Feral cats are ones that don’t have a home and live on the streets. It is important to learn as much as you can about these creatures to assure you have the best relationship possible. Dealing with these cats is a problem that costs businesses thousands and loses customers all year long.
Make sure your cat is regularly visiting the vet for checkups. Not only will a veterinarian give a general physical exam, he or she will also make sure they have necessary vaccinations. Try to stay with the same veterinarian throughout your pet’s life. This one vet will be aware of the cat’s history.
Cats will try to get into many different crevices. A collar can be a dangerous thing to wear in such a place. A collar that is a breakaway model will detach itself if it gets pulled on. It can really be a life saver for your cat.
If you have an old cat, you can help make its bed more comfortable by placing heated tiles underneath it. Use a 12″ terra cotta tile and heat it by putting it in a 200ºF oven for 20 minutes. Wrap the tile inside an unneeded towel and place it under your kitty’s favorite resting spot. If possible, re-heat several times throughout the night.
Your home furnishings can fall victim to your cat’s sharp claws. Purchase a scratching post to stop your cat from destroying your home. They can scratch this instead. This solution might take time to take, but it will help in the end.
It can be hard to make your cat stay off the counter. After all, cats prefer to stay high so that they can keep an eye out on everything. You may mitigate the problem by providing designated heights for them to use. For example, give them a cat tower nearby.
Put a cloth down in your cat’s eating area. Sometimes cats prefer to remove food from their bowls and eat it from the floor. This makes quite a mess. Simply place a cloth placemat that will grab at the food under their plate and then shaken out over the trash. You can put a vinyl one underneath that can be picked up wiped down easily if you prefer.
Rules Ahead
If you get a small kitten for your children, make sure they understand the rules ahead of time. Let your children know which areas of the house are off-limits for the cat. If you’re planning to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that the cat is not allowed to be outside. If you make the rules ahead of time, you can be sure your kids understand them.
Try not to let your cat go outside. There are many dangers to your cat outside. Your cat may get fleas or something even worse than that. They can get in a fight or be hit by a car. If letting your cat outdoors is important to you, let them out in a safe fenced area.
You cannot teach a cat to use a litter box. This comes naturally – you can’t teach it. It’s not a good idea to rub your cats paws in litter. Some people think this is the way to train. It isn’t.
Litter Box
Carefully consider where you will locate your cats’ litter box. You may want to hide it away. It is equally important that the litter box is readily accessible to your cat, though. Your cat will use the litter box if it is placed in a quiet place and away from smells your cat does not enjoy. If you keep the litter box on a cold cement floor, put a mat or rug down underneath it.
Keeping vaccinations up-to-date is the way to make sure your cat lives longer and more healthy. Stick to regular check-ups. Your cat needs to get some shots regularly to prevent different illnesses and parasites. You love your cat, so take the best care of him as possible.
Be aware of your cat stopping their litter box usage. When cats are suffering from something, they may end up going to the restroom randomly outside of their box. Kidney, bladder and infection issues can make this occur. Speak with your vet if your pet stops using the litter box.
If your feline friend is having kittens, make sure to give her lots of room to birth in. Giving birth to all the kittens can take hours, so you shouldn’t expect things to be over and done with quickly. If it has been more than six hours and you believe more kittens are still inside your cat, you need to get her to the vet right away.
If you can, keep your cat inside and close to you. Cats trained to live inside instead of outside live longer according to certain studies. Outdoor cats can be attacked by other animals and exposed to many harmful influences. Play with your cat daily to give it adequate exercise.
Your cat needs to eat dry food most often. Kittens need wet food since they have tiny teeth. As an adult, the harder texture of dry food keeps their teeth strong. If you have a cat that is a picky eater, try combining dry cat food with a wet version.
Now you should have no trouble helping your cat to have the best life it possibly can. Cats often attack other pets and tear up your gardens if you don’t watch out. It takes a certain level of basic preparation and know-how to handle a cat properly. When you discover the perfect cat to join your family, you had best be ready for it!