Cat ownership is an adventure with countless rewards. It does take a lot of work to own a cat, though. A responsible cat owner is a well-informed cat owner. Luckily in this article you can figure out just what you’re going to have to do. Read on for much enlightenment.
Keep your cat away from your drapery cords. Don’t let the cat play with them since they can jump into them or play with them and get them around their neck if they have loops. This could kill them. Pin and hide drape cords to avoid this.
Ensure your cat remains groomed. Remember to brush your cat’s fur and comb it regularly. This will keep them sterile and aesthetically pleasing. In addition, it helps decrease shedding, which results in less hairballs. Cat grooming will not only keep kitty looking great, but it will also help to reduce the effort spent picking up cat hair around the home.
If your kitty is a female, make sure to plan a spaying once she is of age to breed. You may believe that this is unnecessary if your cat stays inside all the time; however, cats almost always find a way to get outside, especially when they are in heat. When this occurs, your cat could get pregnant. Spaying your cat is the best way to prevent this from happening.
Your home furnishings can fall victim to your cat’s sharp claws. You need to get a scratching post or a cat tower to prevent your cat from ruining your furniture. You should scold your cat when it scratches your furniture and direct its attention to the scratching post or tower. It might not happen overnight, but the problem should eventually stop.
Do not discipline your cat if it makes a mess outside its litter box. Often, this happens when the litter box is dirty. It isn’t fair to punish a cat for wanting a clean area to do its business, and you don’t want to make the cat wary of you.
Keep old, worn scratching posts. Cats tend to enjoy a scratching toy more after they’ve gotten comfortable with it and made it their own. By removing the old item and replacing it with a new one, your cat may try to find another item to scratch. This could end up being furniture.
Give high quality canned food to your pet cat. While dry food is less expensive, canned food is healthier. Your cat will get extra protein and fats from canned food along with some of the water it needs every day. It is easier for older cats to chew. Speak with your veterinarian, but keep this tip in mind.
If you are bringing home a new cat, make sure to give him time to adjust to your current cat. It usually takes about three weeks. The cats might hiss, swat and hide from each other at first. After a bit of time, you’ll have two cats that will tolerate, and possibly enjoy, each other.
If possible, make sure your cat is always indoors. It has been proven that indoor cats have a much longer life span than cats that live outdoors. Outdoor cats can be attacked by other animals and exposed to many harmful influences. Play with your cat daily to give it adequate exercise.
Keep an eye out on panting. Panting in dogs is perfectly normal. Panting can indicate overheating or anxiousness; however, it can indicate health issues as well. Make sure you contact a vet, especially if your cat has had respiratory problems in the past.
Are hairballs posing a serious problem for your cat, and additional brushing does not help to reduce them? Adding in just 1 teaspoon of pumpkin mixed in with their food bowl can help with prevention. A teaspoon or so of water from a can of tuna can also be mixed in with the pumpkin. Anti-hairball foods are available commercially as well.
As mentioned earlier, there’s a lot of great things about having a cat. Of course, the only way to experience this is to provide everything your cat needs to be healthy and happy. Consider the information presented here to make the most of your relationship with your new kitty.
