Cats are among the greatest pets a person can own. Unlike dogs, cats are incredibly independent and taking care of them is much easier. However, there are still many important things you need to be responsible for when caring for a cat. The article below will help you discover what those things are.
Keeping your cats away from the counters can be hard. They love being above everything so that they can watch it all. You can control this tendency a bit by making high places in the house that you feel comfortable having your cat utilize. The use of a cat tower within your kitchen or close by can help make the cats stay off the counter.
Make sure your cat is properly hydrated. Like humans, cats need to drink lots of water. If they don’t get enough water, they can get dehydrated, develop various health problems, or die. Make sure they always have a bowl of fresh and clean water. The bowl itself also needs to be cleaned and refilled every day. You should also keep this bowl in one location.
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.
If you want to have your cat for many years, it is a good idea to keep them indoors. While a cat may enjoy going outside, it is statistically proven that outdoor cats live shorter lives than indoor cats. There are dangers to a cat that spends time outside, not least of all other animals.
Do you love your cat but suffer from allergies? If giving up your feline-friend is not something that you can do, try these things first. Get rid of as much carpeting as possible because your cats dander gets trapped in it. You can also not allow your cat in your bedroom at all. This will make living with your cat easier on your allergies.
If your cat’s scratching post looks old and worn, don’t throw it away immediately. While it doesn’t appear clean and new, your cat probably thinks otherwise. For a cat, it is comfortable and familiar. By throwing away an old scratching post and replacing it with a newer one, your cat will likely look for older items to scratch, such as your furniture.
Help keep your cat’s fur soft and healthy with regular cleaning. While your pet might object violently to a dunk in the bathtub, there are other options. Many pet stores sell feline cleaning wipes. These convenient disposable wipes reduce allergens and remove oils and dirt. Some are scented with chamomile, which helps to calm your cat. These are especially useful if you have an older or injured pet that cannot groom itself properly.
It might seem like a little much for an animal, but you should comb your cat’s hair as often as possible. Combing the hair helps prevent the cat from licking loose fur and building a furball to spit up later. Different cats shed at different rates and some require a lot more maintenance than others.
If your pet is avoiding its litter box, try moving it to a different spot. Instinctively, cat’s will search out a safe place to eliminate, so try relocating the litter box to a quiet and secluded area. Some good places would be basements, laundry rooms, and any other place that doesn’t have a lot of noise and people going in and out.
There is no need to bathe a cat since they are able to do most of their cleaning by themselves. The only way that you should bathe a cat is if there is something on their coat that has not come off for a good length of time, like oil and chemicals.
Every cat should have a collar with his name on it, the owner’s name, and a phone number. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, there is that small chance he or she might get out one day. It is important that you provide a way that they can get back home if that should happen.
Protect your cat and your kid by demonstrating the proper way to show affection for the animal. Few things are more appealing to children than the sight of a soft, fluffy cat, and they might be tempted to hug or squeeze the animal. Instead, teach your child to allow the animal to come to you rather than pursuing it. Tell them to use a light touch and avoid making direct eye contact with the cat
All cats have a strong sense of smell; therefore, they easily smell changes in your home. This is good but can cause issues when you introduce something new to the home, like a new cat bed or scratching post. Don’t get discouraged if you find that your cat is not interested in these things right away. As the smell of your home gets onto the items, they’ll warm up to them.
Switch up cat food flavors. Cats can be notoriously picky eaters. This can be frustrating if a flavor is out of stock or, worse, discontinued. Don’t let your cat get into the habit of eating one food and only one food. Make sure there’s some healthy variety in your cat’s diet.
As was mentioned earlier in this article, cats can make great companions. If you own a cat, or are considering getting one as a pet, use the information provided. Doing so will ensure that your cat lives a long, healthy and happy life, which is something you most definitely want.
