You might have already raised a pet in the past. You might have even said that you would never raise another pet, but it’s never too late to look towards the future and adopt a lonely kitten. Adopting cats at the local shelter helps get them off of the streets and back in a healthy home. You should keep a few key questions in mind while visiting your local shelters.
Create a warm bed for an outdoor or feral cat by lining a banana box with a thick layer of newspaper. Cut a piece of Mylar to fit the bottom of the box. Put another layer of newspaper on top. Add a warm blanket. Place the whole box inside a dog house or under a porch where it can’t get wet.
Let kittens and cat-friendly pet dogs get to know each other slowly. Put up a baby gate to keep dogs in one room while your new kitten gets used to its surroundings. Supervise carefully when the kitten ventures to the gate to meet the dogs. When the kitten feels safe, it will climb the gate. If it feels threatened, it will pop right back out to safety.
If you have an outdoor cat, be sure he or she has a tagged collar. A lost cat is much easier to locate if they are properly tagged. The tag should contain the pet’s name, your phone number and your name as well.
It’s not easy convincing your pet that the kitchen counter is a no-cats zone. Cats instinctively want to be at a high vantage point so they can survey their surroundings. It helps to provide your cat with certain high spaces where it is allowed. Putting a cat tower in or near the kitchen can help keep the cats from laying on the counter.
Get your cat sprayed and neutered to prevent diseases and infections that form in the reproductive system. This can also help reduce the chance for overpopulation in the country, as just one male who is not neutered can produce up to half a million offspring over the course of his life.
While children should help with the care and responsibilities of a cat, leave the litterbox duties to the grownups or older children. A cat’s litterbox can carry diseases and parasites. Since younger children may not follow proper handwashing procedures, this job is better left to those older and more responsible.
Always watch a kitten around small kids. A child less than five years old should not be left alone with a small pet. These children just do not possess the maturity to handle a kitten. They aren’t aware of the danger that they can cause to it. As a kid ages, they can show maturity with handling a little pet.
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.
Get your feline acclimated to its carrier. You cannot train a cat the same way you train a dog because they react differently to punishment. Most of the time, it is better to use positive reinforcement. Give your cat a treat every time it does something well. In time, the cat will head inside and be happy. This makes transporting much easier.
A kitty door is a great way to allow your cat to go in and out, without any help from you. You can also use kitty doors on doors inside your home. This can be great if you have a dog or small children, to keep them out of the room with the litter box.
To keep your cat using the litter box, always keep it clean. No matter what kind of scented or special formula litters you may use, nothing is a substitute for removing clumps and used litter several times a day. Keep your litter box in a quiet area of your home.
If possible, have your cat eat dry food. When cats are kittens they need wet food because their teeth are so small. As they develop adult teeth, the harder dry food helps to keep their teeth strong. If you have a picky eater, you might want to try blending wet food with dry food.
Once your cat starts to age, they may have to go to the vet more often than they did before. To make sure that your senior cat is in optimal health, you should take him to see the vet at least twice a year. Make sure that you follow any advice given to you during the visit.
Even though holiday time might seem like a good opportunity to introduce a cat to a new him as part of gift to a child, it can be too stressful on the cat if everything is too hectic in your home. Let your child adopt from a shelter instead.
Cats will generally do whatever pleases them, and this is fine, just as long as it doesn’t destroy your property. A little training can go along way in keeping your items safe. Be gentle with your cats, and don’t scream, yell, or use violence with them. Whistles and squirt guns can alert your cat that they’re doing something wrong.
Shelters are not the only source of local pet adoptions. You can find classifieds in the papers or online where citizens are offering cats, kittens, and everything else in between for little-to-no cost.. Many times, these people are giving these pets away for free in hopes of giving them a good home.
