Cats are a fine domestic animal with great abilities and traits. You can find a cat in pretty much every city and in many homes. Living indoors with cats is a different thing completely. These critters can be stubborn little guys and can pose a big challenge to understanding all their little nuances.
Regular visits to the vet will make sure that you cat is as healthy as he can be. They need a check-up one time a year, or more if they require certain shots. Cats need to be seen by a vet right away if there are injuries or health problems that don’t go away.
If your cat ventures outdoors, it’s key to get your cat a collar which has a contact tag. Tags can save you a lot of trouble if your cat gets lost. The tag should have at least the pet’s name and the number where you can be reached.
It’s not easy convincing your pet that the kitchen counter is a no-cats zone. A cat will naturally want to be high enough to view everything around them. One way to combat this behavior is to proved your cat with an elevated place it is okay to climb on. If you don’t want your cats to jump on your counters, you can put a cat condo in or around the kitchen.
Don’t allow your cat to get bored too often. Cats require physical activity. A lot of cat owners do not keep their cats busy. Cats who get bored can actually become depressed or display other undesirable behaviors. Give them toys they can play with, play with them yourself, or at the least give them room to exercise. If your cats are kept inside, set up a carpet lined scratching pad or post. There are many climbing structures that can be purchased or made for cats who enjoy heights.
Chances are, your feline spends many hours grooming himself. When your cat has long hair, this can cause hairballs. There is a special food on the market that does help out with hairball issues. Certain cat foods are formulated to lower the amount of hairballs.
If you’re looking for good prices on cat medications, check online sources. The prices will usually be substantially better than at your vet. When an emergency strikes, however, you may not have the option of buying medications on the Internet. But, for routine medications, this can be a budget-saver.
When getting a little kitty for your kid, set boundaries beforehand. Make sure your children know what rooms the cat can go into and what rooms it can’t. If your have an indoor-only cat, be sure the kids understand that the cat is not to go outside. Creating rules and boundaries will help the children learn what is allowed.
Never make the mistake of leaving a kitten in a room alone with small children. Kids under five should not be left alone with a pet. They are just not mature enough to understand the danger they can pose for the kitten. As they grow, you will be able to decide when it is the right time for them to handle a cat or kitten without supervision.
Does your home feel inundated with balls of cat fur? You have to brush your cat to avoid their shedding. If your cat is a big shedder, you definitely want to brush him often. This will also help their coat from getting tangled or matted.
Help your cat live a longer life by keeping them healthy and keeping them current with check-ups and vaccinations. Just like kids, kittens must have wellness checks and immunizations periodically to keep health issues and diseases from coming up later. Your cat is a family member, so treat them like anyone else you love in your home.
If your pet is avoiding its litter box, try moving it to a different spot. A cat knows that when it’s going to the bathroom it’s in a vulnerable situation, so you should make sure the box is in a calm, secure location. A couple of good places to put your cat box are your basement and laundry room.
Don’t use products with phenol in a house with a cat. This chemical is often in Lysol and certain other regular household cleaners. It causes liver problems in felines.
Cats have shockingly sharp noses, which means they can spot changes in their home with ease. This can be troublesome sometimes if you’re trying to feed the cat new food or give it new toys. If the cat doesn’t like it, don’t be alarmed. They’ll get used to it given time.
Don’t feed your cat too much since this may cause them to acquire health issues later on. Besides putting your cat at risk for obesity, providing it with too much food can open the door to many other health problems. Watch your cat’s portions and make sure that you feed him a well-balanced diet.
Cats often do best indoors where they can be kept safe. Outdoor cats die younger and end up sick quite often. Some diseases and parasites brought home by your cat could even be transmitted to your family. Give your indoor kitty a sunny location, like a window or sun room, to sit in daily in order to help meet his desire to be outdoors.
Outsmarting the cat can turn into an effortless task after you read these tips. Your cat will quickly learn where it is permitted to be and where it is not. Though they aren’t as easily trained and programmed as a dog is, most cats are actually well-trained, well-mannered pets that behave their owners.