When they take in a cat for the first time, many families run into challenges they never considered beforehand. If you don’t prepare for your cat in advance, you will be in trouble. Sometimes problems will arise no matter what you do. The best thing to do is to read this article, but be ready for anything.
Keep your drapery cords out of the reach of your cat. Do not allow your cat to play with these. The cords may be looped and a cat may get them wound around their neck. This may harm or kill them. It is highly recommended that you keep all drape cords pinned in such a way that the cat can’t see them so as to prevent any accidents.
Check out your local shelter if you are thinking about getting a cat. Shelters have great pets available for adoption, and the fee isn’t that high. Adopting a cat this way helps to save their life and cut down on unwanted animal births.
Your cat will want to climb into small spaces. If they have a collar, this can be a safety issue if they get stuck. Therefore, use a breakaway collar that will come undone whenever it’s being pulled very tightly. This could save your cat’s life if the collar gets caught in some branches.
A lot of cat owners have a hard time keeping their cats off the counter. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings. One way to combat this behavior is to proved your cat with an elevated place it is okay to climb on. If you place a cat tower around the kitchen area, they may be less likely to lay on your counters.
Remember to take care of your cat’s ears if you travel with him. You may enjoy it, but it could be hurting your cat’s ears. Keep your music off, and talk to your cat instead.
Younger children can be a little rough with cats sometimes. Make sure your kids understand how cats should be handled. Teach them which activities are good and how to properly pick your cat up. Cats don’t have strong bones like dogs do, so they need to be treated gently.
A tablecloth should be made for your cats. Cats often take food from their bowls to eat on the side. Sometimes this will make the area around the bowl messy, and you’ll have to clean it. A simpler way to do this is by getting a place-mat and placing it under their bowl. You can also cut some fabric to make a tablecloth that can be lifted, washed, or shaken over a trash can.
Speak with other cat owners about any issues you may be having. You may wish to deal with it alone, but you may need advice from other cat owners. You can locate forums about cats online if you search for them. On these forums you can ask for advice, or you can just speak with a vet.
Do not attempt to teach your cat how to use the litter box. This comes naturally – you can’t teach it. Some individuals believe they should carry their cat to the litter box and rub paws into the litter. This actually can be quite traumatic for a cat.
Carriers are great devices for you to have as a cat owner. Cats are not as responsive to punishment as dogs are. They respond better to encouragement. Place a loved blanket and favorite toy into a carrier and then leave the door open. Make sure it’s in an area that the cat frequents. Eventually, the cat will go into the carrier naturally and feel comfortable. Once the cat is in the carrier, they will be so much easier to transport.
Such training concepts are useful for all types of cats. Though certain aspects of having a cat remain the same, all cats differ, so what applies to one may not apply to another. More important than anything else is to enjoy every precious moment with you new little kitten.
