Cats can make absolutely delightful pets. You must, however, know how to properly care for them. It is not as simple as you may think. This article is packed with helpful cat care information and advice. Read on to learn several cat care tips you can apply to ensure that your sweet kitty enjoys a healthy life.
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.
Cats love to squeeze into tiny spaces. If your cat gets caught on something wearing a traditional collar they could end up hurting their neck trying to break free. A breakaway collar is a good option since it will break if your cat pulls on it. Your cat can preserve a few of his nine lives with this.
To keep your cat happy and healthy, its important to schedule regular visits to the vet. Not only are regular checkups good for catching problems early, but regular visits can insure that your cat keeps up to date on its vaccinations. If you don’t know when the last time your cat had its shots, schedule an appointment for booster shots as soon as possible.
Get your cat a breakaway collar. Make sure it has tags that reflect a phone number, even if you are uncomfortable with an address. Cats can run outdoors or slip away, and you don’t want to worry that you’ll never see your cat again. Make sure that there is adequate information so you can be reached.
While children should help with the care and responsibilities of a cat, leave the litterbox duties to the grownups or older children. A cat’s litterbox can carry diseases and parasites. Since younger children may not follow proper handwashing procedures, this job is better left to those older and more responsible.
When bringing a new kitten home, take it slow. It is tempting for children to want to play with the new addition to your home immediately. But the young cat will likely be scared. Give the cat time to acclimate itself to your home and to get comfortable with everyone.
Do not try to bathe a kitten that is less than four weeks old. It is not very easy for a young kitten to regulate the temperature of their body. This may result in the kitten getting a chill. To be on the safe side you should wait between 12 and 16 weeks after they are born to bathe them for the first time.
Never reprimand your cat for missing the litter box. The major cause of such accidents is usually because the litter box hasn’t been given the proper care. If you punish your cat for this, it will fear you later in the future.
Canned food is an excellent choice for cats. Dry food is less expensive, but canned food provides more benefits. Canned food will give your cat more water, fat and protein. This food is easier to chew for old cat. Ask your vet for more info, bun in general, canned food is much better for a number of reasons.
If you notice that your cat isn’t using its’ litter box anymore, you need to take note. There are many health conditions that can cause your cat to use the restroom in places other than their own litter box. A urinary infection or a kidney problem could be responsible for your cat’s behavior. You should take your cat to the vet if you think there is something wrong with your pet.
To the greatest extent possible, you’ll want to keep your cat close to you and your house. Research has shown that indoor cats have longer life spans than outdoor cats. Roaming around the house doesn’t cause as much risk as roaming the wild.
Cats can contract many illnesses that you do. You see your cat each day, so you should develop an intuition about when it is sick. Always take your cat to the vet if you suspect illness. They can determine what is wrong and figure out the proper course of care.
Take your new kitten to see the vet as soon as possible. There are many issues that can plague a kitten, and you want to make sure that you are on the safe side. If you are worried about the cost of care, you should look for volunteer pet clinics in your area.
A cat should never be made to be a vegetarian. A cats body and digestive system are not exactly the same as a persons, so avoid feeding table scraps. Taurine, which is found in meat, helps keep your cat from becoming blind and suffering heart issues. Always check the labels on your pet’s food and make sure there is enough protein, and specifically Taurine, to give your pet the best chance at optimum nutrition.
If you are thinking about getting a new kitty for your family and you have small children, make sure you talk to the kids about how to handle the new pet. Teach them to be gentle with the new kitty. Do not let them play rough with the cat or pull its’ tail.
Cats can create an allergic response in some people, even those who didn’t realize they were allergic. This means you shouldn’t own a cat. An un-neutered black male cat can trigger a lot of allergies. Consider instead a female cat with light coloring or a Siberian.
As mentioned in the opening of this article, provided that you know how to properly care for them, cats make great pets. Study all of the info contained in this article, and apply what you learn to ensure that your favorite kitty enjoys a wonderful life. With a little effort you can be a purr-fect cat owner.
