There is no end to the joys of cat ownership. You must put a lot of work into owning a cat. There are quite a few responsibilities that any cat owner must know. Luckily, the article below will illustrate exactly what those responsibilities are. Read on and learn.
To safely help an old cat feel comfortable, place a heated tile under its bed. Just heat a one-foot square terra cotta tile in your oven at about 200 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Wrap the tile inside an unneeded towel and place it under your kitty’s favorite resting spot. If possible, re-heat several times throughout the night.
If your cat is female, you need to get it spayed at the proper age. You may believe that this is unnecessary if your cat stays inside all the time; however, cats almost always find a way to get outside, especially when they are in heat. When this occurs, your cat could get pregnant. You can prevent this by spaying or neutering your cat.
A tagged collar is essential if you let your cat outside regularly. Cats enjoy traveling far away, so a tag can help your cat get back home when lost. The tag should contain the pet’s name, your phone number and your name as well.
Cats love to be clean. Hairballs are more common in long-haired cats. If you’ve got a cat with this issue, get it special types of food. Some foods are enriched in fibers and vitamins to facilitate the digestion of the hairballs.
Use quality food to prevent crystals from forming in a cat’s urine. It is painful for your cat to pass these crystals and the cost to have this treated by a vet is high. Food with a low magnesium content will help. Just as in the grocery store, take the time to read the labels. Fish products tend to be higher in magnesium than poultry products.
Never punish a cat for a mess outside of its box. Often, this happens when the litter box is dirty. If your punish your car, he or she is just going to become scared of you.
Although you might find its appearance unappealing, don’t toss a scratching post when it’s getting particular worn and frazzled. While it doesn’t appear clean and new, your cat probably thinks otherwise. For a cat, it is comfortable and familiar. If you toss it away in favor of something newer, your cat may look for something older to scratch, and that may end up being your furniture.
High quality cat food is important to your cat. Pay attention to the ingredient list on any food you feed them. Protein needs to be one of the very first items on the list, while fillers like corn and other grains should be avoided. Corn and other such protein-free fillers are things you want to stay well away from. Since cats are carnivorous, they require animal protein to stay in the best health.
Feed canned food to your cat. Dry food is cheaper, but some wet foods have more benefits. Your cat can get more water, fat and protein from canned food. Aging cats can chew this easier. Speak with your veterinarian, but keep this tip in mind.
Haired Cats
Long haired cats take extra grooming time, so think about that before choosing one. All that hair will be literally everywhere. Unless you have time to dedicate to cleaning up their fur, don’t get long haired cats. Long-haired cats are also more prone to hairballs.
By getting your cat the shots and check-ups that it needs, you’ll be able to make sure that your cat lives as long as possible. Similar to kids, cats need shots and check-ups to prevent health problems. Your cat will be a part of your home and that means it should be treated as good as you would treat a family member.
If your cat is refusing to use his litter box, you should try putting it in a different location. Make sure to put it in a quiet spot in your house. Basements, laundry rooms and other quiet spots are best.
As was stated in the beginning of this article, you can benefit a great deal from owning a cat. But to ensure your pet stays healthy and happy, you must give it the care it needs. Using the information provided here will be a big step in making your cat a happy addition to your life.