired cats are also more prone to hairballs.
Do you feel as if there is cat hair all over the place? Cats are shedding machines, which means you need to brush them to keep the shedding under control. How often and how much your cat sheds can give you a good idea of how often he need to be brushed. This keeps the coat from matting, too.
If you have a pregnant cat ready to birth her babies, be sure she has enough space. It can take several hours for the process to unfold and all kittens to be born, so be prepared to spend some time with your cat. If your cat has still not given birth to all her kittens after six hours, get her to a vet right away.
If you notice your cat is not using the litter box, try moving it to a new location. Cat’s sometimes just don’t like the location you’ve picked for the box. The best places are basements and laundry rooms.
Cat Wags
Dogs will often wag their tails to show their happiness or excitement. When a cat wags its tail, it’s for a completely different reason. When a cat wags its tail, it can mean that it is conflicted or that it is trying to decide if it should run away from a situation or attack. If your cat starts wagging its tail while you hold it, you might want to set it down to avoid getting scratched and swatted.
Cats have a heightened sense of smell, and they can detect environmental changes easily. When you give them a new toy, bed, food or scratching post, this can be an issue. Don’t let this discourage you. As your cat starts to smell new things in the home, it will get into them sooner or later.
If your schedule has changed recently, leaving your cat alone for long periods of time, you may find that your cat will seem lonely or lethargic. One possible solution to ending your cat’s loneliness is to adopt a second cat.
You will notice that veterinarian bills cost a lot over time. You can save money on medications by ordering them online. Some places will even ship the medicine directly to your home. This is very convenient for medications, such as monthly flea treatments or heart worm medications.
Cat care starts with a good education. The best way to learn to be a great cat owner is to read and use the information provided here. If you take good enough care of your cat you can be sure that it has a life that is well worth living.