After getting their first cat, many families encounter unexpected issues. Finding a pet without preparing first is a terrible mistake. Even if you are an experienced cat owner, there are always things you can learn to take better care of your cat. The following tips can put you in the best position as a caretaker.
Make a free toy for your cat by placing a little dry rice or a few dry beans inside an empty pill bottle. Close the lid and roll the rattly toy across the floor. Most cats can’t resist the sound and motion. You can also tie a length of twine around the neck of the bottle to make a pull toy or a dangly toy.
It may prove quite a challenge to make your cat stay off counter tops. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings. You may mitigate the problem by providing designated heights for them to use. Sometimes strategically placing a tall cat tower near your kitchen will help.
Feed your cats proper food. Remember that cats must eat meat. Only give your cats cat food to eat. Do not feed them or let them eat dog food. Dogs and cats have different nutritional needs and some of the ingredients in dog food could harm your cat. Feeding your cat dog food for food could also lead to malnourishment, among other issues.
Make sure to keep chemicals and dangerous substances away from your cat. Chemicals like antifreeze have a sweet taste. This encourages the cat to drink it, most often resulting in fatal consequences. Keeping your chemicals locked up in a cabinet will help to ensure that your curious cat does not end up ingesting poison.
Think about having a microchip inserted in your cat. Even indoor cats can decide to run away at a moment’s notice, escaping through an open window. A collar with tags increases your chances of getting your cat back if it gets lost but it can also be a risk, for instance if it gets snagged in some branches. You can use a microchip instead; you can store your contact information in the chip and it will not bother your cat. Scanners to read pet microchips are available in every town and they will not come out from under the skin.
Male felines tend to get crystals in the urine that can be prevented with proper diet. Just like kidney stones, these crystals are painful and vet bills are pricey. Choose foods low in magnesium for your cat. Always read labels. Products that have fish in them have more magnesium usually when compared to products with poultry.
Should you leave the house with your cat, make sure that she is wearing a collar with tags. This way, if anything happens and you two become separated, anyone can find her and know how to reach you. Your cat may not like the collar all the time, but when she’s out of the house it can save her.
Use short words when you want to express displeasure with your cat. A short ‘no’ will be remembered, even if not always followed. A lot of people think that cats don’t listen to anything, but short word commands are certainly understood by cats, and they will respond to those commands if you are consistent with them.
Having a hard time giving your cat a bath? Try this. Take an old window screen and put it in your sink or bathtub. Put your cat in, and he will claw the screen and stay there. Then start washing, but do don’t dilly dally. Use a cup to help you to pour warm water on your cat unless you have a movable shower head.
Understand that your cat is easily influenced by its surroundings. Cats have superior memories and will usually retain training for a lifetime. Conversely, they also retain frightening experiences and it takes them a long time to get over their fears. Be encouraging with your cat and avoid situations that scare them.
Before bringing home a long-haired cat, consider the extra care involved. Even though that nice coat of beautiful silky fur looks great, it can leave a mess on your floors, furniture and clothing. Long-haired cats can be very high maintenance over the course of the year. Long-haired cats usually suffer from hairball problems too.
If you have more than one cat, you need more than one litter box. Ideally, each cat should have its own box. This prevents the box from becoming overfilled or crowded. An unappealing shared litter box sometimes causes cats to take their bathroom business elsewhere in your house. As you can imagine, this can be quite a nasty surprise!
There are some thing that you eat that may not be good for your cat. Common foods that are poisonous to cats include: garlic, grapes, onions and tomatoes. These foods are healthy for humans, but they can make cats very sick. Too much milk can also be a bad thing for a grown cat.
Medical conditions and other dietary factors may make it necessary to switch your cat from moist foods to dry formulas. Cats are finicky enough already, and many resist the change. For the first week or so, mix the dry food with a small amount of warm water to soften it up. Gradually decrease the liquid until your cat will eat the dry food. If you try this approach, do not allow the moistened food to sit for longer than 20 minutes; it could spoil.
These tips can work on cats of all breeds and ages. You also need to get to know your cat better so you can adapt to its needs and habits. Always keep in mind that it’s good to enjoy your cat while using the above tips.
