Are you a cat owner? If you are, you truly realize how great cats are. Cats need a lot of care and love. It is quite easy to provide this for your cat. Continue reading to learn excellent cat-care tips in order to raise an excellent cat.
Don’t leave drape cords near your cats. It is easy for the cat to get his head caught among the cords when playing with them. This may harm or kill them. Make sure drapery cords are kept back to avoid this.
Cats can really scratch up your home. If your couch is starting to look like it’s been put through a shredder, it’s time to invest in a nice scratching post or cat tower. It is much better if your cat uses his claws on that, rather than your furniture. They may not take to it overnight, but they should eventually.
Make sure your cat is properly hydrated. Like humans, cats need to drink lots of water. If they don’t get enough water, they can get dehydrated, develop various health problems, or die. Make sure they always have a bowl of fresh and clean water. The bowl itself also needs to be cleaned and refilled every day. You should also keep this bowl in one location.
If your cat takes all the ornaments off the Christmas tree, don’t fight it. Begin collecting attractive cat toys and unbreakable ornaments to decorate the tree next year. Be sure not to decorate with potentially dangerous items like tinsel and garlands. Tinsel is a choking hazard for cats and garlands can cause strangulation.
Do not feed your cat any kind of human food that contains bones in it. If you are giving your cat chicken or fish, be sure to remove the bones beforehand to prevent a choking hazard. Chop the food that you serve into small bits to make it easier to digest for your cat.
It is important to only feed your kitten food specifically made for kittens. Kitten food contains more fat and protein to help keep your growing cats body healthy. Adult cat food is leaner and is not specially formulated the same way as the kitten food. Your kitten will grow really fast in a short time-frame, so it is important that they eat right.
Use your cat to teach your children responsibilities. A pet demands care that the whole family can participate in. Each child can take different day to feed the cat, for instance. Same thing for litterbox care. You can make a schedule and post it on the refrigerator. Then, everyone knows what they are responsible for.
Let your cat exercise their hunting instinct. Cats are natural born hunters; however, this does not mean you need to allow mice to invade your home. Hide treats and toys throughout your home, and your cat will have a blast hunting down their treats. You can also find feather and laser toys that your cat can chase and pounce on.
There is no need to spend hours trying to litter train your cat. They will do it on their own and don’t need to be taught. A common misconception is to rub your cats paws into the kitty litter however this isn’t a good idea.
Take time to train your cat to go into a car carrier. Cats never respond to punishment the way that dogs do. Encouragement is more likely to get them to respond. Leave your cat carrier open and put a few special toys inside. Over time the cat will not be stressed about the carrier and will enter it voluntarily. It’s a much easier way to get the cat in.
Provide your cat with canned food rather than dry. While dry food is less expensive, canned food is healthier. Canned food generally provides more nutrients, protein and fat as well as liquids. Older cats also find it easier to chew up. Speak with a vet, but know that wet food is normally much better for your pet.
If you’ve just met a cat, don’t look at them in their eyes. Cats do not like being stared at by people they don’t know. That’s why they are more comfortable if you are not looking at them. They are more likely to approach you that way, and more likely to kindly regard you in the future.
Clean your cat’s eyes as frequently as possible because their vision is extremely important and extremely sensitive. Cats interpret five times as much visual stimuli during their day and the smallest particle can become stuck and cause damage. A pair of thumbs and a damp cloth are perfect for clearing the eyes and keeping your cat clean.
Buy a pet drinking fountain to prevent dehydration. Cats are attracted to running water, so a pet drinking fountain may help to encourage your cat to drink more. Proper hydration can cure and prevent a large number of feline health problems. Therefore, a pet drinking fountain could improve the health of your cat and reduce vet bills.
Your cat needs to get regular checkups and vaccinations. This is the only way to make sure that they stay healthy and don’t pick up any illnesses or parasites. A veterinarian can provide these services for you. Animal shelters can be used as well if there isn’t a vet near you.
It is crucial that you never make the mistake of giving your cat any medications that are meant for human use. If health problems arise, take your cat to a vet. You can kill a cat by giving them human grade medications.
You love your cat, and you want to make sure you’re giving it the best care you can. You are now more educated on how to properly care for your cat. Take advantage of the suggestions you’ve read so that you can keep your pet in good spirits and good health. If you love your cat, you will receive much love back.
