A cat is an inquisitive, affectionate, loving addition for any family, and adopting one can add a great deal of quality time to your life. Cats love new cat toys and fun little games, so think about them when you are out shopping. You don’t always have to spend money to have fun with your cat. Use these tips to have better days ahead.
Check with your shelter before you purchase a cat. Sometimes, you may find the cat of your dreams at a shelter. Besides, adopting a cat from an animal shelter means you are saving this cat’s life.
Don’t try using dog food or products for your cat. They can have very strong and possibly negative reactions to dog products. Flea products can be especially harmful. Products used for flea prevention in dogs can be very harmful to your cat. After getting the dog treated, keep the cat away for many hours.
Your cat needs a collar and tag if it goes outside. Cats can travel a long way and this will help you get them back easier if they’re lost. The tag should contain at least the cat’s name and your contact information.
It can be hard to make your cat stay off the counter. Cats like heights and like to see everything happening around them. To help prevent your cat from doing this, you can establish tall places specifically for your cat. Putting a cat tower in or near the kitchen can help keep the cats from laying on the counter.
Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. Even indoor cats can decide to run away at a moment’s notice, escaping through an open window. Tags and collars are great, but if a cat escapes them, there’s no guaranteeing they’ll make it home safe and sound. Microchips are as tiny as a piece of rice and will tell people where the cat belongs. The majority of veterinarians possess scanners that can read your chips. Because these chips are placed underneath your cat’s skin, they won’t get lost.
You may be able to find a better deal on your cat’s prescription online instead of purchasing them from your veterinarian. There are some times when this isn’t a good idea, like when you’re dealing with a pet related emergency. If you are buying cat medicine often, you can usually save up to 50% online.
If your cat is traveling with you, remember their ears. You may prefer loud music as you drive down the freeway, blasting your stereo, but your feline friend likes softer sounds better. Try turning down your tunes or keeping it off to make your cat’s trip better.
Use a brush on your cat regularly. Brushing spreads natural oils through the fur and also stimulates circulation. Additionally, brushing helps to expedite hair shedding. This is a good way to avoid hairballs, which are a serious health problem since they can cause choking.
You don’t want to punish a cat if they do their business outside of their litter box. Improper box care on your part causes the mess, not the cat. Punishments given to the cat will just make him or her less willing to be around its owner going forward.
Make sure your cat always wears identification tags on their collar. Even if it’s an indoor cat, this is important. Cats can be very curious and they may escape out of a door or a window. You should use a tag with your contact information and the address of your veterinarian. Also make sure to note any unusual medical requirements.
If your cat is urinating a lot or in areas away from the litter box, they may need to see the vet. This may be a symptom of an infection of the urinary tract or another health problem in your cat. Certain antibiotics prescribed by your vet can clear up the problem.
Litter Box
Make sure that the litter box placement is easy for your cat to get to. It is tempting to place it out of sight, in order to avoid the image of it or smells that go along with dirty litter. But the most important factor is making sure your cat can easily access its littler box. Your cat will use the litter box if it is placed in a quiet place and away from smells your cat does not enjoy. For example, a rug or mat is a good way to make a litter box placed on a concrete floor more attractive to your cat.
You should worry if your cat is no longer using its litter box. Using the bathroom outside of the litter box is linked to a number of cat health issues. A UTI or kidney infection may be the reason for its bathroom problems. If your cat stops going in the litter box, a call to the vet is in order.
Don’t use chemicals near your cat that have phenol. This chemical is usually in Pine-sol, Lysol, and other house cleaners. Cats hate the smell of phenol and continuously exposing them to it could cause liver problems later in their lives.
Don’t have an outdoor cat declawed. Without claws, your cat is essentially defenseless against other animals. This is a dangerous situation for the cat. Only indoor cats should be declawed. 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.
You are going to be having a great time with your cat now that you’ve read the tips here. As you can see, relating to your cat is really not that difficult at all. A healthy cat will make your days much more enjoyable.