If you understand good cat care, you will have yourself a wonderful pet. If you have a cat, you must learn as much as you can about caring for your cat to keep it happy and healthy. You’ll pick up more than a few great tips on caring for a cat in the article below.
Make sure you don’t allow your cat to be around drape cords. Cats love to play with hanging cords and this poses the threat of your cat hurting themselves or becoming entangled. This could cause injury or death. Therefore, ensure that drape cords are pinned away from your cat’s reach.
Check out the shelter when adopting a cat. Shelters always have plenty of cats available and adoption fees are usually very affordable. By adopting a cat from your local shelter, you will preserve a life and will do your part in controlling the cat population.
If you own a female cat, you should have her spayed when she is old enough. Even if you have an indoor female cat, if it escapes when it’s in heat it could get you a bunch of kittens you weren’t planning on having. If you want to prevent this, spay your cat.
In order to be sure your cat is healthy, take them to their vet regularly. Cats should go to a vet at least once each year for a check up, and more frequently for required shots. Never hesitate to have your cat checked out if you think that something is wrong; remember that your cat can not tell you they are not feeling well.
Cat claws are one of the worst enemies of your home and furniture. If you have a cat that is wreaking havoc, buy a scratching post. When your cat scratches inappropriately, redirect him to the scratching post. Although this may take time, your cat should eventually claw the device rather than your furniture.
Keeping your cat off of the counter can be difficult. They love to be able to look around from up high. One good way to beat this problem is by giving your kitty some safe, high perches throughout the house. If you don’t want your cats to jump on your counters, you can put a cat condo in or around the kitchen.
Your cat most likely spends quite a bit of time grooming. If the cats hair is too long, this is what causes hairballs. There are special foods you can buy to try to help with this particular problem. Some cat food out there has a special formula in it that reduces hairballs. This benefits your pet and you.
Remember that very young children can be a bit too rough with a cat or new kitten. Teach your kid how to properly handle a cat. Demonstrate how to pick up the animal and how to play with it as well. Cats have weaker bones than dogs so should be treated carefully.
Create a tablecloth that your cats can use. Some cats prefer to remove their food from the dish and eat it off to the side. Sometimes, this results in food outside the bowl that you have to clean up. Think about putting a placemat underneath the bowl or make your own tablecloth out of fabric.
Do you have dogs and cats? Keep in mind that the two animals have separate dietary needs, and dogs will try cat food if given the chance. This makes it a good idea to have a cat feeding place high up enough that your dog can’t get to it. Separate eating spaces are a must to avoid fights between your pets.
Never try to teach a cat how to work a litter box. Using the litter box is instinctual for cats, and they require no training. It’s not a good idea to rub your cats paws in litter. Some people think this is the way to train. It isn’t.
A cat can be a great pet, but you should know how to properly care for it. If you’re going to own a cat and be responsible about it you should reread this article and use the information that is in it. If you take good enough care of your cat you can be sure that it has a life that is well worth living.
