Cats are one of the leading choices for family pets in America. Their popularity isn’t there for no reason at all, people love to raise cats and enjoy the experience associated with owning a feline. You are probably ready for a cat yourself, but you shouldn’t rush out and adopt one without reading these tips first.
You should make sure your cat stays groomed properly. Remember to brush your cat’s fur and comb it regularly. Doing this frequently can help them keep their coat clean. Also, this can eliminate the constant shedding that you will deal with. A cat that is well-groomed is one that looks the best at home.
Let kittens and cat-friendly pet dogs get to know each other slowly. Put up a baby gate to keep dogs in one room while your new kitten gets used to its surroundings. Supervise carefully when the kitten ventures to the gate to meet the dogs. When the kitten feels safe, it will climb the gate. If it feels threatened, it will pop right back out to safety.
Protect your cat from strangling by making sure the cords of curtains and blinds are secured and out of reach. When you make or purchase a dangly toy for your cat, be sure to supervise during play. Put the toy away if you will not be around to watch.
Protect your cat from choking. Be sure to dispose of poultry and fish bones safely. Wrap them in a paper or plastic bag and put them in your outdoor garbage can with the lid tightly secured. Alternately, place them in a plastic bag and freeze them until garbage pick up day.
Do not feed your cat any kind of human food that contains bones in it. If you are giving your cat chicken or fish, be sure to remove the bones beforehand to prevent a choking hazard. Chop the food that you serve into small bits to make it easier to digest for your cat.
Avoid the chance that your male cat will develop crystals in his system that will come out in his urine by feeding a high quality diet. Passing these crystals is painful and the vet bill to have this corrected is expensive. Give your cat foods that are low in magnesium. Just as in the grocery store, take the time to read the labels. Fish-based foods usually contain more magnesium than poultry-based foods.
Should you leave the house with your cat, make sure that she is wearing a collar with tags. This way, if anything happens and you two become separated, anyone can find her and know how to reach you. Your cat may not like the collar all the time, but when she’s out of the house it can save her.
Do you have more than one cat? If so, then you should have more than one litter box as well. Having one for each of your cats will give them multiple spots to go. If the odor gets too much you can add a little baking soda to the litter to freshen it up.
If your cat goes outdoors a lot, the chances are good that they come home filthy once in a while. When your cat is especially dirty or smelling like a skunk, you should make an appointment with the local groomer. Groomers will be gentle with your cat, resulting in a less traumatic experience.
Get a drinking fountain for your cat. Cats like running water for drink more than water that is just sitting there. The drinking fountain will look more inviting than a water bowl. You may have noticed that a dripping sink faucet quickly attracts their attention. A drinking fountain designed for your cat is the ideal solution to keep the cat happy.
If you’ve just met a cat, don’t look at them in their eyes. Cats do not like being stared at by people they don’t know. That’s why they are more comfortable if you are not looking at them. They are more likely to approach you that way, and more likely to kindly regard you in the future.
If you have more than one cat, it is a good idea for you to give them each their own food bowls. Place them far apart so that each cat has their space. If you provide just one bowl for the cats to share, it may cause larger cats to bully the smaller ones.
There is a lot of responsibility involved with a long-haired cat. Long-haired cats shed constantly, and the fur ends up on your clothing, floors, and everything else in your home. If you don’t mind cleaning, get a long-haired cat. Also, give them the right food which is anti-hairball.
Is your cat shedding like a madman? Cats are known for shedding, so good grooming habits are a must. Cats that shed a lot need to be brushed more frequently. Frequent brushing or combing keeps the cat from getting a tangled, matted coat.
If you have more than one cat, you need more than one litter box. Ideally, each cat should have its own box. This prevents the box from becoming overfilled or crowded. An unappealing shared litter box sometimes causes cats to take their bathroom business elsewhere in your house. As you can imagine, this can be quite a nasty surprise!
This is only enough to help you get started with raising your new kittens. From here forward, you will need to seek advice from your friends, family, and other proud parents. The internet is also a great source of feline facts that come from every source and every walk of life.
