Many people make the mistake of not planning when they get a cat for the first time, and they run into a lot of issues. It is a serious mistake to bring a pet home without first preparing yourself and your home. Although, preparation may not be enough to fix every cat problem. You should keep reading to learn more about how you can properly care for your cat.
Groom your cat. Brushing is a very important component towards taking care of your cat. If you do this often, their coat will stay clean. It will also limit shedding and may cut down on hairballs. Regularly grooming your cat will help keep it and your home looking great.
Small places are spots cats love to get into. If they have a collar on, this might prove to be a safety risk if they happen to get stuck. Breakaway collars are designed to release in these situations. That’ll keep kitty safe.
Cat’s claws can really put a dent in your furniture. You need to get a scratching post or a cat tower to prevent your cat from ruining your furniture. Give them some encouragement and let them know it is okay to scratch that. Sooner or later, they’ll love to use it.
Cat medications can be bought affordable online. In an emergency, however, this might not be possible. If you are buying cat medicine often, you can usually save up to 50% online.
Cats enjoy climbing on things. Make sure your cat has a safe place to play. If a big cat tree is not something that can easily fit in your home, get a sturdy shelf that can be used as a perch. Make it extra comfortable by adding a blanket or cushion.
Cat Owners
If your cat experiences major problems, don’t be afraid to talk to other cat owners. Although you may want to go it alone, it can be helpful to seek advice from other people that have experience owning cats. Participate in online discussion boards for cat owners, or pick up the telephone and speak with your vet.
Give your cat a wide array of foods in order to prevent pickiness. If you feed them the same cat food every day, they may not accept anything else. This makes it difficult to find food they’ll eat when a store runs out of a certain brand, or you are traveling.
A battered appearance isn’t a good reason to discard a beloved cat condo or scratching post. Cats love them! If you throw it away, you may find your cat scratching on other surfaces.
Purchase high quality food for your cat. Read the ingredient label, and make sure a protein from meat tops the list. Some foods contain a lot of fillers like corn products, don’t buy those. You have a carnivorous cat, and a diet consisting of animal proteins is essential.
Make sure your cat is always wearing a collar with proper identification tags. Even indoor cats should have identification on them. Cats are endlessly curious and may head out an open door or window. You should use a tag with your contact information and the address of your veterinarian. This is especially true for cats with medical conditions.
If you’re adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a few weeks to get to know each other. Two cats may fight, hiss, or hide from each other until they become more comfortable. Eventually they are going to get used to each other, and they may even end up becoming best friends.
Litter Box
Make sure that the litter box placement is easy for your cat to get to. You may really want to hide that box from everyday life. However, it’s important to make sure your cat can easily access its litter box. This will keep your cat as happy as possible. If you keep the litter box on a cold cement floor, put a mat or rug down underneath it.
Dogs will wag their tails often to show their owners that they’re excited to see them. A cat wagging its tail can have a very different meaning. Tail wagging for a cat is more subtle and can indicate many different emotions. Sometimes a cat wags its tail when threatened or frightened. When you hold your cat and he begins to wag his tail, put him down!
Indoor Cats
Don’t have an outdoor cat declawed. The cat won’t be able to fight back if other animals attack it and that could get it hurt or killed. Indoor cats are the only ones who should be considered for declawing. Even in the case of indoor cats, you should only declaw the front claws. Allow your cat to retain their back claws which are less damaging to indoor surfaces.
Cats are able to smell very well and will notice changes to their environment. When you offer a new feeding bowl, cat condo, or bedding, your cat may resist. Don’t be upset if the cat does not take to these items immediately. Once the cat gets used to the smell of the new item, quickly he or she will get accustomed to it.
Pay attention to panting from your cat. Dogs love to pant. While excessive panting may be a symptom of anxiety, it may also be a symptom of something more serious. Take the cat to a veterinarian, especially if they’ve experienced previous breathing problems.
If hairballs are a problem that brushing won’t solve, there are some other things you can try. One mixed teaspoon of pumpkin mixed into your cat’s food should help. In addition to the pumpkin, try one teaspoon of water from a can of tuna. Special foods are available to help treat hairballs.
The tips contained here are great for any cat. You also need to get to know your cat better so you can adapt to its needs and habits. Remember to enjoy your new kitten because that’s the most important part of the process.
