Of all the pets that you could choose to own, cats are on the top of the list. However, if you’re new to cat ownership, you may want to read the paragraphs below. If you have never owned a cat before, read these tips for important information.
You need to take your pet to the vet on a regular basis. Your vet can give you an idea of your cat’s overall health, in addition to administering any shots it may need. When you find a vet you like, stick with them. This ensures that your vet knows your cat’s medical history.
Make sure your cat is not too bored. They need exercise and they get it through play. Sadly, this can be easily overlooked. A lack of stimulation can lead to psychological or medical problems for your cat, including depression, compulsive disorders, and chronic misbehavior. Give them lots of space for exercise and plenty of toys they can play with. Provide them with an indoor climbing area or scratching post.
Cat Outside
If your thinking about allowing your cat to go outside, you may want to reconsider. Letting your cat outside greatly increases his risk level. Fleas can infest your cat, or something worse can happen. There is the possibility they may get injured by another animal, even people and cars too. If you allow your cat outside, make sure you live in a reasonably safe area.
Make sure you are cautious about leaving a young child alone with a small kitten. Under five, the child needs to be watched. They don’t know what harm they can do. When children get a little older, they develop the skills needed to be around small animals.
Seek the advice of others if you have a cat that’s giving you problems. You may wish to deal with it alone, but you may need advice from other cat owners. The Internet will allow you to contact many forums and online communities for cat owners. Don’t forget, your vet’s office can also provide sound advice.
Avoid spending too much time trying to train your cat to utilize its litter box. This is a natural instinct that cannot be taught. A lot of people think that rubbing a cat’s paws in its litter box may help them, but in reality, it can be damaging to them.
Regularly brush your cat’s hair. Brushing spreads natural oils through the fur and also stimulates circulation. Furthermore, it helps reduce all the loose hair. 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.
You don’t want to punish a cat if they do their business outside of their litter box. It might be happening because you aren’t caring for the box good enough. Punishing the cat will only make him afraid to be around you in the future.
Feeding your cat different types of food helps ensure they don’t get finicky. If you start them off eating the same type of food all of the time and you never change it up, this will most likely be the only food they will eat in the future.
Although your cat’s old scratching post may look very worn out, you shouldn’t throw it away. Cats tend to enjoy a scratching toy more after they’ve gotten comfortable with it and made it their own. If you throw it away, you may find your cat scratching on other surfaces.
Cat Needs
Plan on spending the money for good cat food that contains the nutrients that your cat needs. Your cat needs a lot of protein from meat, so read the labels before you choose a food. Avoid foods like corn or other items without protein. Cats are naturally carnivorous. If you want to keep them healthy and happy, you need to feed them plenty of animal protein.
You need to provide your cat with a drinking fountain. Cats out in the wild like to drink from running water, so they would like that at home too. The drinking fountain will look more inviting than a water bowl. Actually, you will see many cats prefer running tap water from the sink instead of the water bowl. A drinking fountain is a more environmentally-friendly way to allow them to drink naturally.
Put a collar around your cat’s neck. Make sure it has your address, phone number and name. Even a house cat may get outside. It that is the case, you should make certain they have the ability to get back home.
If you are getting a pet, cats are a fantastic choice. For many people, a cat’s presence helps to instill a sense of calm and comfort. Having said this, in order to actually enjoy your cat, you need to be aware of how to properly care for for your cat. Be sure to use the advice above so that you and your cat can coexist for years and years.