A lot of people out there just don’t know what goes into taking care of a cat. These are great animals to have and don’t take quite as much maintenance as other animals. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn a few things about them. Read this article to help you care for your cat better.
Keep your cat occupied by making your own dangly toys. Using soft cotton rope, cut a length of about two feet. Tie a knot at one end. Tie another knot about three inches from the opposite end. Unravel the rope below this knot. Attach the rope to the back of a kitchen chair for your cat to play.
You should not use products designed for other animals. They can have very strong and possibly negative reactions to dog products. This is especially true of flea products. These products can be fatal for your cat. If you own a dog, and they’ve been given a flea treatment, you should separate them from your cat for a few hours.
If your dog and cat are best friends, be sure to keep them separate after flea treatment. Your dog’s flea products are very hazardous for cats. Cats that come in contact with dog flea products often die. Be sure to use only cat products on your cat and only dog products on your dog.
Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. Even cats who live completely indoors may someday decide to bolt out the door or escape out of a window. Tags and collars may be able to help you get your cat back, but cats can sometimes take these things off or they could get hung up on a tree or something. A microchip is tiny, similar in size to a single rice grain and capable of holding plenty of information. Most organizations that deal with animal care can scan your cat for microchips, and because they are implanted, they won’t get lost.
If you get a small kitten for your children, make sure they understand the rules ahead of time. Make sure that you let your kids know which areas of the house the cat will be allowed in. If you want to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that they cannot let it go outside. This will ensure nothing bad happens.
A cat’s nails can grow really quickly. They sharpen their nails by scratching on different surfaces like a scratching post. You can help avoid your cat destroying your furniture by clipping their nails often. This will help to discourage your cat from scratching at different things around your house.
It is important to make sure that your cat always has fresh water available. You should refill your cats water dish everyday with clean water. There are drinking fountains that provide your cat with a constant stream of fresh water, so you do not have to worry about changing it as often.
To help avoid a finicky cat, feed your cat different brands of cat food. If you start them off eating the same type of food all of the time and you never change it up, this will most likely be the only food they will eat in the future.
If you are adding a kitten to a household that already contains a dog, it is important to socialize the kitten to the dog at an early age. At first, constant supervision is essential. Let the kitten and dog spend time together while you hold the kitten, letting them explore and get used to each other’s smells. When socialized early, cats and dogs can live happily and peacefully together.
One of the most delightful things about a dog is the way they happily greet their owners. Cats wag or move their tails from side to side as well, but not for the reasons dogs do. When a cat wags its tail, it is usually due to conflict and a potential decision of fight or flee. If you notice you cat begin to wag his tail when you are holding him, put him down to be sure you are not scratched or swatted.
If your cat has a problem with frequent hairballs, he may end up with digestive problems, retching and vomiting. The best way to avoid hairballs is to keep your cat well-groomed, brushing him daily to remove loose hair. Less hair means less hairballs. Another benefit of frequent brushing is that is great for bonding with your cat. Most cats love to be brushed and groomed.
If you got a cat during a period of joblessness and are now re-entering the workforce, you should watch out for possible attachment issues. To help avoid boredom, consider bringing another cat into the household.
When looking for a new kitty, do not forget to check your local shelters to find your friend. Shelters are overrun with cats, and many are put to sleep on a regular basis because they do not have homes. These cats make great companions, and they are very much in need of loving homes.
Keep a collar and tag on your cat. Cats are intelligent and may escape at any time if you’re not careful. If you have a cat with a tag on then it may have more of a chance to get returned to your home if it escapes.
Spaying or neutering your cat is one of the most responsible actions you can take in your career as a pet owner. Cats are natural explorers and love to look around and check things out. Even indoor cats may try to escape. Your cats can get pregnant if you let them escape for a short period of time. Overpopulation causes thousands of felines to be killed each day.
As you can see, there is quite a bit that goes into having a cat. The main thing you need to have is some patience. Now that you’ve read this article you should have no problem caring for your cat. Use what you have learned here and everything will be a lot easier for you.
