When they take in a cat for the first time, many families run into challenges they never considered beforehand. Finding a pet without preparing first is a terrible mistake. Even well-educated cat owners are often faced with unexpected challenges. However, preparing yourself in advance is best, and it helps you be ready for your new pet.
If your cat is female, it is very important that she be spayed when the vet feels she is old enough. If an indoor cat gets out, you may soon have kittens. If your cat has been spayed, however, you won’t have to worry about this happening.
It may prove quite a challenge to make your cat stay off counter tops. After all, cats prefer to stay high so that they can keep an eye out on everything. You can get your cat to quit doing this if you make areas that it can climb up to. A cat tower near your kitchen can give them a place to watch you that is out of the way.
Put your cats’ litter box where it is most acceptable to him. Try and put it in an isolated area away from the cat bowl. Choose an area that is well-ventilated to avoid bad smells. Both you and your cat will be happier.
Avoid bladder crystals and stones by feeding high quality food. It can be painful to pass these crystals and your vet bill will be priced accordingly. Food with a low magnesium content will help. Take a look at the food’s label. Cat food with lots of fish tends to have more magnesium, while products with lots of poultry tend to have less.
Though cats make great pets for kids, younger kids may be too rough with them. Teach your kids the right way to hold a cat. The objective is to be as gentle as possible with your cat. Tell them that a cat’s bones need to be handled more gently than those of a dog.
There needs to be set boundaries with your children and a new kitty. Let them know which rooms and areas your cats should not be in. If you want the cat to be an inside cat, let the children know he cannot go outdoors. This will ensure nothing bad happens.
Reconsider having an outdoor cat. Your cat might not be safe outside. Your cat could get fleas or even worse parasites. Cats can be harmed by cars, people and other animals. Let your cat go out in your backyard and play on your lawn.
Understand that leaving a small kitten together with small children can be dangerous to both. A cat should not be left alone with a child under five years of age. They’re not really mature enough to know how dangerous a kitten can be. When children get a little older, they develop the skills needed to be around small animals.
Litter Box
Make sure that you do not instruct your cat on using the litter box. This is not something that needs to be taught. In fact, it comes naturally for them. 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.
The tips you just read over can help any cat owner, no matter what their cat’s breed is. These are key concepts you must know when raising a cat, but each person will make individual variations based on tastes and needs. If you’re not having fun after you adopt a cat, there is a serious problem.
