Cats make the perfect pet for several reasons. People who never have had a cat would probably get some use out of the article below. The tips below are what every owner must know to have a happy life with their cat.
Make frequent checkups with your vet to keep your cat healthy. Not only will a veterinarian give a general physical exam, he or she will also make sure they have necessary vaccinations. Do your best to use the same vet for your cat’s entire life. This way they will know your cat’s history the best.
Put a collar on any cats which go outside. The collar and tag will make it easier to find the cat if it gets lost. Be sure the name of your cat and your number can be found on the tag.
Give your cat plenty of love and affection. They give lots of affection and need some in return. Without love, cats may not socialize with your family. Make them feel at home.
Cats spend lots of time grooming themselves. If your cat is long haired, this may cause hairballs. To help your cat out with this problem, try buying him special food. The are specially formulated cat foods that help reduce the instances of hairballs, which is not only good for your cat, but also good for you and your feet in the middle of the night.
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. The cat is in pain passing the crystals, and the correction for this is costly. To stop this from happening, make sure your cat’s food doesn’t have much magnesium in it. Read the label. Poultry products are typically lower in magnesium than fish products.
If you cat is overly vocal, try to figure out exactly why he or she is making so much noise. After living with your cat for long, it’s easier to interpret its meows. She could be trying to tell you she’s hungry or needs to go outside. By giving her the proper amount of attention you can better attend to her needs.
Think twice before letting your cat outside. It might not be safe for your cat to go outdoors. Cats can become infected with fleas, ticks and ringworm. Cats can also be hunted by other animals, stolen or hit by passing vehicles. If your cat has to be outside, make sure it is only in a small area near the house.
You must take caution when leaving your cat with any children. This is especially true if your child is less than five years old. These children just do not possess the maturity to handle a kitten. They aren’t aware of the danger that they can cause to it. Once the child is older and more mature, decide if they are ready for the responsibility of handling animals.
Use a brush on your cat regularly. It really helps move natural oils around the cat’s fur, and it improves blood flow. It’ll also remove all that loose hair. This can reduce hairballs which can be harmful to a cat and build up in their stomachs.
Cats need to have play in their life. All mammals love to play. While a senior cat probably won’t be very rambunctious, the right type of toy will get them interested. Make an effort to have playtime with your cat regularly.
An indoor cat is a healthy, happy cat. Cats who live indoors live longer and are healthier than outdoor cats. Roaming around the house doesn’t cause as much risk as roaming the wild.
Indoor Cats
Don’t have an outdoor cat declawed. Your cat may be seriously injured or killed because they are not prepared to defend themselves against another animal who may attack them. Indoor cats are the only ones who should be considered for declawing. Even in the case of indoor cats, you should only declaw the front claws. Never remove the claws from the back, as these are not harmful to your stuff.
Don’t ever give your cat medicine created for humans. If your cat needs medication, then you should take your cat to the vet. Providing your cat with a human medication can seriously harm them, and it just might kill them.
Cats will smell changes around their home. This may cause some problems when introducing new beds, scratching posts, or food dishes. Don’t get frustrated if they don’t like these items right away. You cat will adjust as the smells of the new items as they become a regular part of his daily routine.
If your feline has hairball issues, and there’s been no help from brushing, try these tips out. One mixed teaspoon of pumpkin mixed into your cat’s food should help. You might even want to try to add a teaspoon of tuna water mixed together with the pumpkin to see if that helps. Cat food sometimes has an anti hairball formulation, which includes extra fiber in order to solve this issue.
Feed your cat a regular dose of dry food. Kittens need the wet food, however, due to their small teeth. As kittens get their adult teeth, the hard food helps their keep teeth strong. Dry food and wet food can also be mixed together for a really finicky cat.
Sticky Tape
Apply some sticky tape to your furniture. Whenever your cat scratches any upholstery, sticky tape is a great way to dissuade them from doing it again. Some pet stores sell tape especially for this. The tape throws the cat off when it starts to scratch the furniture. In addition, buy a scratching post to satisfy the cat’s instinctual need to scratch.
A cat can make a great pet. They can really be comforting. There are, however, certain things you need to do to make sure your cat lives a healthy life. Use these tips to achieve a great relationship.