When your cat is not sleeping, distractions should be provided. A bored cat is likely to scratch up tables and furniture and climb up your curtains. Head off this type of bad behavior by investing in some fun cat toys. You can find more suggestions on dealing with cats below.
Taking your cat in for regular check-ups at the veterinarian’s office is part of being a responsible pet owner. Cats need yearly shots and overall health assessments. Try keeping the same vet throughout your cat’s life. This one vet will be aware of the cat’s history.
Online outlets offer better prices for cat medicine than vets. You can’t always get it online. However, for standard medications, like flea medications or heart worm pills, online sources offer a substantial savings to pet owners.
Be considerate of your cat’s preferences while traveling. You may think it’s a good idea to listen to loud music on your stereo, but cats generally don’t enjoy this. Reduce the volume of the music and keep the windows up; let your cat rest!
Brush your pet often. Brushing improves the circulation of your cat and helps spread natural oils in the fur. Also, it helps manage loose hair. Doing so reduces the occurrence of hairballs, which are a choking risk. It also benefits the cat’s stomach by reducing the animal’s need to clean itself.
Think about getting a drinking fountain for your cat. Most cats will prefer drinking water that is running over drinking water in a bowl. Cats usually like to drink from a water stream. You may have noticed that a dripping sink faucet quickly attracts their attention. A fountain will allow a cat to drink naturally and is better for the environment.
Feed canned food to your cat. Dry food is usually cheaper, but canned food boasts a number of benefits. The moist food gives your cat water, and it usually has more protein and fat in it. This will make it easier for your older cats to digest. Talk to the veterinarian prior to making any big changes; but, usually, canned food is best for your cat.
As soon as you adopt your cat, fit him with identification tags attached to a collar. This is necessary even for an indoors pet. Cats are endlessly curious and may head out an open door or window. The tag should have your name and address and also your vet’s. This is particularly important if you have a cat with medical needs.
Keeping vaccinations up-to-date is the way to make sure your cat lives longer and more healthy. Stick to regular check-ups. Just like kids, kittens must have wellness checks and immunizations periodically to keep health issues and diseases from coming up later. You need to stay up to date with immunization and booster shots to improve the health of your cat.
If you have a pregnant cat ready to birth her babies, be sure she has enough space. The birth of the kittens will take approximately four hours, so use a little patience. Once 6 hours have passed, if all the kittens have not been delivered you should seek the help of a vet.
Put a collar on the cat that lists your name, address, and phone number on it. This should be done even with an indoors cat. The animal could get out. When your cat gets outside unexpectedly, it’s your responsibility to enable others to help your cat find their way home again.
Keep products containing phenol away from your cat. Phenol is found in common products such as Pine-Sol, Lysol, and various other cleaners. The smell is offensive to cats, and prolonged exposure can lead to liver problems.
It is crucial that you never make the mistake of giving your cat any medications that are meant for human use. If your cat is ill, you need to take him to the vet to get proper treatment. You can kill a cat by giving them human grade medications.
Cats have a heightened sense of smell, and they can detect environmental changes easily. For example, your cat will instantly detect a new scratching post, bed, food dish, etc. Your cat may not initially appreciate a new pet. Once your cat becomes accustomed to this smell, he or she will begin to like it.
You want to be watchful regarding panting. Dogs normally do pant. Your cat may pant if it is anxious or overheated, but panting may also indicate a more serious problem. Be sure you get in touch with a vet, especially if your animal has had problems with breathing before.
If you have a cat with frequent hair ball problems, and brushing has provided no relief, the following tips might be useful. Mix in pumpkin (a teaspoon’s worth) into the cat’s food. Another thing that works is a one teaspoon of the water that’s in a tuna can mixed with the pumpkin. Special foods are available to help treat hairballs.
Give your cat varieties of dry food whenever possible. Kittens need the wet food, however, due to their small teeth. As they grow older, dry foods ensure that their teeth are strong. Try combining both dry and wet food together should you have a finicky feline.
Cats have lots of energy, so make sure they expel that energy on their toys instead of your furniture. Not only will it help them release that energy, it will keep them away from your valuable furnishings. You should apply the tips you just read and do more research on the different things you can use to take care of your cat.