It is hard to describe how wonderful it is to have a cat. Cats can, however, take a lot of commitment and time. With cat ownership, comes many responsibilities. The article below has the information you need. Become aware of what the commitment entails, then approach it wisely.
Make sure your cat is regularly visiting the vet for checkups. In addition to checking the health of your cat, a vet can give him any needed shots. Try using the same vet during your cat’s life. That way, the doctor will be familiar with the history of your cat.
Cat’s claws can really put a dent in your furniture. If your couch is starting to look like it’s been put through a shredder, it’s time to invest in a nice scratching post or cat tower. They can scratch the post instead. They may not take to it overnight, but they should eventually.
Cats are known for spending inordinate amounts of time grooming themselves. If your cat is long haired, this may cause hairballs. To fix this problem, you can try buying a new food. Some foods have special formula for hairball reduction, which will benefit you and your cat.
Look online for cat medicine. In some situations, you may not have the choice to purchase meds over the Internet, such as a health emergency. But if you have to regularly buy pet medicine, you can save 50% or more on some medicines by buying online.
Avoid letting your cat go outdoors. Your cat might not be safe outside. Your cat may pick up some fleas, or worse. Other animals and vehicles could also injure your cat. If you allow your cat outside, make sure you live in a reasonably safe area.
Cats feel safest in an elevated location. Make sure your cat has a safe place to play. You can use a cleared shelf if you’d rather not have a cat tree. Putting a soft cat bed on the shelf can help to add a little comfort.
Litter Box
You shouldn’t be training your cats for litter box use. This is a natural instinct that cannot be taught. Many people think rubbing a cat’s paws in litter will teach them to use the litter box, but it might actually traumatize them.
Splurge on your cat’s food. Look over the ingredients in the food, and be sure there is some kind of a protein source in the food. Don’t give your cat foods that have corn or other elements that have no protein. The main part of a cat’s diet should be meat protein, so his cat food should be mostly real meat.
Pay attention to your cat’s litter box habits. If it stops using the box, medical problems could be to blame. There are conditions that will cause a kitty to do this. Kidney, bladder and infection issues can make this occur. Ask your vet if your cat begins missing the litter box.
When your cat is nearly ready to have her kittens, prepare a spacious, but protected area for your cat to give birth. Labor can last as long as four hours, so stay patient. If you suspect that there are more kittens inside your cat and it has been six hours of labor or more, you should take your cat to the veterinarian immediately.
Indoor Cats
Don’t have an outdoor cat declawed. An outdoor cat who has been declawed cannot defend itself as well without claws; therefore, you are putting your cat in extreme danger. Indoor cats can be declawed, though. Even in the case of indoor cats, you should only declaw the front claws. A cat’s back claws are important to his balance.
Cats will smell changes around their home. Sometimes this causes problems if you introduce a new food dish, bed, or scratching post. Your cat may not initially appreciate a new pet. After your cat adjusts to the new scent, they’ll be more interested in the new object.
If your cat is prone to hairballs and additional brushing has no effect, you may be able to resolve the problem in other ways. You can try blending a spoon of pumpkin into her food. You can also mix one teaspoon of tuna water in with the pumpkin. Some cat foods even have anti-hairball benefits.
As was stated in the beginning of this article, you can benefit a great deal from owning a cat. But good care is key to enabling your cat to maximize the duration of its life. If you see cat ownership in your future, put these tips to good use!
