A little furry ball of fluff came into your life, so what are you going to do with it? A cat is a wonderful companion for anyone, but you’ve got to know how to handle one. They aren’t dogs, after all! Here are some great tips for dealing with felines.
Cats enjoy getting into spaces that are small. Collars can be a safety risk if your kitty gets stuck. Collars designed to release when sufficient force is applied (“breakaway” collars) are a great idea. A collar like this could save your cat’s life.
If your cat is getting older, you can increase it’s comfort by placing its bed over a heated tile. Heat a fabric covered heating pad in the microwave for a couple of minutes, making sure that is not too hot to the touch. Wrap this in a towel that’s old and then place it under the bed the cat sleeps on. Change it regularly if you need to.
If you have a male cat, it is important to have him neutered before he goes into heat. When male cats start maturing, they will begin to spray around the house. It smells like ammonia and is hard to remove. Having your male cat neutered can help to prevent this from happening.
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 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 is bitter apple non-toxic, cats absolutely hate the taste.
Give your cats easier access to a window in order to keep your curtains from getting scratched. Putting vertical blinds up will allow the easiest access for your cat, but if you need to keep your curtains, use a lightweight rod that will fall if your cat attempts to climb the curtains. It will keep both your curtains and your cat safe.
Make sure you have a good pet carrier or basket for transporting your cats from one location to the next. A proper carrier or basket should have enough room for them to turn around in comfortably. It should also be easy to clean. Make sure that it is lined with a blanket, cushion, or towel to help it stay comfortable and cozy for them when traveling.
When you move your cat from one house to another, be sure to move the cat last. Set up a quiet room with familiar items for the cat. Keep your cat in the room and quiet for a day or two. Visit and feed the cat in the room. After a couple of days, the cat can explore the rest of the house.
If your cat is overweight, there are two things you need to do. First, you have to adjust the amount of food you give them, and the other is that you need to get them exercising. Get them cat toys, or play with them yourself, to make sure they are getting the activity they need to slim down.
If you’re looking for good prices on cat medications, check online sources. The prices will usually be substantially better than at your vet. You can’t always get it online. If you regularly need to buy pet medication, you can get a savings of up to 50 percent online.
Let your cat exercise their hunting instinct. Cats are natural born hunters; however, this does not mean you need to allow mice to invade your home. Hide treats and toys throughout your home, and your cat will have a blast hunting down their treats. You can also find feather and laser toys that your cat can chase and pounce on.
Are you the proud owner of both a cat and dog? Dogs are known for eating other pet’s food. That’s why you should place your cat’s food in a place which is hard for your dog to reach. This will ensure they don’t fight over food or water, too.
You should do regular checkups of your cat between veterinarian visits. A good time to do this is when you are petting the animal. Check the entire body for things like scabs and lesions. Also look in and around the ears for any discharge, which can be a sign of ear mites. Check the cat from head to tail.
Never try to teach a cat to use a litter box. They do this by nature and don’t need to be taught. Many people think rubbing a cat’s paws in litter will teach them to use the litter box, but it might actually traumatize them.
Try moving your litter box somewhere else if the cat won’t use it. Whenever a cat is using the restroom, it feels vulnerable; therefore, the litter box needs to be kept in a safe and quiet location. Areas away from high activity are a good choice, such as basements and laundry rooms.
Despite popular belief, you should never give your cat milk to drink. Cats’ digestive systems lack an abundance of lactase, the enzyme used to break down dairy products. The reality is that this can cause your cat to experience diarrhea, vomiting, and other types of gastrointestinal discomfort. In this case, milk does NOT do a body good!
Now that you’ve read this article, you have some ideas for how you can best take care of your cat. These unique creatures can enrich your life, but only when they’re happy. Your cat may never seem satisfied, but if you use the tips in this article, he may purr a few times!
