Suppose you own or are considering owning a cat: congratulations! Animals of the feline persuasion are some of the most amazing companions you can find anywhere. The following article will provide you with expert tips on managing life with your cat and taking care of him. Read on for fun and helpful information.
You should be bringing your cat to their vet for a check-up regularly. Cats need yearly shots and overall health assessments. Do your best to keep the same vet for your pet’s entire life. This way, the vet will be very familiar with your cat and its history.
If you find your cat is harming furniture or other objects, it may be boring. Keep a few safe toys around for your cat to play with. Scratching posts can also deter your cat from scratching your furniture. Or, build a small cat house out of cardboard. Your cat will love having a place to hide, and the cardboard can also be used to scratch on!
An indoor cat who gets a taste of the outdoors will forever want to go outside. If you know your cat will always be an indoor cat, do your best to keep them from sneaking out. You can try to train your cat to stay in your yard when you are outside.
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 the garbage pick-up day.
Cats and electrical cords don’t mix. If you notice your cat has a habit of chewing on electric cords, try to bundle them up and hide them out of the cat’s reach. If that’s not possible, spray a little bit of bitter apple onto the cords. Not only are bitter apples non-toxic, cats absolutely hate the taste.
When it comes to litter boxes, placement is everything. Do not place it in a busy area or close to where your cat eats meals. Make sure it’s properly ventilated to keep the smell down. You and your cat will prefer this in the end.
Having a hard time giving your cat a bath? Try this. Take an old window screen and put it in your sink or bathtub. Put your cat in, and he will claw the screen and stay there. Then start washing, but don’t dilly-dally. Use a cup to help you to pour warm water on your cat unless you have a movable shower head.
Cover the area around your cat’s bowl with a cloth. Sometimes cats like to take food out of the bowl and eat it to the side of the bowl. If this occurs, you will have a mess on your hands. To make cleaning up a breeze, use a place mat underneath the bowl or a piece of fabric. You’ll be able to pick it up easily and shake the excess food into the trash.
Get your cat a breakaway collar. Make sure it has tags that reflect a phone number, even if you are uncomfortable with an address. Cats can run outdoors or slip away, and you don’t want to worry that you’ll never see your cat again. Make sure that there is adequate information so you can be reached.
If your cat has to have surgery, such as being spayed or neutered, it will need rest when they come home. It is hard to keep a cat from jumping up on furniture, but necessary to avoid pulling out stitches. Designate an area in your house for your cat to recuperate where they will be less likely to injure themselves until they are healed enough to roam free.
Never reprimand your cat for missing the litter box. Most of the time, when this happens, it is because you are not taking proper care of the box. Punishing your cat will make it afraid of being close to you.
Feed your cat a few different varieties of food. This can help him not get too finicky. If they start eating just one type of food without variation, they are sure to grow finicky.
Understand that your cat is easily influenced by its surroundings. Cats have superior memories and will usually retain training for a lifetime. Conversely, they also retain frightening experiences, and it takes them a long time to get over their fears. Be encouraging with your cat and avoid situations that scare them.
Long-haired breeds are pretty, but understand how much work they are before you get one. All that hair will be literally everywhere. If you don’t mind cleaning, get a long-haired cat. Not to mention cats that have long hair are more prone to getting issues with hairballs.
Get your cat all the necessary vaccinations. There are a number of them, and you should talk to your veterinarian about the proper schedule. Many are given at the early stages of a kitten’s development, then given annually thereafter. These vaccinations prevent such problems as feline leukemia, rabies, and respiratory problems.
Encourage your child to play with cats by using toys, not by using their fingers and hands. Choose toys that put distance between the child’s hands and the cat’s teeth and claws. During a vigorous play session, an excited kitten is more likely to accidentally scratch their playmate’s skin. For example, you might use a long wand-type toy with a dangling feather or bell.
Use sticky tape on your furniture. Whenever your cat scratches any upholstery, sticky tape is a great way to dissuade them from doing it again. Some stores for pets have special tape for this situation. You should also give your cat a favorable alternative by purchasing a scratching post.
Cats are said to be very intuitive and sometimes more helpful as companions than even other humans! If you own one, you already know this! Hopefully, this article has given you answers to the questions you have about cats and set you straight on important issues. Enjoy your cat for many years to come.
