Cats make wonderful pets, but they are expensive to take care of properly. After paying for shots, toys, cat food, litter and grooming, you may feel like reconsidering your choice to own a cat. For ideas to improve your cat’s health and happiness, read on.
Ensure your cat remains groomed. Brush your cat’s fur often to help it be shiny and healthy. If yu do this quite often, it will help them stay clean. Also, this can eliminate the constant shedding that you will deal with. A cat that is well-groomed is one that looks the best at home.
Take your cat to the vet every year. Your cat should always go to the vet for a check up, especially if they need shots. If you notice that your cat appears to be experiencing some sort of illness or injury, do not delay a trip to the vet.
If you have an outdoor kitty, make sure to invest in a break away collar with an identification tag. This can help if your cat becomes lost while wandering in the great outdoors. At least put your phone number and pets name on the tag.
Keep your cat active and entertained to avoid boredom. Your cat needs plenty of exercise. A lot of cat owners do not keep their cats busy. Cats that are frequently bored may develop OCD, depression or other harmful conditions. Give them enough space to exercise in, with fun toys to keep them entertained. If they’re an indoor cat, get them an object to climb on or a scratching post.
The litter box for your cat needs to be positioned in the right place. It should not be placed in a high traffic area, and it should be far away from the cat’s food. Choose an area that is well-ventilated to avoid bad smells. This will keep both you and your cat happy.
When you get a cat for your kids, make sure your kids know the rules in advance. Make sure the children know where the cat is and is not allowed to roam. If the cat is to be indoors, tell your children not to allow him outside. This will ensure nothing bad happens.
Are you a cat and dog owner? Dogs won’t hesitate to eat food from your cat’s bowl. Because of this, you should keep your cat’s food in a high spot that your dog won’t be able to reach. Doing this will also help you avoid fights over the water bowl.
Cats love to be high up. Elevate your cat so that it can scan the area. If a cat tree is not your style, clear off a sturdy shelf that he can jump up on. The cat will especially enjoy it if you put a blanket on top.
Brush your cat regularly. This helps spread out the cat’s natural oils in their fur and stimulates blood flow in the skin. It will also minimize hair loss. This will help to eliminate hairballs, which build in your cat’s stomach and prevents it from grooming itself.
Do not punish your cat if they make a mess in the area outside of the litter box. It might be happening because you aren’t caring for the box good enough. If you punish the cat, it may shy away from you at future times.
You need to buy some quality food for your cat. Look at ingredient lists, making sure that a protein source, such as beef, chicken or fish, is at the top of the list. Steer clear of food made primarily of corn and fillers. Your cat is a carnivore, and for proper nutrition, he should have a food high in animal protein in order to keep him at his best.
It’s difficult to deny that owning any type of pet comes with costs and conundrums. There are so many things to do that it is akin to having a child. Although, there are many ways that you can reduce the expenses for your cat and care for it in the way that it deserves.
