Cats don’t have to compete with any other animal and they are great to have around your house because of a few reasons. Apart from the affection they give, cats also serve a practical purpose by keeping pests out of the house. To learn more about properly caring for your cat, keep reading.
Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. Brush your cat’s fur often to help it be shiny and healthy. Doing it constantly can help you keep their coats clean. It also reduces their shedding and hairballs. Regularly grooming keeps cats looking well and keeps your home neater.
Cats can get into even the tiniest of spaces. If they have a collar on, this can be dangerous. The advantage to a breakaway type collar is that if enough pressure is put on it, it will just let go rather than strangle the cat. This can help to save a couple of your cat’s nine lives.
A tagged collar is essential if you let your cat outside regularly. Cats enjoy traveling far away, so a tag can help your cat get back home when lost. Be sure the name of your cat and your number can be found on the tag.
Electrical Cords
Prevent your cat from chewing on electrical cords by spraying bitter apple on them. If your cat likes to chew cords, hide the cords as best you can. If you have loose electrical cords, you can bundle them up and stow them away in a cardboard tube (think toilet paper or paper towel rolls). If you have rarely used electronics, put them up when you aren’t using them.
It’s not easy to keep cats off counters. One thing they like about it is they enjoy being high up. One way to nip this problem in the bud is to give your cat a dedicated perch of their own as an alternative to using your space. A carefully placed cat tower in the kitchen will keep cats away from the counter.
Keep your cat active and entertained to avoid boredom. Every cat needs exercise time and play! The unfortunate thing is that many owners of cats don’t realize this. Bored cats tend to develop emotional and mental disorders that may negatively impact their health. Give them room to play and a large number of toys. If they are indoors, give them a scratching post or something to climb on.
A proper diet for male cats will help prevent kidney problems that cause them to pass crystals with their urine. These crystals can cause a lot of pain to your cat and could end up costing you a lot in medical expenses. Keep your cat’s diet low in levels of magnesium. Look over the label. Cat food with lots of fish tends to have more magnesium, while products with lots of poultry tend to have less.
If you’re traveling with your cat, take care to remember their ears. Cats tend to prefer gentle sounds during the day. Therefore, keep your music or other sounds at an acceptable level.
Make sure you are cautious about leaving a young child alone with a small kitten. A child less than five years old should not be left alone with a small pet. They don’t know what harm they can do. As a kid ages, they can show maturity with handling a little pet.
Litter Box
Don’t try and teach your kitty how the litter box is supposed to be used. This is natural to them and does not need to be taught. While many pet owners try to introduce their cats to a litter box by rubbing their front paws in the sand, this can sometimes traumatize your furry friend.
You should brush your cat on a regular basis. Brushing improves the circulation of your cat and helps spread natural oils in the fur. It can also reduce the amount of loose hair they have. Brushing eliminates the formation of hairballs which may choke your cat and lead to buildup of excess hair in the abdomen when the cat grooms himself.
Never punish a cat for a mess outside of its box. If your cat makes a mess, it’s probably because their litter box is not properly cared for. If you attempt to punish your pet, you may cause fear and resentment–and more accidents!
It would be a good idea for your cat to get used to a pet carrier. Cats just don’t respond like dogs do when it comes to punishment. Encouragement is more likely to get them to respond. Put the carrier in a comfortable place and fill it with treats and toys. The cat will eventually get into it and feel comfy. It will be simpler to transport them using the carrier.
When you bring a second cat into your home, allow a few weeks for the two to adjust to each other. In the early days, you may see a lot of posturing from the cats including hissing and swatting at each other. But, eventually, they will get used to the idea, and begin to tolerate, and even enjoy, each other’s company.
If you are considering a long-haired cat breed then you should also consider the extra maintenance required. Although it may look nice, it will look much worse when it sheds all over your home. Unless you’re committed to taking care of the furry mess, avoid getting cat with long hair. More, and longer hair, usually means more hairballs too.
Cats are great mousers. There is no doubt that a cat has wonderful hunting skills, and can be a lot more agile than their canine friends. Use the tips above to care for your hunter pet.
