Our love affair with having cats as a pet dates back many years. If you own a cat, it’s important that you know as much as possible about caring for your pet. Read this article thoroughly to pick up some great cat tips.
Before acquiring a cat, be sure that you have the wherewithal to take care of all necessary vet care. Cats reproduce at an alarming rate, and spaying or neutering is essential to keeping cat population under control. Check spay, neuter and vaccination costs and packages with local vets and clinics and be sure you can afford to give your cat proper medical care.
You need to take your pet to the vet on a regular basis. Not only will a veterinarian give a general physical exam, he or she will also make sure they have necessary vaccinations. For the most consistent pet care, choose one veterinarian and stick with them. This ensures that your vet will have an excellent understanding of your pet’s medical history.
You shouldn’t ever use products designed to be used on dogs on your cat. Cats are known to have severe negative reactions when exposed to products designed for dogs. This particularly applies to flea products. Flea products meant for dogs can seriously harm or kill a cat. After your dog receives a flea treatment, keep your cat away for at least a few hours.
Use bitter apple on your electric cords to keep your kitty away from them. If they like to chew on cords, try covering them as much as you can. You can bundle loose cords together and place them inside paper towel rolls. All thin cords should be put up when you’re not using them.
Protect your cat from strangling by making sure the cords of curtains and blinds are secured and out of reach. When you make or purchase a dangly toy for your cat, be sure to supervise during play. Put the toy away if you will not be around to watch.
If you cat is pregnant is with babies, you can expect to have a lot of kittens on your hands. Create a comfortable place for the cat to deliver her babies somewhere in your home. Make sure the spot is big enough for the kittens to move around as they grow.
You may want to have a microchip implanted in your cat. Even cats who live completely indoors may someday decide to bolt out the door or escape out of a window. Although they provide the information needed to find your beloved pet, they can also accidentally get caught or even be wiggled out of. Microchips are very small, approximately as large as a single grain of rice. Although they are small, they can hold your entire contact information. Nearly all veterinarians and shelters now have scanners capable of reading the information on these chips, and since they are under the skin, there is no chance of the chip getting lost.
If your cat is overweight, there are two things you need to do. First, you have to adjust the amount of food you give them, and the other is that you need to get them exercising. Get them cat toys, or play with them yourself, to make sure they are getting the activity they need to slim down.
Male cats may develop crystals in the urine, which usually occur as a result of a poor diet. Passing those crystals hurts and having this corrected by a vet is expensive. Try to find a cat food that has a low level of magnesium. Read the ingredient list on the label. Products that have fish in them have more magnesium usually when compared to products with poultry.
Use short words when you want to express displeasure with your cat. A short ‘no’ will be remembered, even if not always followed. A lot of people think that cats don’t listen to anything, but short word commands are certainly understood by cats, and they will respond to those commands if you are consistent with them.
Make sure that there are enough litter boxes in your home for all of the cats that are staying there. It is optimal to have one litter box for each cat. If you live in a home that has a lot of floors, there should be one on each floor for each cat.
When getting a small kitten to eat dry kitten food, be patient. At first they usually just play with food. It may take a little while, but they’ll eventually learn that they are supposed to eat it rather than toy with it. If the food is moistened first with milk, a kitten may take to it faster.
As previously mentioned, cats are great pets. You have to work hard to keep them healthy and entertained. Refer back to this article whenever you have questions or concerns. This will definitely please your cat.
