Cats are extremely interesting and are wonderful animals. If you’re going to own one, you must know all you can about proper cat care. Read on to find out more.
Have your kids help you take care of the cat. Assign daily jobs such as feeding the cat and cleaning the litter box. Not only will taking care of the cat teach them responsibility, it also gives you a break from these tasks. This means that you can spend more time cuddling with your cat.
For a healthier, happier cat choose plain litter over scented litter. Cats like nice, clean, clumping cat litter. Scoop your cats litter box daily and change it completely every three days or so. When you change the box, wash it out with water and dish soap. Don’t waste your money on liners as cats tend to destroy them.
Make sure to keep chemicals and dangerous substances away from your cat. Chemicals like antifreeze have a sweet taste. This encourages the cat to drink it, most often resulting in fatal consequences. Keeping your chemicals locked up in a cabinet will help to ensure that your curious cat does not end up ingesting poison.
Do not flush clumpable litter in your toilet. This can lead to problems with your plumbing. Instead just lift the clumps and dispose of them in a trash bag. Don’t forget, moisture is what makes the litter clump in the first place! Avoid doing that to your pipes and just dispose of it properly.
If you going to be gone for more than a day, you should have someone look in on your cat. Leave out plenty of food, but have someone come to make sure it doesn’t run out. If you do not have a neighbor or family to look in on your cat, you can usually find a cat sitter for a few dollars each day.
Pay attention and try to figure out what is causing your cat to meow. By paying attention, you should eventually learn why your cat is meowing. She could be signaling that she is hungry, or she might want to go outside. By giving her the proper amount of attention you can better attend to her needs.
Give cat box liners a try. These may not work for everyone, but they can be helpful if they work for you. Line the litter box with one of these liners, and then put cat litter in as usual. If it works correctly, you should be able to gather the liner and dispose of the litter. Unfortunately, sometimes cats just scratch the liner to pieces as they are doing their business.
If your cat goes outdoors a lot, the chances are good that they come home filthy once in a while. When your cat is especially dirty or smelling like a skunk, you should make an appointment with the local groomer. Groomers will be gentle with your cat, resulting in a less traumatic experience.
Let your cat get comfortable using a carrier. Cats and dogs do not usually respond the same ways to punishment. Encouragement is a much better strategy. Put the carrier in a comfortable place and fill it with treats and toys. Your cat will want to inspect the carrier and probably enjoy hiding inside. Transporting your cat inside the carrier will then become much easier.
Ensure that your new cat is spayed or neutered. This is important even if your cat will not be outdoors or around cats of the opposite gender. Studies show that spayed cats are less vulnerable to uterine, mammary, and ovarian cancer. Neutering your male cat decreases his risk of developing prostate cancer. Another benefit of neutering is that your cat will not feel compelled to mark his territory by spraying.
Every cat loves to have lots of play time. In fact, play is a common activity for all mammals, including people and cats, no matter their age. While a senior cat probably won’t be very rambunctious, the right type of toy will get them interested. Playing with your cat will help you to form happy and cherished memories to look back on.
Understand the difference between cat play and real aggression. Both activities can look the same to an untrained eye, but there are differences. When two cats are playing, they will bat each other around with claws retracted. They will “bite” with their jaws loose. Real aggression will involve hisses, squeals and hard biting.
When your cat has kittens, it can be tempting to get rid of them as soon as possible, but you should wait a reasonable amount of time. A kitten needs to learn a few things from mom before going off into the world alone, so give him six weeks to learn all he can.
Take your cat for vaccinations often to make sure he or she is healthy. Immunizations can prevent your cat from attaining viruses or diseases. A cat is a member of the family, and therefore, is entitled to the same treatment as other loved ones.
Your cat should remain indoors and near your home. Indoor cats live longer and have less illness and pests than outdoor cats. Daily exercise with you doesn’t need to create risks for other cat attacks or diseases from the wild.
Cats are wonderful pets, as previously discussed. You have to work hard to keep them healthy and entertained. Be sure you thoroughly read over the advice found here in order to do this. Your cat will show you gratitude.
