The famous poet T.S. Eliot wrote on cats. Eliot once described cats as a creature on which a household depends, and there’s definitely some truth in his words. A home can benefit from a healthy, good cat. There are, however, many reports of cats being difficult and temperamental. Consider these tips for how you can coexist with your pet.
Check your local animal shelter if you have plans to get a cat. Shelters all over the country are crowded with marvelous cats, and most provide veterinarian care with the adoption fee. Adopting a cat this way helps to save their life and cut down on unwanted animal births.
Ensure your cat remains groomed. Regular combing and brushing is usually all that is required. This helps them keep their precious coat properly clean at all times. Doing this will also help alleviate hairballs and excessive shedding. Regularly grooming keeps cats looking well and keeps your home neater.
A vet trip should happen for your cat yearly. Cats need special shots to keep them from getting sick, and the veterinarian will check your cats overall health. If you can, stick with one vet for your cat’s entire life. This will ensure they know the history of your cat well.
Spay your cat as soon as she is old enough. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands. Having your cat spayed is the only way to 100 percent prevent accidental litters.
Flea Products
Don’t use dog portions for your cat. Cats usually react negatively to items made especially for dogs. This is especially true of flea products. Flea products that are intended for a dog can kill a cat. If you treat your dog for fleas, make sure you keep the cat away for several hours following the application.
You can also consider outfitting your cat with a chip so you can monitor its whereabouts. One day, your indoor cat might leave through an open door or get outside through an open window. Although collars and tags are beneficial, some cats may even wiggle out of them. A microchip, on the other hand, is inserted near your cat’s shoulder blades, takes only a second to do, and all of your current contact info can be read through the chip. Most organizations that deal with animal care can scan your cat for microchips, and because they are implanted, they won’t get lost.
Avoid letting your cat get bored. Cats require plenty of exercise. This is sadly overlooked by some cat owners. If your cat is bored, it might develop a depression, obsessive compulsive behaviors or ruin some of your furniture. Give them exercise space and a lot of toys. If they are indoors, give them a scratching post or something to climb on.
Use a tablecloth underneath your cat’s dish. Some cats prefer to remove their food from the dish and eat it off to the side. This can result in a mess that needs to be cleaned up. There are two ways to do this. You can either put a placemat under the food bowl or use some stray fabric that you have lying around. Either way, you can easily get rid of debris by dumping them in the garbage.
While owning a cat isn’t always easy, the reward is great. From a cat that knocks dishes off shelves or one who likes to pee on the couch, there are solutions for all of your problems. Use the tips you just read to make sure your cat is healthy and happy.