Cats are fascinating animals and they make terrific pets. If you own a cat, it's important that you know as much as possible about caring for your pet. Keep reading to learn more about cat care.
Shop at your local pet shelter for your next cat. Shelters have a lot of cats in them and you can get one adopted for a small fee. Besides, adopting a cat from an animal shelter means you are saving this cat's life.
To help your old cat feel comfy, keep a tile that's heated under their bed. Use a 12" terra cotta tile and heat it by putting it in a 200ºF oven for 20 minutes. Put it inside an old towel, then place it beneath the cat's bed. If possible, re-heat several times throughout the night.
Cats can use their claws to destroy furniture and other parts of the house. 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. You should scold your cat when it scratches your furniture and direct its attention to the scratching post or tower. Your cat will eventually understand they should only use the post or tower for scratching.
Often, the best cat medicine deals are found online. There are some times when this isn't a good idea, like when you're dealing with a pet related emergency. The savings can amount to almost 50 percent on regularly prescribed medications.
Consider all the options before you let your cat be an outdoors cat. Your cat might not be safe outside. Your cat may get fleas or have other problems. Cars, people, or animals could hurt your beloved pet. If you must let your cat outside, do so in a very small area of your backyard or lawn.
Think twice before leaving a child alone with a kitten. Children under five years old should always be supervised when interacting with a pet. These children just do not possess the maturity to handle a kitten. They aren't aware of the danger that they can cause to it. When
view more mature, they can spend alone time with the kitty.
Brush your cat on a regular basis. This helps to stimulate blood flow and circulation, and it will also help to evenly distribute the natural oil your cat's fur has. Also, it helps manage loose hair. Loose hair causes hairballs, a common problem for cats. The hair enters the pet's stomach and they later cough it up.
Never punish the cat if he or she causes a mess outside 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 high-quality cat food. Ensure that the food your cat eats is very high in protein. Steer clear of food made primarily of corn and fillers. Cats are carnivores, and they need a good amount of protein in their diet.
If you are thinking about adding another cat to your home, you need to set aside a couple of weeks where you let the animals get used to being around each other. They will probably hide from each other, hiss or even attack each other. With enough time to acclimate themselves to the new arrangement, though, virtually any two cats will become willing, friendly, and perhaps even inseparable companions.
Think about the extra work before buying a long-haired cat. Shedding is a major issue that you will have to face. Don't adopt a cat with long fur unless you're sure you can handle the extra cleaning. Long-haired cats usually suffer from hairball problems too.
Carefully consider where you will place your friend's litter box. Many cat owners feel inclined to hide the litter box. The litter box needs to be placed in a spot that your cat can reach very easily. Felines can be finicky. This means you must give them the right location and make sure it is inviting. If you have the box on a floor that is cold cement for example, put a rug or mat under it.
Keeping vaccinations up-to-date is the way to make sure your cat lives longer and more healthy. Stick to regular check-ups. Your cat needs to get some shots regularly to prevent different illnesses and parasites. Your cat is wonderful addition to the family, and must be cared for in the same way that you would treat all members of your household.
Put a collar on the cat that lists your name, address, and phone number on it. Even if they're an indoor cat, they may get out. They have to be able to get home again.
If you have chemicals that contain phenol, make sure that you do not use these around your cat. The chemical is most often found in pine cleaners. Cats hate the smell of phenol and continuously exposing them to it could cause liver problems later in their lives.
Cats are wonderful pets, as previously discussed. Keeping your cat happy and healthy means learning as much as you can about cat care. Read this article several times to make sure that you glean all of the information you can from it. Your furry friend will say thank you in his own special way when you reward him with all your new knowledge!