What You Should Know About Cats

Cats have been the companion of choice by many for hundreds of years. Musicals, books and even movies have been written about cats. Thus, it isn’t hard to understand why they seem to feel superior. In the article below, you’ll discover great tips to help you control your cat and ensure it lives a good life.

Check out your local shelter if you are thinking about getting a cat. There are so many great cats at shelters. The fee you will have to pay typically includes vet care. Rescuing a cat can end up making a big difference in both of your lives.

If your cat is a female, it needs to be spayed when it reaches the appropriate age. Even if she is an inside cat, you need to spay her because she could get out. If your cat has been spayed, however, you won’t have to worry about this happening.

Flea Products

Never use any product intended for dogs on a cat. If you try to use products meant for dogs, it can make your cat sick, or even kill him. This happens a lot with flea products. Your cat may die if you use dog flea products on it. Your cat needs to be away from the dog after your dog has received a flea treatment.

If you have an outdoor kitty, make sure to invest in a break away collar with an identification tag. Cats can go far from home and without a tag they could become lost forever. The tag should have at least the pet’s name and the number where you can be reached.

Do not allow your cat to be bored frequently. It is necessary for them to play and get exercise. Sadly, this can be easily overlooked. Bored cats can suffer from depression, extreme compulsive disorders, and other harmful issues that can negatively impact their overall health and well-being. Give them room to play and a large number of toys. An indoor cat needs a good scratching post.

Cats will often devote most of their time to grooming. Long hair encourages hairballs. To help your cat out with this problem, try buying him special food. The are specially formulated cat foods that help reduce the instances of hairballs, which is not only good for your cat, but also good for you and your feet in the middle of the night.

If your cat is traveling with you, remember their ears. You might love blasting your favorite music while driving, but they enjoy softer sounds. Spare your cat’s sensitive hearing by keeping the volume down at all times.

A tablecloth should be made for your cats. Some cats prefer removing their food from the bowl and eating it on the side. If this occurs, you will have a mess on your hands. There are two ways to do this. You can either put a placemat under the food bowl or use some stray fabric that you have lying around. Either way, you can easily get rid of debris by dumping them in the garbage.

When you purchase a kitten for your child, set rules and boundaries beforehand. Let your children know what rooms you will allow the cat to go into. If you want to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that they cannot let it go outside. Make sure your children understand the rules from the get go.

You should think before allowing your cat to go outside. This can be something that isn’t very safe for a cat. Your cat may pick up some fleas, or worse. Cats can be harmed by cars, people and other animals. If they have to go outside, make sure it’s a small area like your lawn or backyard.

Be sure to carrier train your cat. Dogs and cats will respond differently to punishment. Encouragement is a much better strategy. Give your cat a treat every time it does something well. In time, the cat will head inside and be happy. It will then be easier to transport the cat in the carrier.

Do not throw away your cat’s scratching post because it is starting to look very old and worn. When it is in this condition, cats tend to like it the most. If you toss it away in favor of something newer, your cat may look for something older to scratch, and that may end up being your furniture.

Consider getting your cat a fountain to drink from. Most cats will prefer drinking water that is running over drinking water in a bowl. Cats generally respond better to a stream of water. Cats will often drink from a running sink and actually prefer it over the water in their bowl. A drinking fountain designed for your cat is the ideal solution to keep the cat happy.

If you want to buy a second cat, prepare for some time where the cats will be familiarizing themselves with each other. They may still hiss and growl when they are in the same room together. Eventually they are going to get used to each other, and they may even end up becoming best friends.

Play is an essential element of a cat’s daily life. It is pretty normal for all different types of species to have an inner desire to play. While a senior cat probably won’t be very rambunctious, the right type of toy will get them interested. Take time to have fun with your cat.

Like most cats, your cat probably believes the universe revolves around it. Using the given tips, your cat will finally learn who runs the show. Cats are great pets and can bring joy to your life if you follow these tips.