If you want to own a good pet, a cat is a great choice. People who never have had a cat would probably get some use out of the article below. Here you are going to find some ideas on how to properly care for a cat so he or she can live a happy life.
Good grooming is important for cats. Cats should have regular combings. If yu do this quite often, it will help them stay clean. It can cut down on shedding and spitting up hairballs, too. Keeping your cat nicely groomed will keep him and your home looking their best.
Keep your cat active and entertained to avoid boredom. Every cat needs exercise time and play! Unfortunately, a lot of cat owners neglect this. Boredom can beget illness. Spend time playing with them, and go through a variety of toys to find ones they like and will play with while you’re busy, too. If they’re inside kitties, get them a post or something else that they can scratch and climb.
Most cats tend towards nocturnal behavior. Because of this, night time is when they are most active. One way to deal with a kitten’s playful activity at night is just to shut your door. This should help them from waking you during the night, pouncing on your feet under the covers.
Pick the right location for your cat’s litter box. The box should be out of the high traffic areas and a good distance from where your cat eats. Also be sure that the cat litter area is ventilated so the smell doesn’t linger. Your cat will certainly appreciate your efforts, and you will too!
Grooming is something that most cats do all the time. Your cat’s long hair can cause hair balls. There are special foods you can buy to try to help with this particular problem. Certain kinds of cat food are made to decrease hairballs. As a result, you and your cat will be happier.
A tablecloth for the feeding area can be quite useful. Cats sometimes like to eat food outside of their bowl. This can result in you having to clean up food outside its bowl if you don’t use a tablecloth. You can also use any type of mat underneath your cat’s eating apparatus to reduce the mess.
Do you happen to own both a dog and a cat? Dogs will eat cat food right up. Because of this, you should make the place that your cat food is in higher up so that the dog cannot reach it. This also makes sure that the two don’t fight over water.
You shouldn’t leave a young cat with children unattended. Up until your child is five, children shouldn’t be alone with your pet. Their immaturity prevents them from understanding how easily they could hurt the kitten. As children get older, decide when they show the maturity to handle a small pet.
Discuss any issues you have with your pet with others. You may try to handle it yourself, but you might need input from other cat owners. The Internet has many cat forums where you can ask your questions, or simply speak with your vet.
Consider buying your cat a special drinking fountain. Cats out in the wild like to drink from running water, so they would like that at home too. Streams of water will attract your cat. In fact, there are cats that enjoy drinking from a running sink instead of a bowl. Also, drinking fountains are more environmentally friendly and gives them the ability to drink naturally.
Make sure your cat has identification and a collar all the time. Even if yours is an indoor cat, this is still an important safety measure. Cats love to explore, and if they see an opportunity to go outside, they will take it. They should wear a tag with your vet’s info as well as your telephone number. This is also essential if they have specific medical needs.
A cat can make a great pet. Cats provide plenty of affection and stress relief to their owners. But you’ve got to understand how to properly care for your cat. Make sure you use the above advice so you can happily coexist with your cat for years to come.