If you understand good cat care, you will have yourself a wonderful pet. As the owner of a cat, you have the responsibility of making sure your cat has everything it needs to enjoy life. The following tips will help you out.
You never want to leave the cords of your drapes dangling down. If your cat plays with looped drape cords, they could get caught around its neck, which presents a suffocation hazard. This could kill them. Make sure drapery cords are kept back to avoid this.
Prevent your cat from chewing on electrical cords by spraying bitter apple on them. If your cat still prefers to chew on cords, then you have to make sure they stay covered. An inexpensive way to hide electrical cords is to thread them through used paper towel rolls. Whenever you aren’t using any thin, electronic cords, you should store them away.
Cats are often nocturnal creatures. They are often active at nighttime. Close your bedroom door if your cat is driving you nuts at night. This way, they can’t disturb you while you sleep.
Set a tablecloth under your cat’s food bowl. Sometimes cats prefer to remove food from their bowls and eat it from the floor. Sometimes this will make the area around the bowl messy, and you’ll have to clean it. The best thing for you to do is to have a place mat underneath the cat’s bowl.
Kids Understand
When you purchase a kitten for your child, set rules and boundaries beforehand. Make sure everyone understands which parts of the house the cat is not allowed in. If your have an indoor-only cat, be sure the kids understand that the cat is not to go outside. Setting up rules ahead of time can help your kids understand better.
If your cat constantly meows, you need to try to figure out why. If you stay around a cat for a period of time you will figure out what their verbal cues mean. She could be trying to tell you she’s hungry or needs to go outside. You’ll learn her cues quickly.
Just because your family did it when you were a child, does not mean allowing your cat to go outside is a wise decision. Letting your cat outside greatly increases his risk level. The cat can get fleas or something much worse. It can also be potentially hurt by cars, people or other animals. If your cat has to be outside, make sure it is only in a small area near the house.
Cat Owners
Speak with other cat owners about any issues you may be having. It can really help to get advice from fellow cat owners. There are also forums on the Internet which cater to cat parents.
Your cat deserves a high quality food. Ensure that the food your cat eats is very high in protein. The foods to avoid are those with a large amount of corn and low amounts of protein. Cats need meat, not vegetables.
Provide your cat with a drinking fountain. Cats like their water to move. Cats react better to a moving water stream. Actually, you will see many cats prefer running tap water from the sink instead of the water bowl. A drinking fountain is a more environmentally-friendly way to allow them to drink naturally.
Ensure that your cat wears a collar and identification tags at all times. This is even true for indoor cats. Cats can slip out a door in a flash. Make sure the collars have tags with your contact information and your veterinarian’s information as well. Obviously, this is particularly important for pets who have special health concerns.
Cat Sheds
Is your cat shedding like a madman? When a cat sheds a lot, brushing is very important. If your cat sheds a lot, you probably need to brush it more often. Brushing is a good way to keep your cat’s coat from getting matted and tangled.
You need to carefully consider where you put the litter box for your cat. Your first instinct will be to put it in a nook or cranny so that you won’t see or smell it. Make sure your cat can easily reach the litter box at all times. This will keep your cat as happy as possible. For example, a rug or mat is a good way to make a litter box placed on a concrete floor more attractive to your cat.
Your cat’s choice to potty outside the litter box could signal something more worrisome than misbehavior. There are a number of health issues that can lead a well-trained cat to urinate in places other than their litter box. A bladder infection is often at the root of the problem. Speak with your vet if your pet stops using the litter box.
Litter Box
If your pet is avoiding its litter box, try moving it to a different spot. Cats feel vulnerable when relieving themselves, so make sure the litter box is in a secluded spot. Areas away from high activity are a good choice, such as basements and laundry rooms.
You should not let your de-clawed cat outdoors. Without claws, the cat cannot defend against other animals, which can lead to real issues. Only indoor cats should be declawed. The front claws should be the only ones removed. Leaving the back claws are important so that your cat can scratch themselves.
Cats are popular pets but they need to be cared for properly. As a good pet owner, read through this whole article several times and use the information for your own cat. If you take good enough care of your cat you can be sure that it has a life that is well worth living.
