Cats are one of the most popular pets in the world, loved by millions of people. These cats are abandoned and make up almost half of the whole cat population. Dealing with these issues is troubling.
If your cat is a female, it needs to be spayed when it reaches the appropriate age. Even if she spends her time indoors, it is possible for her to escape while in heat, causing an unwanted pregnancy. Having your cat spayed helps to control the pet population and will save you time and trouble.
Spraying the electrical cords in your home with a bitter apple solution helps keep the cats from chewing on them. If your cat still prefers to chew on cords, then you have to make sure they stay covered. You can take loose cords, bundle them up, and stick them inside the tube from an old roll of paper towels. Whenever you aren’t using any thin, electronic cords, you should store them away.
Microchip 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. A microchip will hold the contact information to reach you and it’s only about as big as a piece of rice. 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.
Try to avoid your cat from becoming bored each day. Cats need to play and get regular exercise. Sadly, many cat owners do not understand the importance of this. Bored cats will quickly wreck your home or become obese. Give them time and space where they can exercise and toys they can play with. Indoor cats will appreciate having a structure they can climb on or a dedicated scratching post.
Cats can have nocturnal tendencies. This means that they will usually be quite active at night. If your cat’s activities are keeping you awake at night, try keeping your bedroom door shut. This will ensure they don’t pounce on you at nighttime, or wake you up in other ways.
A tablecloth should be made for your cats. Cats often like to remove food from their bowl to eat it off to the side. Sometimes this will make the area around the bowl messy, and you’ll have to clean it. You can also use any type of mat underneath your cat’s eating apparatus to reduce the mess.
If you give your kids a kitten, provide them with firm boundaries at the same time. Make sure that you let your kids know which areas of the house the cat will be allowed in. If your have an indoor-only cat, be sure the kids understand that the cat is not to go outside. Clearly explaining the rules will limit future mishaps.
Do you have a cat and a dog? Understand that dogs will usually eat cat’s food if they can. Therefore, your cat’s food bowl should be placed in a high location that is out of your dog’s reach. This also ensures that there are no squabbles over the water between the two, when the food is gone.
When your cat makes a mess somewhere other than their litter box, don’t get mad. Usually this is a sign that you haven’t cleaned the box recently. Punishing your cat will make it afraid of being close to you.
Buy your cat a fountain to drink from. When cats are out in the wild they like to drink running water, and this is true in your home as well. Cats generally respond better to a stream of water. Cats will even drink from the tap if they can! A fountain will give them the same effect, and it is more environmentally friendly.
You should give your cat at least three weeks to grow used to the presence of a new animal. They might hide from each other or hit each other. However, cats should eventually learn to co-habitate properly.
Make sure that you play with your cat as often as possible. All animals of all ages need to play and a cat is no different. Even older cats like to play. Playing with your cat will help you to form happy and cherished memories to look back on.
You should now know more about having a pet cat. Cats are prone to a number of issues, but with the right knowledge, you’ll be able to handle all of them. Of course, cats are still sensitive animals and should be handled with care! You never know what the future holds, and it could be that you find a certain feral cat your life winds up incomplete without!
