You have the opportunity to make an animal’s life better. Countless numbers of felines are just waiting for a place to call home. Simply adopt a cat and use this article as your guide to properly caring for it.
Flea Products
Make sure you purchase medicines and treatments specifically for cats. Cats are not the same as dogs, and products meant for dogs can make cats very ill. When it comes to flea products this is particularly true. Flea products that are intended for a dog can kill a cat. If you treat your dog for fleas, make sure you keep the cat away for several hours following the application.
A cat’s claws can cause lots of damage to your home. If you have problems with a cat that shreds furniture, invest in a durable scratching post. Redirect your cat to the scratching post when they start to go after your furniture. Catnip can be put in the posts or on the tower to help train the cat to use it. Be patient, it might take some time for your cat to learn to use the post or tower.
Most cats are very nocturnal. In other words, they’ll be up and about late into the night. If you have trouble sleeping because of cats, you may want to close the door to your bedroom. It also protects your toes from those crafty midnight pounces.
Male cats may develop crystals in the urine, which usually occur as a result of a poor diet. Your cat will experience considerable pain when he has to pass these crystals, and it’s not an easy (or cheap) problem for your veterinarian to fix. Give your cat foods that are low in magnesium. Consult the ingredient list. Cat food with lots of fish tends to have more magnesium, while products with lots of poultry tend to have less.
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. There may be some cases in which you cannot buy online, such as in an emergency. If you regularly need to buy pet medication, you can get a savings of up to 50 percent online.
When your cat accompanies you on a trip, remember to consider the health of their ears. You may think it’s a good idea to listen to loud music on your stereo, but cats generally don’t enjoy this. To ensure your cat’s trip is pleasant, turn off the music or keep the volume low.
Tell your kids what the rules are about your new kitten. Tell your kids which rooms the cat is allowed in. Advise your children not to let the cat out if it is to be an indoor cat. You need to establish some clear rules for your pet and ask everyone to follow them.
Try and figure out why kitty is meowing. If you stay around a cat for a period of time you will figure out what their verbal cues mean. The meows may indicate hunger, happiness, or a desire to go exploring. You should pay attention to these cues and you will eventually learn to decipher them.
Being a good cat owner is something to take pride in. You’re making a conscious decision to love an animal and provide it with the care that it needs to survive. You will develop a strong bond with your cat that will last a lifetime. Be sure you properly care for your cat, and it will also take care of you.