Cats make wonderful companions. As an owner of a pet cat, it is important that you educate yourself on all of the best cat pet care tips and advice. This article is filled with great pet care information designed to ensure that your kitty-cat enjoys a wonderful life and stays healthy well into old age.
Keep your cat groomed. Cats have to be brushed or combed on a regular basis. If you do this often, their coat will stay clean. Removing excess hair also reduces shedding and can prevent hairballs. Keeping a cat well groomed basically helps keep them looking their best, along with your home.
Keep your older cat comfortable by placing a heated tile underneath its bed. You can heat a terracotta tile in the oven at 200 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. Keep this underneath your cat’s resting space for extra warmth. Change it every couple of hours if desired.
Avoid eye contact to make friends with a cat. Ever wonder why cats seem drawn to the person who likes cats the least? The answer lies in cat body language. To cats, staring is “rude” and can be considered a challenge. Looking away shows that you respect their space and are not going to be a threat. So next time you are looking to meet a new feline friend, look away and let them approach you.
Save your furniture with scratching posts and pads. It is natural for cats to want to stretch their claws out and scratch. This does not mean that a cat owner must have damaged furniture. Provide your cat with places that it is okay to scratch and redirect them there if they decide to try out your sofa. Cat scratching posts come in many shapes and materials and some cats prefer a particular type so it may take some trial and error before you find the right combination for your kitty.
Spritz a little bitter apple on electrical cords to protect your cats. If that doesn’t work, cover those cords up however you can. Bundle electrical cords together inside a tube. Any electronic item not in use should be stored away where the cat can’t get to it.
Attend cat shows for tips about your cat. A cat show only costs a few dollars to attend. But when you attend one, you see vendors selling cat items, and show pet owners that give their cats the best of everything. You can get ideas for best brands to feed your cat, as well as ideas for grooming and caring for your cat.
Handle your kitten often. The longer your cat is handled as a kitten, the more readily they will accept being handled when they are grown, especially around their paws. This is important as all cats will have to visit the vet occasionally, and this process is much easier and less stressful if the cat is accustomed to being handled. It will also make grooming and nail trimming much easier.
Find a litter that your cat enjoys. Different litters have different smells and textures, so help your cat to find a litter that he is generally comfortable with using. Cats generally like to keep things the same though, so don’t experiment too often or your cat may avoid the litter box.
If your cat has recently given birth, be sure she has a safe, private area to take care of them. Mother cats can become frightened by strangers or loud noise, sometimes leading to decreased milk production. They may also hide the kittens in places where you cannot find them, such as closets, or under beds.
If you’re tempted to load up on litter to cut back on cleanings, think again. Some people believe that the more cat litter they use, the longer they can go between emptying the litter box. Actually, this is a waste of your litter! Many cats refuse to use a litter box with more than 2 inches of litter on the bottom. Some prefer to dig to the bottom of the box before doing their business.
Do not leave the door to your washing machine or dryer open if you have cats. This is a place where cats love to crawl and take a nap, but it can be very dangerous. You don’t want to turn on the machine then find out your cat is in there. It will be very frightening for them and it may cause an injury.
If your cat is nursing a litter of kittens, it is vital that she have plenty of food and water near her nesting area. Mother cats are very protective, and do not want to leave their kittens for long lengths of time. Your cat can become dehydrated or malnourished just because she does not want to leave her kittens to eat and drink.
Keep products containing phenol away from your cat. Pine-Sol and Lysol contain this ingredient. Cats hate the smell, and it can do sever damage to a cat’s liver if left near it for prolonged periods.
If your cat has been scratching things that they should not have, do not think of declawing them as a good way to deal with the issue. While this surgical procedure would stop them from causing any more damage, it is a very painful procedure and it is pretty difficult to recover from.
As was discussed in the opening of this article, cats make perfect pets. As great as cats are however, it is necessary for you as a cat owner to educate yourself on cat care and learn all of the ins and outs. Take advantage of the info in this article to ensure that your beloved kitty stays healthy and happy.
