Purring like a motor in a car. Those are the benefits of owning a cat. Cats can be a lot of work, in which case you will need some advice. This article has a lot of useful information in good cat ownership. Read on!
Make sure that your cat is well groomed. Just like dogs, cats require regular brushing and de-tangling. This leads to a cleaner cat. It will also cut down on shedding and hairballs. Keeping your cat nicely groomed will keep him and your home looking their best.
Heated tiles are great to put under a cat bed, especially for the comfort of aging felines. Use a 12″ terra cotta tile and heat it by putting it in a 200ºF oven for 20 minutes. Wrap it in an old towel and put it under your cat’s bed or blanket. If you want, change it now and then so the warmth continues.
Spray bitter apple on electrical cords to keep cats away from them. If that doesn’t work, cover those cords up however you can. The tube from a used-up roll of paper towels makes an excellent shield for loose cords. Cats are drawn to wires and cords, so you should keep them out of sight and out of mind if they are not being used.
Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. Even cats who live completely indoors may someday decide to bolt out the door or escape out of a window. A collar with tags increases your chances of getting your cat back if it gets lost but it can also be a risk, for instance if it gets snagged in some branches. A microchip is tiny, similar in size to a single rice grain and capable of holding plenty of information. Many vets and shelters have scanners that can read these chips and since they lie under their skin, they won’t get lost.
Male felines tend to get crystals in the urine that can be prevented with proper diet. A cat passing the crystals can be very hurtful with an expensive vet bill to boot. Choose a cat food low in magnesium. Always read labels. Fish products tend to be higher in magnesium than poultry products.
Create a tablecloth that your cats can use. Cats sometimes like to eat food outside of their bowl. If this happens, you’ll have to clear away any excess food that’s left outside. It’s easier to clean up this food by purchasing a placement and inserting it under your cat’s food bowl, or you could simply cut some fabric and make it into a tablecloth so you can easily pick up the food and throw it away.
Use care if you have kids and a cat. If the child is younger than 5, don’t leave them alone with a kitten. A child of that age doesn’t realize when they are being too rough with a pet. As they age, you can determine how much interaction they should have with the animal.
Seek the advice of others if you have a cat that’s giving you problems. You may think it’s something you can take care of on your own, but other people that own cats could help. Your local veterinarian can be a valuable source of information, but there is also help available online by joining user forums geared toward cat owners.
Litter Box
You don’t want to punish a cat if they do their business outside of their litter box. The major cause of such accidents is usually because the litter box hasn’t been given the proper care. If the cat is punished for this, they may become afraid of being around you.
A battered appearance isn’t a good reason to discard a beloved cat condo or scratching post. When a post is worn, your cats may enjoy it more. There is a good chance if you got rid of it and bought a new one that your cat would start scratching up your furniture.
Feed your cat quality cat 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. Look for foods that do not have corn or elements that aren’t protein. Cats are meant to eat meat, and that means that they need to have foods that are high in protein.
Long-haired cats require more care than their short-haired comrades. Long-haired cats are beautiful animals, but keep in mind that they will shed everywhere in your home. Only choose a cat with long hair if you can clean up after it consistently. Long-haired cats also often have hairballs.
With this article, you’ve got some excellent ideas that will help. All these tips can only make living with cats much easier. When you take good care of your cat, they’ll love you that much more. Ensure you utilize these tips.
