Cats are beautiful creatures, but they do come with a price tag. Between vet bills, cat food and litter and cat toys, you may need to reconsider if you can afford a cat. With the solid advice below, you will find ways to keep your pet and save some money too.
Get your cat to a vet on a regular basis for the best health possible. Cats should go to a vet at least once each year for a check up, and more frequently for required shots. If there are more pressing health problems, take your cat to the vet right away.
Cats can really scratch up your home. You need to get a scratching post or a cat tower to prevent your cat from ruining your furniture. Teach them to scratch on it instead of your belongings. It may take some time, but will be worth the effort and expense.
Microchips are an increasingly popular form of pet protection. Indoor cats can slip out an open door. Tags and collars are great, but they don’t always stay on your cat. They can also be a risk, should they get snagged on something. Microchips are minuscule, but can hold all the essential information about your cat and its hope. Many vets and shelters have scanners that can read these chips and since they lie under their skin, they won’t get lost.
Some male cats get urinary crystals, but this is preventable with proper diet. If they have to pass the crystals it can cause the cat a lot of pain and paying a vet to help with this can cost you a lot of money. Try to find a cat food that has a low level of magnesium. Read the labels. Fish usually has more magnesium than poultry.
You can often find better deals for cat medicine online rather than buying them from the veterinarian. In emergency situations, buying online may not be a good option. However, for standard medications, like flea medications or heart worm pills, online sources offer a substantial savings to pet owners.
Create a tablecloth for the feline. Certain cats prefer removing their food from their bowl and putting it on the side to eat it. This can result in a mess that needs to be cleaned up. An easy solution to this problem is a placemat underneath the food dish, or a piece of fabric you can easily wash.
When getting a little kitty for your kid, set boundaries beforehand. Let your kids know which rooms your cat is allowed in. If your have an indoor-only cat, be sure the kids understand that the cat is not to go outside. If your children know the rules beforehand, mishaps are less likely.
Cat Outside
Don’t let your cat outside. Cats come to harm outside every day. It takes mere minutes for your cats to pick up fleas, be bitten by a tick or something far worse. Your cat could be injured by other animals, people and vehicles. If you allow your cat outside, make sure you live in a reasonably safe area.
Pets can be pricy to care for and cats aren’t an exception. Cats have complex requirements, which leads many people to compare their needs to those of a small child. As you now know, you can curtail the expenses of having cats while you still get to enjoy giving them good care.
