Cats provide endless hours of companionship and entertainment. However, caring for a cat can be a lot of work and time-consuming. You must be aware of the responsibilities of being a cat owner. The article below has the information you need. Continue reading to learn more.
Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. Just like dogs, cats require regular brushing and de-tangling. Doing it constantly can help you keep their coats clean. This will also reduce things like shedding and hairballs because it keeps them from having extra hair. Regularly grooming keeps cats looking well and keeps your home neater.
Regular visits to the vet will make sure that you cat is as healthy as he can be. They need a routine check-up every year, maybe more of important shots are necessary. Cats must see their vet right away if they start having health issues, injuries or other problems.
If your cat goes outside, it is important to have a collar with a tag. Cats enjoy traveling far away, so a tag can help your cat get back home when lost. Ensure that you at least put the name of your cat and your personal phone number on this tag.
Your cat can devastate your furniture with its claws. If you are having problems with your cat clawing up furniture, then purchase a scratching post or kitty tower. This can encourage cats to scratch something other than things that are off-limits. It may take some time, but will be worth the effort and expense.
It can be hard to make your cat stay off the counter. Cats naturally love heights so they can easily see everyone and everything. You can remedy this by creating some place up high that you can can enjoy hanging out in. Having a cat tower near your kitchen will keep them off your counters.
Cats are known for spending inordinate amounts of time grooming themselves. When your cat has long hair, this can cause hairballs. There is a special food on the market that does help out with hairball issues. Certain cat foods are made just for decreasing hairballs, benefiting both your cat and yourself.
Is there a dog in your home, as well as a cat? Dogs will eat a cat’s food any time they’re given the chance. This makes it a good idea to have a cat feeding place high up enough that your dog can’t get to it. This will ensure they don’t fight over food or water, too.
Cats enjoy climbing on things. A happy cat is one that has a safe living environment. If you don’t wish to have a big cat tree inside your house, try a sturdy shelf made of breakables. Make sure that this area is comfortable for your cat.
Although your cat’s old scratching post may look very worn out, you shouldn’t throw it away. You may believe that it’s in terrible condition, but cats typically prefer it this way. If you throw it away, you may find your cat scratching on other surfaces.
Your cat should be kept healthy so that it can live a longer life. This can be done by making sure the cat is checked on by a vet and it has its shots. Similar to kids, cats need shots and check-ups to prevent health problems. Treat your cat as if it were a member of the family.
Let your cat give birth in a large space. The birth process can last up to four hours, which means you must exercise patience. If it’s been over 6 hours and you think there are more kittens inside, they need to see a vet immediately.
Litter Box
Relocating the litter box can often help curb a problem with cats that refuse to use it. The best place for a litter box is in a secure, quiet area. Cats feel vulnerable when they’re using it, so they want it to be in a place where they feel safe. A couple of good places to put your cat box are your basement and laundry room.
When dogs are excited or happy, they will wag their tails when they see their owners. Cats, however, move their tails or sway it side to side for totally different reasons. Tail wagging in a cat usually means he is thinking of attacking or running away. If this happens while your cat is in your arms, put him down as soon as possible.
A cat that is declawed should never spend time being outside. It can’t defend itself with no claws. Only declaw your cat if you are serious about keeping them indoors. Even so, only remove the front claws when you do so. Leaving the back claws is no problem since they won’t scratch your furniture or floors.
Your cat needs to eat dry food most often. When cats are kittens they need wet food because their teeth are so small. When the adult teeth develop, dry, hard food will help make teeth stronger. If your kitty is especially finicky, you can try feeding him a mix of dry and wet food.
An overfed cat will quickly become ill. The extra weight can directly cause health problems now and in the future. Be careful to feed your cat the proper portion amount, and also make sure that his food is packed with vital vitamins and nutrients.
As previously stated, owning a cat is beneficial to you. However, if you want your cat to live a long and happy life, you have to take proper care of it. Be sure to use this information if you want to make a cat part of your home.
