The poet T.S. Eliot described felines as a being that all households are dependent on, and that’s true. A cat who is healthy and behaves well can be a great companion, and he can be an asset to any home. Sadly, it’s not always easy to co-exist with felines. You should keep reading to learn how you can become a better pet owner.
Keep your drapery cords out of the reach of your cat. Cats should not be allowed to play with these cords, as they can get parts of their body stuck in the cord loops. This could even choke them to death. Keep your drape cords pinned out of sight to prevent this.
Groom your cat. A cat requires regularly brushing and combing. If this is done frequently, your cat’s coat will be much cleaner. Removing excess hair also reduces shedding and can prevent hairballs. A well groomed cat, then, is a happy and healthy cat.
Be certain your cat has regular vet visits. They should have a routine check-up once a year or more if important shots are due. Cats need to see a vet right away if they have health issues, injuries or conditions that require immediate attention.
Contact Information
Consider having your cat fitted with a microchip. You may not have had trouble with your cat getting loose previously, but it can happen at any time by accident. Tags and collars may be able to help you get your cat back, but cats can sometimes take these things off or they could get hung up on a tree or something. A microchip will hold the contact information to reach you and it’s only about as big as a piece of rice. Most vets and all shelters can scan these chips to get your contact information and there is no risk of losing the chip.
You might find that your cat sleeps all day and wants to be active at night. Thus, the bulk of their activity will occur at night. If you have trouble sleeping because of cats, you may want to close the door to your bedroom. This should help them from waking you during the night, pouncing on your feet under the covers.
Keep your cat’s litter box in the right location. Don’t put it in a busy area, and keep it away from your cat’s food. Put it in a ventilated area to reduce odors. Not only will your cat appreciate it but you will too.
Anytime you travel with a cat, their ears should be monitored. You may enjoy it, but it could be hurting your cat’s ears. Keep your music off, and talk to your cat instead.
Cats enjoy being high up. A happy cat is one that has a safe living environment. If you do not want cats making a mess in your house, remove breakable items from your shelves. Putting a soft cat bed on the shelf can help to add a little comfort.
Cat Owners
Seek the advice of others if you have a cat that’s giving you problems. It can really help to get advice from fellow cat owners. Participate in online discussion boards for cat owners, or pick up the telephone and speak with your vet.
Feed your cat a few different varieties of food. This can help him not get too finicky. 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.
Don’t throw away your cat’s old scratching post. Cats love them! By throwing away an old scratching post and replacing it with a newer one, your cat will likely look for older items to scratch, such as your furniture.
Feed your cat top quality food. Read the ingredient label, and make sure a protein from meat tops the list. Don’t choose a food which is mainly corn. Cats are carnivores so it is important for them to get enough animal protein in their diet.
Play is something that all cats need to do. Actually playtime is very common for all animals, especially cats and people despite their age. While older cats aren’t near as energetic, they still enjoy playing often. Make sure you have fun with the cat whenever you can!
Happy dogs wag their tail. Cats wag their tail for a different reason. If your cats tail is wagging, it could indicate that the animal is facing a fight-or-flight situation. It also suggests possible conflict or uncertainty. If you notice you cat begin to wag his tail when you are holding him, put him down to be sure you are not scratched or swatted.
The foods you eat might not be very healthy for your pet. These can include chocolate, grapes, onions and tomatoes. These items can make your cat very ill. Milk can also end up giving your cat an upset stomach.
Any chemicals that have phenol should be kept away from your cat. This chemical is often in Lysol and certain other regular household cleaners. Cats hate the smell of phenol and continuously exposing them to it could cause liver problems later in their lives.
If you were unemployed when you got your cat, but are now heading back to work, your pet will probably have issues with loneliness. One tried-and-true way to keep a cat from getting lonely is to pair it up with another cat.
Give your cat varieties of dry food whenever possible. Kittens need some wet food because they have very small teeth. Hard, dry food is best for grown-up cats because it helps keep their teeth healthy and strong. You can also mix wet and dry food together if your cat is really picky.
It’s not easy to be a cat owner sometimes, but is is very rewarding. It doesn’t matter if your cat is energetic or totally lazy. These tips will strengthen your bond with your cat. Soon you’ll be dealing with a happier cat.