Basic Cat Tips You Can Put Into Practice Today

The cat is a valued family member. It’s important then to keep ticks, fleas and other pests away from them. Make sure your cat gets the right food, enough exercise and has no parasites. Keep reading to better care for your cat.

Don’t let your cat near drape cords. Never let your cats play with drape cords, as they could seriously injure themselves. It may actually cause them some serious harm. Pin back drape cords to avoid this type of issue.

If your cat is a female, be sure to get her spayed when she is old enough. Even if she is an inside cat, you need to spay her because she could get out. The best method of stopping this is to have your cat spayed.

Your cat can devastate your furniture with its claws. If you are having problems with your cat clawing up furniture, then purchase a scratching post or kitty tower. They can scratch this instead. It may take some time and some corrections, but it can usually eliminate the problem.

It’s not easy to keep cats off counters. They love being above everything so that they can watch it all. Give them an alternative. If you don’t want your cats to jump on your counters, you can put a cat condo in or around the kitchen.

Litter Box

The litter box for your cat needs to be positioned in the right place. Don’t put it close to your cat’s food or in an area that gets too much traffic. In addition, you should ensure you place the litter box in a well-ventilated area to minimize the smell. Both you and your pet will appreciate that.

If your cat is male, understand that he could develop crystals inside his urine, which can be very painful to him. Therefore, prevent this issue from occurring in the first place by feeding your cat the right type of food. Passing stones or crystals hurts and can cost you a ton in vet bills if they don’t come out naturally. Feed cats food that’s low in magnesium. Look over the label. Poultry-based foods are generally lower in magnesium than fish.

Cats and small children may not always mix. Show your kids the proper way to handle cats. Spend some time showing them how to lift a cat and how they can interact with the cat. Cats’ bones are more fragile than those of dogs, so they need gentler treatment.

If you’re getting a kitten for your children, discuss this with them before bringing the cat home. Let your children know which areas of the house are off-limits for the cat. If you’re raising an indoor cat, inform your kids that the cat can’t go outside. Your children will be able to understand the rules more easily if they know them ahead of time.

Reconsider having an outdoor cat. It is dangerous in today’s society. Cats can become infected with fleas, ticks and ringworm. They might get injured by some other animals, vehicles, or people. If your cat must go outside, try to confine them to the backyard.

Do you see cat hair everywhere you look? Cats shed a ton, so they must be brushed frequently. If your cat sheds often, you will need to brush him more often. This will help to prevent tangling and matting.

If your cat is pregnant, make sure she has plenty of room to give birth. Since there are so many kittens, the birthing process can take a few hours. Should the time run to six hours, and you think more kittens are due, get the cat to the vet immedietely

Your food isn’t necessarily good for your cat. These foods include grapes, onions green tomatoes and garlic. These foods will cause indigestion or much worse for your cat. Even though everyone knows that cats love milk, this can actually cause a cat to have an upset stomach.

Cats do best on a diet high in dry food. When cats are kittens they need wet food because their teeth are so small. As an adult, the harder texture of dry food keeps their teeth strong. Try combining both dry and wet food together should you have a finicky feline.

Overfeeding a cat is a bad idea. Overeating can cause obesity in your cat, which can cause serious illness, similar to people. Pay attention to the portions your cat eats and choose your cat food very carefully.

Try using sticky tape if you own a cat. The tape will keep your cat from scratching your furniture and upholstery. Certain pet stores even sell this type of tape for this reason. By booby-trapping your furniture and putting up a scratching post, your cat will get out of the habit in no time.

Since cats can catch many diseases outside, such as rabies or fungal infections, plan on keeping your pet cat inside. While your cat may still have problems with these things as an indoor cat, they will have less of a chance to have these problems if they don’t go outside.

Make sure you know of any holes in your home that your cat might get into. Cats can get through minuscule gaps. This definitely applies to kittens. When you bring a new kitty home, keep this in mind. Repair or cover any holes or openings that may attract a cat.

Parasites can be a problem for most cats, and that includes your cat, too. Such pests can linger if untreated. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to eliminate parasites, or to keep them away from your cat completely. Saving your cat from these pesky creatures will benefit your cat and your peace of mind.