Cat ownership is an adventure with countless rewards. Cats can, however, take a lot of commitment and time. A responsible cat owner is a well-informed cat owner. Thankfully, the following paragraphs will give you the knowledge you need. Keep reading and learn a little something about caring for your cat.
If you’d like to make an elderly cat’s bed more comfy, stick a heated tile beneath its bed. Simply heat a terra-cotta tile in a 200 degree oven for 20 minutes. Cover with a small blanket or towel, then place it beneath your pet’s bed. If necessary, change this out every few hours.
Ensure that your cat goes to the vet often so that they are healthy. Your cat needs to get a checkup about once every year, or more if there are issues that come up. Don’t hesitate to take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice anything unusual about their health or if they are injured.
Don’t give a cat a dog’s product. Cats don’t like dog products. One product in particular to pay close attention to is any remedy for fleas and ticks. Your cat can die if you use a dog flea product on it. In fact, it is a good idea to separate your cat and dog for a few hours after your dog has taken flea medication.
Nice furniture and cat claws don’t get along very well. If your couch is starting to look like it’s been put through a shredder, it’s time to invest in a nice scratching post or cat tower. Encourage them to scratch that instead. It might take time, but eventually you will see that the damage to your furniture is diminished.
Cats frequently groom themselves. In long-haired cats, hairballs can result from excess grooming. Buy your cat specialized food to prevent this problem. There are foods that are made to reduce the frequency of hairballs. It’s a smart move for your cat and your sanity.
Male felines tend to have a build-up of crystals that present in the urine, so you need to avoid this with proper nutrition. A cat passing the crystals can be very hurtful with an expensive vet bill to boot. Feed your cat food that is low in magnesium. Consult the ingredient list. Fish products can have more magnesium when compared to poultry.
Never punish the cat if he or she causes a mess outside the litter box. Usually this is a sign that you haven’t cleaned the box recently. It isn’t fair to punish a cat for wanting a clean area to do its business, and you don’t want to make the cat wary of you.
Don’t toss your cat’s scratching post just because it’s starting to look haggard. Your cat will enjoy the post most when it has been well used. 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.
If your cat begins defecating or urinating too frequently, it’s time to see the vet. Cats can show this behavior if they have a type of urinary tract infection or other health issue. Affordable antibiotics can solve concerns that may otherwise be quite serious.
There is more care to consider with long-haired cats. Even though that nice coat of beautiful silky fur looks great, it can leave a mess on your floors, furniture and clothing. Don’t adopt a cat with long fur unless you’re sure you can handle the extra cleaning. Not to mention cats that have long hair are more prone to getting issues with hairballs.
Litter Box
Think about where you want to put the litter box. Do not hide the box simply to reduce the smell. However, your cat’s litter box needs to stay in an easily accessible place so that he can find it. A finicky cat may not use the litter box if the environment is very inconvenient. If the litter box is kept on a cement floor, then place a rug or mat underneath it.
The potential benefits of cat ownership are, it’s worth stating again, numerous and wide-reaching. But if you want a happy and healthy cat, you’ve got to care for it properly. Ensure that you are successful in your cat endeavors by keeping what you learned here close by.
