Similar to people, cats need a balanced, healthy diet which is loaded with nutrients. If they don’t, your cat runs the risk of becoming obese or malnourished. Read the following tips to ensure a long life and healthy relationship with your pet cat.
You should always bring your cat to a vet to make sure everything is okay. Cats need special shots to keep them from getting sick, and the veterinarian will check your cats overall health. Do your best to keep the same vet for your pet’s entire life. This is because this person will know your cat and the history of the animal.
Your house can really get torn apart by a cat’s claws. Buy a scratching post if you need to protect the furniture in your home. Use catnip or other scents that are attractive to your kitty to encourage him to go there. It may take some time, but it should eventually work.
A microchip for your cat is something that you should really consider. Even though a cat may live inside, you never know if it will run out the door to escape. Tags and collars are great, but they don’t always stay on your cat. They can also be a risk, should they get snagged on something. Your important information can all fit nicely on a rice grain sized microchip. Almost every vet and shelter has a scanner these days, and they can retrieve your contact information should they find your pet.
You should never allow your cat to be bored all the time. Although you may believe that cats just lie around, this isn’t the case. They need their exercise. But many cat owners ignore that need. Cats who get bored can actually become depressed or display other undesirable behaviors. Give them toys and things to do. If you have an indoor cat, offer him a variety of toys, scratching post or objects he can climb on.
Cats are frequently nocturnal in their habits. The result is that they active while you’re sleeping. One way to deal with a kitten’s playful activity at night is just to shut your door. This will prevent them from entering your sleeping space and awakening you.
You may get much better prices on medications online. There may be times when you cannot purchase medication online, such as in an emergency; however, monthly medication, such as flea medicine, can be bought online. But if you have to regularly buy pet medicine, you can save 50% or more on some medicines by buying online.
A tablecloth should be made for your cats. Cats often take food from their bowls to eat on the side. Sometimes, this results in food outside the bowl that you have to clean up. The best thing for you to do is to have a place mat underneath the cat’s bowl.
You shouldn’t leave a young cat with children unattended. Particularly if the children are younger than five, they need supervision. They are just not mature enough to understand the danger they can pose for the kitten. Once the child is older and more mature, decide if they are ready for the responsibility of handling animals.
Never reprimand your cat for missing the litter box. They’re doing it because the box is too dirty, or they may be sick. If you attempt to punish your pet, you may cause fear and resentment–and more accidents!
Scratching Post
Do not throw away your cat’s scratching post because it is starting to look very old and worn. It may not look as nice, but cats love a scratching post with some wear and tear. 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.
When you bring a second cat into your home, allow a few weeks for the two to adjust to each other. They might have conflict, hide from each other or swat one another. After a bit of time, you’ll have two cats that will tolerate, and possibly enjoy, each other.
When your cat starts urinating often or in odd places, it may be time to see the vet. Cats sometimes behave like this if they have a urinary infection or other medical problem. Antibiotics will often do the trick if it is an infection.
Confine a sanitary area of the house for your cat to give birth. It could take 3-4 hours for every kitten to arrive, so be patient. If more than five or six hours have passed, and you think that kittens still remain inside, then you must get in touch with your vet.
Put a collar your cat with your contact information on it. Cats who stay indoors could still get out. If your cat were to escape, it’s important for them to get back home safely.
An indoor cat is a healthy, happy cat. It is shown that cats trained inside that then spend the majority of their lives inside tend to live longer than cats free to roam the neighborhood. That’s because they are not exposed to harmful diseases that run amok, and they aren’t as prone to dangerous wildlife.
A cat’s diet is important to its overall health. If your cat doesn’t eat right it’ll be in bad shape. It may even reduce life expectancy. Treating your cat to everything it wants and needs is the only responsible thing to do as a pet owner.