Cats need to eat good quality food to keep them healthy. The problem is that so many different kinds of wet and dry cat foods on the market are expensive. Here are some ways that you can feed your cat without resorting to feeding them unhealthy foods or table scraps.
Let kittens and cat-friendly pet dogs get to know each other slowly. Put up a baby gate to keep dogs in one room while your new kitten gets used to its surroundings. Supervise carefully when the kitten ventures to the gate to meet the dogs. When the kitten feels safe, it will climb the gate. If it feels threatened, it will pop right back out to safety.
If you have outdoor cats, be sure to discourage pests such as coyotes, possums and raccoons by bringing cat food indoors at night. Feed your cats first thing in the morning, and make sure there is no food left at nightfall. This will keep your cats safe from attack and illness.
Spay your female cat. It is best to spay your cat, even if you want to keep it as an indoor pet. If you want to prevent this, spay your cat.
Choose a high quality food. The key to a healthy cat starts with nutrition. Take a look at the ingredients label. If you look at most “popular” commercial cat foods, you may be surprised to see the top ingredient listed is corn. Cats are carnivores, so look for a food with a real meat as the top ingredient. You may pay more up front, but these foods are often more nutritionally dense, meaning your cat eats less and the bag lasts longer.
If your dog and cat are best friends, be sure to keep them separate after flea treatment. Your dog’s flea products are very hazardous for cats. Cats that come in contact with dog flea products often die. Be sure to use only cat products on your cat and only dog products on your dog.
Deter your cat from chewing on inappropriate things by using bitter apple. If that doesn’t work, cover those cords up however you can. You can take loose cords, bundle them up, and stick them inside the tube from an old roll of paper towels. If you own electronic devices with thin cords, you should keep them out of your cat’s reach when you’re not using them.
Protect your cat from choking. Be sure to dispose of poultry and fish bones safely. Wrap them in a paper or plastic bag and put them in your outdoor garbage can with the lid tightly secured. Alternately, place them in a plastic bag and freeze them until garbage pick up day.
Do not use medicine meant for a dog on a cat. This is especially important for topical medicines. Cats do their own cleaning, and if a dog medicine is used on a cat, your pet can ingest it. There are some medicines that work for both cats and dogs, but only use them if the vet says it is okay.
Most cats love to lounge right on your lap. As cozy as this can be, it is not always convenient. If your cat has a favorite spot, such as on your lap at the computer it can be hard to get things done. Getting a pet bed for your cat and perching it right next to your chair can help satisfy your cats need to be near you.
Turn out the lights and use a black-light to identify the source of that mystery cat urine smell. Cat pee contains phosphorus, which glows brightly under this type of light bulb. This is especially useful because otherwise you might not be able to see the exact area to be treated. Use a piece of chalk to lightly trace the outline of the stain so you can see it when you turn the regular lights back on.
When your cat first gives birth to her kittens, resist the urge to pick them up. This is a crucial time for kittens to bond with their mother and learn some basics, so leave them alone. You should be able to have more interaction with the kittens after about a week.
Avoid any products containing phenol around your cats. This is something that’s often in Pine-sol, Lysol, and other popular cleaners. Not only do cats intensely dislike the smell, the chemical can also cause liver damaged if they are exposed to it for a lengthy time.
You get out of your cat what you put into it. If you give your cat the best, you get the best behavior, and the best level of health from your cat. Cat food can be expensive, but you don’t have to let this discourage you. Use these tips and feed your cat for less.
