Essential Care Tips For The Cat Owner
T.S. Eliot, the famed poet, once likened cats to creatures that a household depends on, the there is some truth behind his words. They bring warmth and a sense of happiness to the house. Well-behaved, healthy cats are great for any home. Sadly, cats can be temperamental. The tips below will help you enjoy your cat as much as possible.
Check out your local shelter if you are thinking about getting a cat. Shelters have a lot of cats in them and you can get one adopted for a small fee. You really are saving a life and keeping the feline population in check all in one!
Regular Basis
Make sure that your cat is well groomed. You should comb and/or brush them on a regular basis. If you brush cats on a regular basis, it will keep their coats clean and attractive. It also stops hairballs. A well groomed cat will be much more pleasant for everyone and will also help you keep your home clean.
You should be bringing your cat to their vet for a check-up regularly. Your vet will provide your cat with the shots it needs to prevent disease. Your vet can also check the overall health of your cat. Try to keep the same vet during the life of your pet. This is because this person will know your cat and the history of the animal.
In order to be sure your cat is healthy, take them to their vet regularly. A yearly visit for a regular check-up is important, with more frequent visits for shots as required. If your cat is having a health issue or injury, they need to be seen by their vet right away.
Your cat needs a collar and tag if it goes outside. Cats can range far from your home and the tag will help them find their way home. The tag should contain at least the cat’s name and your contact information.
Enticing kitty to stay off the kitchen counter is sometimes challenging. Cats enjoy going into high places so that they can see what’s going on around the house. Therefore, you should create high areas for resting. A carefully placed cat tower in the kitchen will keep cats away from the counter.
Get a microchip for your cat. Even an indoor cat could someday jump through an open window. Although they provide the information needed to find your beloved pet, they can also accidentally get caught or even be wiggled out of. Your name and the best way to contact you can be encoded on the chip, which is tiny. Most vets and all shelters can scan these chips to get your contact information and there is no risk of losing the chip.
Tell your kids what the rules are about your new kitten. You can then teach your kids which areas your cat can go into. It’s also important to let them know that outside doors must be kept closed so that the cat doesn’t escape. Setting rules in advances ensures understanding.
High areas are ideal for cats. To keep your cat healthy, provide your cat with a high place to sit. If a cat tower is not ideal, a simple shelf that does not have any breakable items can work. The cat will especially enjoy it if you put a blanket on top.
Litter Box
You don’t want to punish a cat if they do their business outside of their litter box. Your cat probably did not use the litter box because it is not well taken care of. Punishment can make your cat fearful in your presence.
Feeding your cat the proper canned food is ideal. Dry food can be less costly, but there are quite a few benefits to canned food. Canned food is rich in protein and fat and also has a higher water content. It is easier for older cats to chew. Can food is generally better, but consult your vet first before feeding it to your cat.
Keep a breakaway collar and tag on your cat. Even indoor cats should have identification on them. Your cat will go out as soon as you leave a door or a window open. Tags should include contact information for you and your vet. This will be important especially if you have a cat with medical issues.
Frequent or misdirected urination may warrant a trip to your vet’s office. This may be a symptom of an infection of the urinary tract or another health problem in your cat. A course of antibiotics often does the trick.
Do you feel as if there is cat hair all over the place? Cats shed considerably; therefore, it is very important you brush them frequently. If your cat sheds often, you will need to brush him more often. This will lessen the amount of hair around your home and it will keep them from getting knots in their hair if they have medium or long hair.
Put a collar around your cats neck that contains your name, address, and number. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, there is that small chance he or she might get out one day. If your cat does get out, make sure that it can get home.
Don’t give a cat medicine that is intended for humans. If the cat is sick, you must take it to the vet. Pets that have taken human medications face serious injury or worse.
Apply some sticky tape to your furniture. The tape can stop your cat from scratching. Some stores for pets have special tape for this situation. Get your cat out of this bad habit by doing this and supplying a scratching post.
Owning a cat is not something that can be simple, but it is rewarding. You need to get to know your cat better so you can focus on the kind of attention it needs the most. Those meows will be replaced with purrs in short order.