A lot of new cat owners are not sure about what they should expect. If you bring a cat home without first preparing yourself, you will regret it. But because they are curious creatures, some mishaps will still occur even with planning. A great idea for you is to read the suggestions here and add a few more tidbits to your list of expectations.
Do not use dog products on your cat. Cats usually react negatively to items made especially for dogs. This definitely applies to flea products. These products can be fatal for your cat. You need to separate your pets when you treat them for fleas.
You may want to have a microchip put into your car. Even an indoor cat may find a way out of your home. Tags and collars are great, but they don’t always stay on your cat. They can also be a risk, should they get snagged on something. A microchip is tiny, similar in size to a single rice grain and capable of holding plenty of information. Every shelter and most veterinarian offices have microchip scanners that can read the chips, and best of all, they chips can’t be lost.
Keep your cat amused. Cats should have a lot of exercise and playtime. Unfortunately, many owners do not realize this important part of ownership. If your cat is bored, it might develop a depression, obsessive compulsive behaviors or ruin some of your furniture. Provide them with space to exercise and lots of toys to play with. Provide them with an indoor climbing area or scratching post.
Cats are partially nocturnal. This refers to the fact that they are usually more active at night. One way to deal with a kitten’s playful activity at night is just to shut your door. This can keep them from waking you up at night and from pouncing on feet under the blankets.
Sometimes children get too excited when playing with a new cat and may mishandle them. It is important to show your child how to approach and handle a cat. Help them learn how to pick up a cat and care for it. Because cats are more delicate than dogs, they need to be handled more carefully.
Put a cloth down in your cat’s eating area. Cats like to make a mess when they eat. That can mean a bigger mess for you to clean. Simply place a cloth placemat that will grab at the food under their plate and then shaken out over the trash. You can put a vinyl one underneath that can be picked up wiped down easily if you prefer.
If your thinking about allowing your cat to go outside, you may want to reconsider. It can be unsafe. They can get fleas, feline AIDS or even leukemia. There is the possibility they may get injured by another animal, even people and cars too. If you must let your cat outside, do so in a very small area of your backyard or lawn.
Do you own both a dog and a cat? Dogs won’t hesitate to eat food from your cat’s bowl. You should create a feeding space for the cat that is much too high for a dog to get to. Separate eating spaces are a must to avoid fights between your pets.
Brush your cat’s coat often. This helps to stimulate blood flow and circulation, and it will also help to evenly distribute the natural oil your cat’s fur has. It will also minimize hair loss. This is a good way to avoid hairballs, which are a serious health problem since they can cause choking.
Take the time to make your cat familiar and comfortable with a carrier. Cats don’t react to punishment like dogs do. They prefer encouragement instead. Leave the door to a carrier open at all times, and make the interior enticing with a beloved toy and blanket. Your cat will start to venture into their carrier more often, until they are completely comfortable with it. Once the cat is in the carrier, they will be so much easier to transport.
Feed your cat quality cat food. Check out the ingredients, and make sure meat tops the list. The foods to avoid are those with a large amount of corn and low amounts of protein. Cats are naturally carnivorous. If you want to keep them healthy and happy, you need to feed them plenty of animal protein.
If your cat is urinating a lot or in areas away from the litter box, they may need to see the vet. This sort of behavior can be caused by urinary tract infections or other, more serious medical issues in your cat. Often this problem is quickly and inexpensively cured with a common antibiotic.
Dogs will often wag their tails to show their happiness or excitement. Cats wag their tail for a different reason. When a cat is wagging its tail, it’s actually feeling threatened and mulling over the classic question of fight or flight. If you’re holding the cat and their tail begins wagging, they should be put down so that you don’t get scratched or hit.
All the tips of training which you learned here apply to every cat breed, no matter how old or where they reside. Though certain aspects of having a cat remain the same, all cats differ, so what applies to one may not apply to another. If you’re not having fun after you adopt a cat, there is a serious problem.
