Cats are interesting creatures that are great pets. It is essential to educate yourself on how to properly care for your cat. Keep reading to learn more about cat care.
Watch the amount of treats that you give your cat. Like humans, cats can easily overeat junk food. This can cause them to gain weight and may lead to some health problems like heart issues and diabetes. If you do give your cat treats, give them a small amount and make it a special thing instead of a regular routine.
If your cat is picky about drinking water, invest in a cat fountain. These battery operated or plug in fountains keep water circulating and aerated. Many cats prefer this. A cat fountain will help keep your cat out of the kitchen sink and the toilet. It will also help prevent your cat from pawing water onto the floor in search of fresh water.
Give your new cat some space. Moving to a new home can be stressful on a cat, especially one who is no longer a kitten. To help them adjust, give them a quiet place that they can call their own, such as a spare bathroom or laundry room. This gives them a safe space they can retreat to until they have become comfortable with exploring the whole house. Depending on the cat, this process may take a few days up to a month or more.
Make your own enclosed litter box from a large tote box with a lid. Use a coffee can lid as a pattern to cut a door in one side of the tote. Place the coffee can lid fairly high up on the side of the tote. Trace around it with a permanent marker. Cut out the circle with tin snips or a box cutter. Add litter. Put on the lid.
You may want to have a microchip implanted in your cat. Your pet may be an indoor cat, but that doesn’t mean it’ll never dash through your door or slide outside via an open window. Tags and collars are great, but they don’t always stay on your cat. They can also be a risk, should they get snagged on something. A microchip will hold the contact information to reach you and it’s only about as big as a piece of rice. Most vets and all shelters can scan these chips to get your contact information and there is no risk of losing the chip.
Most cats prefer to be mostly nocturnal. This refers to the fact that they are usually more active at night. If you find that your nocturnal kitties are waking you up in the middle of the night, the solution may be as simple as closing the door to your bedroom. You can keep them from bothering you at night and getting your feet while you’re under covers.
Do not use medicine meant for a dog on a cat. This is especially important for topical medicines. Cats do their own cleaning, and if a dog medicine is used on a cat, your pet can ingest it. There are some medicines that work for both cats and dogs, but only use them if the vet says it is okay.
Make sure that you have a good tablecloth for your kitten. Some cats prefer to remove their food from the dish and eat it off to the side. This can really make a mess, and you might have to spend significant time cleaning around your cat’s food bowl. Put a placemat under the bowl, or even some fabric so cleaning up is a snap.
If you want to let your cat outside, think again. This can be something that isn’t very safe for a cat. Your cat may get fleas or something even worse than that. Other animals and vehicles could also injure your cat. If your cat has to be outside, make sure it is only in a small area near the house.
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.
Put the right amount of cat litter in the litter box. Some people try to get out of cleaning the box by putting too much litter in there. Cats don’t like walking on sand dunes! Two inches or so should be sufficient for the cat’s needs, and you just have to be vigilant about cleaning the box out.
Do not wait too long to scoop any waste that has accumulated in a cat litter box. When left dirty for too long, bacteria can grow and it can cause health issues for you and your kitten. It is best to do this every single day so you avoid any issues.
Make sure that there are enough litter boxes in your home for all of the cats that are staying there. It is optimal to have one litter box for each cat. If you live in a home that has a lot of floors, there should be one on each floor for each cat.
Cats are excellent pets but being a cat owner comes with certain responsibilities. Knowing how to properly care for your cat is essential to make sure he has a long and happy life with you. Take advantage of all the suggestions this article provides. Your cat will love that you did.
