Cats are frisky and fun loving, and as a cat owner, you might find yourself spending hours amusing yourself with their games. Whether you’re simply observing your cat or taking an active role in its escapades, you’ll enjoy your feline friend’s company immensely. This might not even mean spending a penny! The following article will give you some great ideas that both you and your cat will love.
Keep your older cat comfortable by placing a heated tile underneath its bed. A terra cotta tile about a foot square is ideal. You can warm it with a 15-20 minute stop in your oven, set to approximately 200 degrees. Keep this underneath your cat’s resting space for extra warmth. Change it frequently if you like.
It may prove quite a challenge to make your cat stay off counter tops. A cat will naturally want to be high enough to view everything around them. You can get your cat to quit doing this if you make areas that it can climb up to. Your cat will not go on your counters if there’s a cat tower close to the kitchen.
High areas are ideal for cats. Allow them the space they need to feel safe while checking their world out. Placing a shelf or two up high will not take up too much space in your home. Providing a blanket or bed for your cat is an extra treat for them.
Cat Owners
You can tap fellow cat owners for advice if you’re having problems with your pet. Although you may want to go it alone, it can be helpful to seek advice from other people that have experience owning cats. There are a number of message boards for cat owners on the Internet, or you can go to your vet with problems.
Be sure to brush or comb your cat’s fur on a regular basis. Brushing spreads natural oils throughout a cat’s fur, and also helps stimulate blood flow in their skin. It also gets rid of shedding hair. This can reduce hairballs which can be harmful to a cat and build up in their stomachs.
You don’t want to punish a cat if they do their business outside of their litter box. Improper box care on your part causes the mess, not the cat. Punishment can make your cat fearful in your presence.
Your cat should be given food from a can. It sometimes has more benefits over dry. There is more water, more fat and more protein in it. As a cat ages, it has a harder time chewing. Your vet can give you more information specific to your cat, though canned food is usually better.
Understand that all cats need exercise and play time. Actually playtime is very common for all animals, especially cats and people despite their age. Although older cats won’t be as active as younger cats, they still need a little exercise. Spend some time enjoying your cat.
Pay attention if your cat won’t use their litter box. This could be a side effect of a health problem. A variety of infections and kidney disease can cause your cat to stay away from the box when they suddenly associate it with pain due to their medical condition. Speak with a veterinarian if you have a cat that has these issues.
One way a dog shows affection for his owner is to wag his tail. A cat wagging its tail can have a very different meaning. In cats, wagging of the tail tends to indicate conflict or anxiety. When you hold your cat and he begins to wag his tail, put him down!
An indoor cat is a healthy, happy cat. Research has shown that indoor cats have longer life spans than outdoor cats. Daily exercise with you doesn’t need to create risks for other cat attacks or diseases from the wild.
Cats have a keen sense of smell, which makes it simple for them to feel out changes in their environment. It can occur when something new is introduced to the home, like a new water bowl, scratching post or bed. You shouldn’t be disappointed if your cat avoids new items at first. As your cat starts to smell new things in the home, it will get into them sooner or later.
A cat can get lonely when your daily routine changes and you are no longer home during the day. If this is proving to be a problem, consider getting another cat to keep them company while you’re gone.
Search for holes in your house that you don’t want your cat to get into. Cats can wriggle into surprisingly small spaces. Be especially careful with kittens. Take care of this issue when you have a new cat coming into your home. When you find a hole that may be dangerous, make the necessary repairs right away.
Cats often do best indoors where they can be kept safe. Outdoor cats usually have shorter lives and can catch many diseases. You may even catch their disease yourself. Let your indoor cat have a place where it can look out a window so that they can get the feeling of the outdoors from an indoor location.
It’s tempting to give your cat a bath to get them all fresh and shiny again. This isn’t usually necessary unless the cat gets into something really nasty, though. Cats constantly clean themselves with their barbed tongues, which is usually sufficient to remove run-of-the-mill dirt. Cats actually care about the way they look!
If you own a cat, you should get it spayed or neutered as soon as possible. Cats always need to explore things. An indoor cat who isn’t spayed or neutered can get outside, despite your best efforts. Your cats can get pregnant if you let them escape for a short period of time. Overpopulation is a huge problem among cats today.
It is good to have a variety of games and activities to play with your cat. These tips won’t work for every cat, but most felines will find them to be favorable. A cat that’s happy and healthy is going to live longer and be more active during his lifespan.