Many people really are not prepared for the full responsibility of cat ownership. It is a serious mistake to bring a pet home without first preparing yourself and your home. Even when you are prepared you might run into some issues. Luckily these tips can give you an edge and help you face the unknown.
If you plan on getting a cat for a pet, try looking into a local shelter. There are tons of loving cats there, and the fees often cover the needed vet care. Adopting a cat this way helps to save their life and cut down on unwanted animal births.
Cats enjoy getting into spaces that are small. If they have a collar on, this can be dangerous. A collar that is a breakaway model will detach itself if it gets pulled on. Your cat can preserve a few of his nine lives with this.
If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. A lost cat is much easier to locate if they are properly tagged. Have your phone number engraved on the tag.
Keep your cat active and entertained to avoid boredom. Just like dogs, cats need playtime and physical exercise, too. Unfortunately, a lot of cat owners neglect this. Bored cats can become depressed and inactive, causing harm to their well-being. Give them enough space to exercise in, with fun toys to keep them entertained. Be sure your cat has something they can climb and something they can scratch if they stay inside.
Litter Box
Pick the right location for your cat’s litter box. Don’t put it close to your cat’s food or in an area that gets too much traffic. Allow for adequate ventilation to dispel any odors. Your cat is certain to appreciate a litter box that is put into a good location.
If you’re traveling with your cat, take care to remember their ears. You may think it’s a good idea to listen to loud music on your stereo, but cats generally don’t enjoy this. Therefore, try to turn down your music or keep if off altogether so your cat has a better trip.
Make sure that you have a good tablecloth for your kitten. Often, a cat will remove food from his bowl to eat on the side. This can result in you having to clean up food outside its bowl if you don’t use a tablecloth. To simplify your clean up duties, place a ready made placemat under the dish or purchase some inexpensive fabric and use it like a tablecloth.
If you get a cat for your kids, make sure to set clear boundaries in advance. Make sure your children know where in the house the cat is permitted to be. If you’re planning to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that the cat is not allowed to be outside. Knowing the rules ahead will help your child understand.
Do you have both a dog and a cat? Understand that dogs will usually eat cat’s food if they can. Because of this, you should keep your cat’s food in a high spot that your dog won’t be able to reach. The added benefit is that you will prevent fights over the other animals food and water when one of them runs out.
Litter Box
Never try to teach a cat how to work a litter box. This is not something that needs to be taught. In fact, it comes naturally for them. Don’t try to force them into the litter box by rubbing their paws or face in it.
You cat needs to get used to being in a carrier. The same response to punishment that you would expect from a dog does not apply to a cat. Cats are much more responsive to positive interaction rather than negative. Put the carrier in a comfortable place and fill it with treats and toys. Over time, the cat will feel comfortable and go inside the carrier. Let it happen naturally or with only mild coaxing. Do not get angry. In the future, your cat will not get scared when you put him in the carrier.
If you offer a variety of foods to your cat, it will be less picky about what it eats. By feeding the cat the same kind of food over and over again, they become used to that specific food. Good luck getting it to try something new!
You should install a small drinking fountain for your cat. In the wild, cats prefer running water to drink from, and they do in the home as well. Your cat, if its like most, will really respond to this running water. In fact, there are cats that enjoy drinking from a running sink instead of a bowl. Installing a drinking fountain for your cat is a more eco-friendly way to provide it with some running water.
These tips should be useful whether you have a Siamese kitten or an old Bengal. There are raising concepts that are shared among cats, but there can still be some variation. Remember to have plenty of fun and give your cat plenty of love and attention.
