Cats are a superb specimen of physical power, mental awareness, and tactile agility amongst domesticated animals. Cats grace the homes of people from all walks of life, and fill communities with life and energy. That said, having a cat in your home is very different! These critters can be stubborn little guys and can pose a big challenge to understanding all their little nuances.
Keep your cat away from your drapery cords. Cats should not be allowed to play with these cords, as they can get parts of their body stuck in the cord loops. This is an extreme choking hazard and should be prevented at all costs. To prevent this from happening, keep any drape cords pinned away from any eyes.
Your cat will want to climb into small spaces. Cats that wear collars are at risk should they become stuck somewhere cramped. A breakaway collar will let go if it is pulled on too tightly. Using this collar will prevent your cat from injuring itself.
Your cat can devastate your furniture with its claws. If you find your cat tearing up things around your home, buy a scratching post or cat tower. Encourage your cat to scratch where you want them to. Your cat will eventually understand they should only use the post or tower for scratching.
Most cats prefer to be mostly nocturnal. This means that they’re going to be running around more when it gets dark. If you have trouble sleeping because of cats, you may want to close the door to your bedroom. This can keep them from waking you up at night and from pouncing on feet under the blankets.
Give your cat plenty of love and affection. They are very loving animals and deserve affection back. Cats are social animals and will thrive when they are included in daily activities and life. They’ll know they are accepted as members of the family if they get plenty of loving attention.
If your cat is male, understand that he could develop crystals inside his urine, which can be very painful to him. Therefore, prevent this issue from occurring in the first place by feeding your cat the right type of food. 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. Food with a low magnesium content will help. Read the ingredient list on the label. You will notice that fish-based foods and products are higher in levels of magnesium than anything sourced from poultry.
Create a tablecloth just for your cat. Cats like to make a mess when they eat. That can mean a bigger mess for you to clean. An easier way to do that is to either buy a placemat and put it underneath the cat bowl, or to cut a bit of fabric to use as a tablecloth that you can pick up and wash or shake over the garbage can.
Cats enjoy being high up. For very happy cats, give them a safe place where they can look around at their surroundings. You can give your cat on a shelf to accomplish this. To make it really special, put a bed or blanket up there too.
Cats do not need to be taught how they should use the cat litter box. They do this by nature and don’t need to be taught. While some folks think you should pick up your cat and place their paws against the litter, this can actually be traumatic.
You should brush your cat on a regular basis. This keeps the fur well oiled and the skin healthy. As an added bonus, it cuts down on loose fur. Loose hair causes hairballs, a common problem for cats. The hair enters the pet’s stomach and they later cough it up.
If your cat has a scratching post that is beginning to look worn, don’t get rid of it. When it is in this condition, cats tend to like it the most. If you throw it away too soon, that cat may look to your furniture for some clawing while it slowly breaks in a new scratching post.
Feed your cat top quality food. Pay attention to the ingredient list on any food you feed them. Protein needs to be one of the very first items on the list, while fillers like corn and other grains should be avoided. Don’t give your cat foods that have corn or other elements that have no protein. Because cats are carnivores, their diet need only consist of a good source of protein.
If you’re adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a few weeks to get to know each other. They may fight with each other initially. Over time, though, they will learn to tolerate each other and eventually form a close bond.
Never use chemicals that have phenol in it near your cat. Lysol, for example, has many harmful agents that can harm your cat. Not only is the smell offensive to cats, but exposing them to this chemical for prolonged periods of time can lead to problems with their liver.
You can outsmart your cat when you keep the tips you read here close by. Soon, they will learn where to go and where to stay away from. While dogs might be easier to train, cats are very respectable animals that stay well-trained and well-mannered.