When they take in a cat for the first time, many families run into challenges they never considered beforehand. It is a serious mistake to bring a pet home without first preparing yourself and your home. Even well-educated cat owners are often faced with unexpected challenges. This article will help you to be a more responsive and responsible cat owner.
If your cat is female, then ensure you spay her as soon as you can. Even if you have an indoor female cat, if it escapes when it’s in heat it could get you a bunch of kittens you weren’t planning on having. Having your cat spayed is the only way to 100 percent prevent accidental litters.
Cats will be up during the night more often than not. This means that they will be the most active at night time. If your cats keep you up late at night, you should close the bedroom door. Your cat will not bother you in the middle of the night if this area is off limit.
There needs to be set boundaries with your children and a new kitty. Make sure your children are aware of rooms that are open to your cat. If you’re planning on keeping your kitty inside full time, make sure your kids know their pet shouldn’t go outdoors. Setting the rules in advance will ensure your children understand.
Do your best to determine why your cat is meowing. After living with your cat for long, it’s easier to interpret its meows. She could be trying to tell you she’s hungry or needs to go outside. Look for the cues and you’ll be much more in tune with your pet.
Don’t leave a kitten with small kids. Children under five years of age should not be left alone with a kitten. They simply lack the maturity to comprehend the harm they can potentially do to kittens. As children get older, decide when they show the maturity to handle a small pet.
Rotate the variety of food you feed your cat. Cats who eat the same food day after day either grow tired of it, or it becomes the only food that they will eat.
Scratching Post
While a torn up scratching post might look unattractive, do not get rid of it. It may not look as nice, but cats love a scratching post with some wear and tear. If you throw it away and replace it too quickly with a new one, they may shun the new one and go after your carpet and furniture.
Purchase high quality food for your cat. Ensure that the food your cat eats is very high in protein. Don’t choose a food which is mainly corn. Cats are naturally carnivorous. If you want to keep them healthy and happy, you need to feed them plenty of animal protein.
If you are bringing home a new cat, make sure to give him time to adjust to your current cat. It usually takes about three weeks. They may still hiss and growl when they are in the same room together. However, if you allow them to slowly get used to each other, they will eventually become friends.
Dogs wag their tails frequently when they are happy or excited to see their owners. A cat may look like it is wagging its tail, but it is completely different than what a dog does. When a cat is wagging its tail, it’s actually feeling threatened and mulling over the classic question of fight or flight. When you hold your cat and he begins to wag his tail, put him down!
These tips should be useful whether you have a Siamese kitten or an old Bengal. They are the basics on which your plans should be based. Remember to have plenty of fun and give your cat plenty of love and attention.
