If you want a great pet, a cat fits that bill. Anyone who is new to cat ownership has come to the right place. Living with a cat is rewarding but does present some responsibilities unique to the cat species. Read on for useful tips.
Check-ups are an absolute must for any pet cat. 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. If you can, stick with one vet for your cat’s entire life. This way, the vet will be very familiar with your cat and its history.
Don’t let your cat’s days pass without stimulation and excitement! Play is important to the health and vitality of your cat. Sadly, this can be easily overlooked. Boredom can beget illness. Give them lots of space for exercise and plenty of toys they can play with. An indoor cat needs a good scratching post.
Cats spend lots of time grooming themselves. However, if it has a lot of hair, hairballs can occur. Buy your cat specialized food to prevent this problem. Some cat food out there has a special formula in it that reduces hairballs. This benefits your pet and you.
Avoid the chance that your male cat will develop crystals in his system that will come out in his urine by feeding a high quality diet. Passing stones or crystals hurts and can cost you a ton in vet bills if they don’t come out naturally. Choose foods low in magnesium for your cat. Check the label. Fish-based foods usually contain more magnesium than poultry-based foods.
Though a veterinarian will almost always have a supply of medications that your cat needs, it can be more cost-effective to purchase them from online venues. Though, in emergency situations, buying online may not be possible. But if you have to regularly buy pet medicine, you can save 50% or more on some medicines by buying online.
Tell your kids what the rules are about your new kitten. Make sure that you let your kids know which areas of the house the cat will be allowed in. If you plan to raise an indoor cat, let your children know that the cat cannot go outside. If you make the rules ahead of time, you can be sure your kids understand them.
Do you have both a cat and dog? Most dogs will not hesitate before munching on your cat’s food. You should keep your cat food away from the dog. That also means they don’t fight about water after eating the food.
If you’re having an issue with your cat, try to get some input from other cat owners. You won’t have the knowledge to handle every cat issue properly, so take advantage of the experiences of others. Your local veterinarian can be a valuable source of information, but there is also help available online by joining user forums geared toward cat owners.
Brush your cat’s fur regularly. Brushing can help to spread the natural oils and stimulate the skin’s blood flow. Furthermore, it helps reduce all the loose hair. This is a good way to avoid hairballs, which are a serious health problem since they can cause choking.
Litter Box
If your cats create messes near the litter box, don’t punish them. When this occurs, it is probably just a sign that the litter box wasn’t properly taken care of. Punishing your cat may cause him to become afraid of you or their litter box.
Increase the variety of food that you give your cat. If they start eating just one type of food without variation, they are sure to grow finicky.
Is your cat peeing all the time, sometimes in places that it shouldn’t? If so, you should talk to your veterinarian. Cats may show this behavior if they develop an infection of the urinary tract, or some other health issue. Certain antibiotics prescribed by your vet can clear up the problem.
Aired Cats
Think about the extra work before buying a long-haired cat. Long-haired cats shed constantly, and the fur ends up on your clothing, floors, and everything else in your home. Unless you’re committed to taking care of the furry mess, avoid getting cat with long hair. Long-haired cats usually suffer from hairball problems too.
Deciding to get a cat is a great choice. Cats provide plenty of affection and stress relief to their owners. However, you must know how to take proper care of your cat if you want to live in peace and harmony. Take the tips above to heart, and carve out a life that the two of you can enjoy.
