Cats make wonderful companions. As an owner of a pet cat, it is important that you educate yourself on all of the best cat pet care tips and advice. This article is filled with great pet care information designed to ensure that your kitty-cat enjoys a wonderful life and stays healthy well into old age.
If you have multiple cats, save money on cat dishes by checking your local dollar store for salsa dishes. You can usually get a package of three for a dollar. These are sturdy and come in pretty colors. They look nice in your kitchen, and they are just the right size for cat food.
If you want to have the love of a cat, get one from a shelter. Shelters have a lot of cats in them and you can get one adopted for a small fee. When you bring home a shelter cat, you will be saving its life and you will be doing your part to help out.
Make sure to keep your cat’s litter box clean at all times. Most cats do not like to use a dirty litter box, much like you would not want to use a dirty toilet. Scoop it at least once a day. Empty and give it a good cleaning once a week or more if needed.
Don’t be pushy when you are getting to know your new cat. Cats prefer to be in control and take things at their own pace. Make sure your new cat is comfortable and safe. Let your cat take its time exploring its new environment. When your cat feels at home, it will be more likely to try to make friends with you.
Use care if you have kids and a cat. If the child is younger than 5, don’t leave them alone with a kitten. A child of that age doesn’t realize when they are being too rough with a pet. Find your child’s age of maturity when it comes to handling pets.
Cats enjoy being high up. For a truly happy cat, provide a safe place for your cat to survey his surroundings. You should install a cat tree or allow your cat to climb on some shelves. You can even lay down a blanket to give your kitty some comfort.
If your cat goes outdoors a lot, the chances are good that they come home filthy once in a while. When your cat is especially dirty or smelling like a skunk, you should make an appointment with the local groomer. Groomers will be gentle with your cat, resulting in a less traumatic experience.
Speak with other cat owners about any issues you may be having. It’s possible that you could solve the problem on your own, but why deny help from others? The Internet has many cat forums where you can ask your questions, or simply speak with your vet.
Do not try to hold a cat when they are clearly trying to get away. This will not make the cat feel any closer to you and it may prompt them to start avoiding you in the future. Pick the cat up gently and lay him across your lap. If you feel him wiggling to get away, let him go.
New cats are sometimes not welcomed in the home. In the early days, you may see a lot of posturing from the cats including hissing and swatting at each other. Eventually, they will come to tolerate and actually enjoy being together.
When your cat has kittens, it can be tempting to get rid of them as soon as possible, but you should wait a reasonable amount of time. A kitten needs to learn a few things from mom before going off into the world alone, so give him six weeks to learn all he can.
Is your cat really sweet and lovable? If so, they might make a good therapy pet. Pet therapy uses animals to go into places like nursing homes, and bring some joy to the people there. Your cat will be happy with all the attention, and you can feel good about doing something positive for others.
One way a dog shows affection for his owner is to wag his tail. Cats wag their tail as well, but have different reasons psychologically. For cats, tail-wagging usually indicates some type of conflict or that he is deciding whether or not to attack or flee from a situation. If this happens while your cat is in your arms, put him down as soon as possible.
As was discussed in the opening of this article, cats make perfect pets. As great as cats are however, it is necessary for you as a cat owner to educate yourself on cat care and learn all of the ins and outs. Take advantage of the info in this article to ensure that your beloved kitty stays healthy and happy.