Having a cat can be a rewarding experience. They are smart, gorgeous animals that don’t take much work, as far as having pets go. However, they still require attention and care in order to stay healthy and satisfied. Here are some cat care tips to help you with this great pet.
Be sure to have your pet cat spayed or neutered by the time it is six months old. A spayed or neutered cat is a more satisfactory pet because it is calmer, quieter and more likely to stay home. Neutered male cats do not spray urine to mark their territory. This is definitely a plus when it comes to cat ownership.
If you replace an old scratching post, your cat may be unhappy with the new one. Save money on scratching posts. Wrap your old scratching post with some sisal rope to spiff it up. Your cat will be happy not to lose its favorite old post. You will save a little cash.
Your house can really get torn apart by a cat’s claws. If your kitty is doing this, one way to redirect his behavior is to purchase a scratching post or cat tower. Put cat nip on it to attract them to it. Although this may take time, your cat should eventually claw the device rather than your furniture.
An inexpensive rubber welcome mat helps keep cat food off your floor. This is also a great tool to keep your cat from tracking litter out of the box. Black rubber mats cost about three dollars at dollar stores. Put your cat food dish on one and your litter box on another.
Wash your cat’s bed at least once a week to remove all of the bacteria from it. Even if the bed looks like it is clean, it will usually have toxins in it that can cause your pet to become sick. Replace the bed every six months to keep your cat in a sanitary environment.
Take your cat to the vet periodically. A lot of cat owners tend to avoid the vet because it can be harder to get a cat ready to go anywhere she does not want to go! It is also easy to avoid the vet because cats seem so self-reliant. However, it’s smart to get your cat to the vet to avoid any problems.
Do not use medicine meant for a dog on a cat. This is especially important for topical medicines. Cats do their own cleaning, and if a dog medicine is used on a cat, your pet can ingest it. There are some medicines that work for both cats and dogs, but only use them if the vet says it is okay.
Why is your cat meowing? Once you become familiar with your cat and its needs, it will become easier to determine what he needs when he meows. It may be a sign your cat needs food, or needs to be let outdoors. Know what your cats cries mean so that you’re able to understand the cat more.
Stay current on your cat’s exams and vaccinations. Just like children, a kitten needs to have immunizations and wellness checks periodically to avoid disease and other health problems later in life. Your cat will be a valued member of your family, which means treating it just as you would other loved ones.
Give the cat a collar with your contact information. This is also true for indoor cats. It is possible that the animal might accidentally venture out of your home. They have to be able to get home again.
If possible, clip your cat’s toenails once weekly. If the nails grow too long, your pet cannot retract the claws. This causes your pet to experience discomfort. Regular trimmings also prevent the claws from snagging carpet fibers, clothing, and other fabrics. If you cannot do this, you should at least provide scratching toys and posts for your cat.
If possible, make sure your cat is always indoors. Free-ranging cats who spend most of their time outdoors have a shorter lifespan than those that are raised and accustomed to indoor living. Daily exercise with you doesn’t need to create risks for other cat attacks or diseases from the wild.
Try your best not to feed your cat any table scraps, even if you are sure this would be better than throwing the extra food away. Once you feed your cat this type of thing, they will no longer want to eat the cat food that you give them regularly.
Cats are able to smell very well and will notice changes to their environment. When you give them a new toy, bed, food or scratching post, this can be an issue. Your cat will probably not like these items immediately; therefore, be patient. They’ll get used to it given time.
If you have a long haired cat, regular grooming is an essential tool. Grooming helps to keep your kitty clean and well cared for. It can help to prevent shedding and skin disease too. While bathing your cat is not required more than every so often, make sure to brush him daily and tend to any mats in his coat.
Some cats have aversions to certain types of litter. If you find that your cat is not using their litter box, try switching the type of cat litter that you are using. Only do this if there is a problem. Cats do not like change. The cat may stop using the litter box if you change the type of litter you use.
After reading this article, you now have an idea of what your cat needs to remain a happy feline. Just put the tips in this article into your daily practice, and you will discover that your cat is even easier to take care of. Then, you will have even more time to enjoy your cat.
