There is a lot that goes into taking care of a cat. If you’re a first time cat owner, or even if you’ve had a cat for a while, this article can help you out. Read over it carefully and you should have no problem taking better care of your cats.
An indoor cat who gets a taste of the outdoors will forever want to go outside. If you know your cat will always be an indoor cat, do your best to keep them from sneaking out. You can try to train your cat to stay in your yard when you are outside.
Cats can spend hours keeping themselves and their fur clean. If your cat has hair that’s long it could get hairballs. Special food can help. Certain cat foods are formulated to lower the amount of hairballs.
Get your cat sprayed and neutered to prevent diseases and infections that form in the reproductive system. This can also help reduce the chance for overpopulation in the country, as just one male who is not neutered can produce up to half a million offspring over the course of his life.
When your cat accompanies you on a trip, remember to consider the health of their ears. You may be tempted to blast your favorite songs at top volume. Cats, on the other hand, would probably prefer that you didn’t. To keep you cat from feeling nervous, keep the volume at a lower level. A trip is already stressful for a pet.
Get your cat a breakaway collar. Make sure it has tags that reflect a phone number, even if you are uncomfortable with an address. Cats can run outdoors or slip away, and you don’t want to worry that you’ll never see your cat again. Make sure that there is adequate information so you can be reached.
If you’re having an issue with your cat, try to get some input from other cat owners. Though you want to handle problems on your own, you may require advice from others who own cats. Participate in online discussion boards for cat owners, or pick up the telephone and speak with your vet.
It is important to make sure that your cat always has fresh water available. You should refill your cats water dish everyday with clean water. There are drinking fountains that provide your cat with a constant stream of fresh water, so you do not have to worry about changing it as often.
Feed a kitten proper food. A developing kitten survives exclusively on their mother’s milk for the first four weeks, a commercial formula if the mother isn’t around. When moving to regular food, feed them specially formulated kitten food until they reach maturity at the age of one. Kittens need plenty of protein while they are developing.
You should keep wet cat food in the refrigerator after it has been opened. Bring it to room temperature before serving it to your cat, because it will smell more enticing to them and be less likely to cause an upset stomach. If you like, place it in the microwave for a bit to warm it up.
Expect it to take several weeks for your current cat to accept a new cat in the home. They might hide from each other or hit each other. Eventually they will grow accustomed to it and start tolerating or even enjoying each other’s company.
If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, you should take him to the vet. Cats often do such things when suffering from urinary tract infections or other sorts of health issues. Some cheap antibiotics can resolve potential risks for your cat.
Check your cat if they suddenly stop using their litter-box. There are a number of medical issues that can cause your cat to suddenly stop using their box. These conditions include kidney and bladder problems. Call the vet if your cat refuses to use the litter box.
It might seem like a little much for an animal, but you should comb your cat’s hair as often as possible. Combing the hair helps prevent the cat from licking loose fur and building a furball to spit up later. Different cats shed at different rates and some require a lot more maintenance than others.
Do not leave the door to your washing machine or dryer open if you have cats. This is a place where cats love to crawl and take a nap, but it can be very dangerous. You don’t want to turn on the machine then find out your cat is in there. It will be very frightening for them and it may cause an injury.
You can use certain scents to discourage your cat from going into certain areas of your home. Aloe gel, citrus peels, and citrus juices smell wonderful to us, but cats don’t feel the same way. Soak a cotton ball in one of these liquids, then place it on top of a piece of foil to prevent the liquid from staining your surface. Place the foil and cotton ball near the off-limits area.
Despite popular belief, you should never give your cat milk to drink. Cats’ digestive systems lack an abundance of lactase, the enzyme used to break down dairy products. The reality is that this can cause your cat to experience diarrhea, vomiting, and other types of gastrointestinal discomfort. In this case, milk does NOT do a body good!
Feed your cat a regular dose of dry food. Wet food is appropriate for young kittens because they have still-developing teeth which are small and delicate. When adult teeth come in, the harder foods maintain the strength of their teeth. A picky cat might like dry and wet food mixed together.
Now you can probably see that there is quite a bit that goes into working with cats. It isn’t difficult, but it can be time consuming. Take everything you’ve gone over here and things won’t be all that difficult for you. Good luck and enjoy taking care of your pet!
