There was a famed poet once that enjoyed cats. Eliot said that a household will depend upon a cat. A well behaved and healthy cat can enhance any household. Unfortunately, cats can be hard to live with sometimes. You should keep reading to learn how you can become a better pet owner.
Keep your drapery cords out of the reach of your cat. Don’t let the cat play with them since they can jump into them or play with them and get them around their neck if they have loops. This accident could trap or injure your cat, or even be fatal. Therefore, ensure that drape cords are pinned away from your cat’s reach.
The claws of a cat can really destroy parts of your house and furniture. If your beloved feline friend is shredding and damaging parts of your home, try investing in a cat tower or a scratching post. Use catnip or other scents that are attractive to your kitty to encourage him to go there. Sooner or later, they’ll love to use it.
Male felines tend to get crystals in the urine that can be prevented with proper diet. It is painful for your cat to pass these crystals and the cost to have this treated by a vet is high. Let your cat have food that doesn’t have a lot of magnesium in it. Go over the label carefully. You will notice that fish-based foods and products are higher in levels of magnesium than anything sourced from poultry.
Put a cloth down in your cat’s eating area. Cats often take food from their bowls to eat on the side. This makes quite a mess. To simplify your clean up duties, place a ready made placemat under the dish or purchase some inexpensive fabric and use it like a tablecloth.
When you get a kitten for kids, you have to set up a few rules first. Let your children know which areas of the house are off-limits for the cat. If your have an indoor-only cat, be sure the kids understand that the cat is not to go outside. Setting the rules in advance will ensure your children understand.
Do you have a cat and a dog? That dog will really love stalking (and eating) that cat food. Because of this, you should keep your cat’s food in a high spot that your dog won’t be able to reach. This also makes sure that the two don’t fight over water.
Cats enjoy heights. To make your cat really happy, give it a place to safely survey its area. If you don’t wish to have a big cat tree inside your house, try a sturdy shelf made of breakables. Make it extra comfortable by adding a blanket or cushion.
It would be a good idea for your cat to get used to a pet carrier. The same response to punishment that you would expect from a dog does not apply to a cat. Cats are much more responsive to positive interaction rather than negative. Put their favorite toy and blanket in a carrier. Leave it somewhere they always go to. In time, the cat will head inside and be happy. This makes transporting much easier.
To avoid having a picky cat, switch up the kinds of foods you give him. If your cat only eats one brand of cat food from the beginning, he will probably not like any other brand.
Your cat should be kept healthy so that it can live a longer life. This can be done by making sure the cat is checked on by a vet and it has its shots. Just like with having kids, young cats need to be checked on to see if they’re doing okay from time to time. It also needs its shots so that you can avoid problems later on down the road. Your cat will be a valued member of your family, which means treating it just as you would other loved ones.
Never allow your cat to be exposed to phenol chemicals. Lysol and Pine-Sol are two examples of products that contain this chemical. The smell from this chemical is disliked by cats. Also, when exposed to phenol for too long, it can cause issues with their liver.
Your cat should stay inside most of the time, and when it’s outside, you should ensure it remains close to home. Indoor cats live longer and stay healthier. Outdoor cats can be attacked by other animals and exposed to many harmful influences. Play with your cat daily to give it adequate exercise.
Make dry food the foundation of your cat’s diet. When cats are young they are going to have to have wet food due to having small teeth. As they grow older, dry foods ensure that their teeth are strong. For picky cats, mixing dry and wet food together is a great option.
Health Problems
Make sure your cat does not get more food than it needs to prevent health problems. Overeating can cause your cat to become obese and susceptible to health problems. Make sure your cat’s diet is well-balanced.
Taking your cat to the vet is necessary, even though medical bills can add up. A money-saving tip is to order medications through online sources. Some companies deliver medication to anyone who orders it. This can be convenient and cheap if your cat has to take medications regularly like once a month.
It’s not easy to be a cat owner sometimes, but is is very rewarding. You need to get to know your cat better so you can focus on the kind of attention it needs the most. You’ll better your relationship in no time.