It is very enjoyable owning a cat. You must put a lot of work into owning a cat. You need to know what you’re getting into. Thankfully, the following paragraphs will give you the knowledge you need. Keep reading and discover valuable tips that will improve your pet ownership experience.
If your cat suddenly goes off its feed for no apparent reason, try tempting treats such as jack mackerel, tuna, or cream of chicken soup in small amounts. These are not complete foods and shouldn’t be fed long term, but they are extremely tasty to cats. A finicky cat may start eating again and keep on when given one of these treats.
If your cat is getting older, you can increase it’s comfort by placing its bed over a heated tile. Allow a terra cotta tile to heat in an oven for 15 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Put it inside an old towel, then place it beneath the cat’s bed. You can even switch it out every few hours.
As your cat gets older, changes in behavior may signal pain. If your cat doesn’t like to jump or climb any more, it may be in pain. If your cat stops taking care of grooming or stops using its litter box, pain may be the cause. Be sure to have your older cat checked out by your vet if you notice behavior changes.
Protecting your cat from household chemicals is something that you may already know, but did you know that protecting them from medications is just as important? Common over the counter medicines such as ibuprofen can be toxic to your cat, even in small doses. Keep your medication safely out of the reach of your cat.
Cats are hunters by nature. They love to chase mice and other small animals and insects. Buying little fuzzy mice filled with catnip and batting them around with your cat is a great idea. Your cat will feel as though they are really hunting prey. This will also help you to connect with your cat better.
Use petting to check on your cat’s health. Petting isn’t just a way for you and your cat to spend time together, but it’s a great way to find anything abnormal on their body. You can pet them to feel for bumps, lumps, or sores. This is also a great time for you to check their ears.
A microchip will allow you to find your pet if it is lost. Even though a cat may live inside, you never know if it will run out the door to escape. Collars or tags can identify your cat, but cats can wiggle out of those, and they are also at risk of getting hung up on something. Microchips are extremely small, but they can hold all the same information as an identification tag. Many vets and shelters have scanners that can read these chips and since they lie under their skin, they won’t get lost.
If you live in an area that is populated by wild animals, such as coyote and fox, you may need to make you cat an indoor cat. Wild animals pose a real threat to cats, and to avoid the loss of a beloved pet, it is sometimes best to keep them indoors for the course of their lives.
Clean your cat’s eyes as frequently as possible because their vision is extremely important and extremely sensitive. Cats interpret five times as much visual stimuli during their day and the smallest particle can become stuck and cause damage. A pair of thumbs and a damp cloth are perfect for clearing the eyes and keeping your cat clean.
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.
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.
Encourage your child to play with cats by using toys, not by using their fingers and hands. Choose toys that put distance between the child’s hands and the cat’s teeth and claws. During a vigorous play session, an excited kitten is more likely to accidentally scratch its playmate’s skin. For example, you might use a long wand-type toy with a dangling feather or bell.
Buy a fountain for your cat. Cats have a tendency to not drink enough water. This can leave them dehydrated. They often prefer running water to water sitting out in a bowl. If you suspect your kitty isn’t drinking enough, consider investing in a cat fountain to avoid health problems.
You may think that giving your cat a bath will help it stay properly groomed and clean. This is totally unnecessary unless your cat has got into something absolutely filthy. Cats usually groom themselves a lot by using the barbs on their tongues to clean debris and dirt from their fur. You could almost say cats are vain about their appearance.
There are so many reasons why cats are such popular and beloved pets. You definitely need to take care of the feline so that it lives a great and healthy life. Using the information provided here will be a big step in making your cat a happy addition to your life.
