Cats are amazing to watch and obviously make exceptional pets. Cats are very independent animals, but they still need you to take good care of them. Apply the wonderful cat advice in this piece and make certain you have a happy and healthy cat.
When looking for a new cat for your home, contact a local animal shelter. Shelters are overflowing with wonderful cats, and the adoption fee usually covers essential vet care. By adopting a cat from your local shelter, you will preserve a life and will do your part in controlling the cat population.
Choose a high quality food. The key to a healthy cat starts with nutrition. Take a look at the ingredients label. If you look at most “popular” commercial cat foods, you may be surprised to see the top ingredient listed is corn. Cats are carnivores, so look for a food with a real meat as the top ingredient. You may pay more up front, but these foods are often more nutritionally dense, meaning your cat eats less and the bag lasts longer.
For a healthier, happier cat choose plain litter over scented litter. Cats like nice, clean, clumping cat litter. Scoop your cats litter box daily and change it completely every three days or so. When you change the box, wash it out with water and dish soap. Don’t waste your money on liners as cats tend to destroy them.
Keeping your cats away from the counters can be hard. A cat will naturally want to be high enough to view everything around them. To help prevent your cat from doing this, you can establish tall places specifically for your cat. A cat tower near the kitchen will ensure that cats won’t lay on your counter.
Have your cat spayed or neutered. Pet overpopulation is a growing problem, with millions of homeless cats and kittens euthanized every year. Besides the problem of too many kittens and not enough homes, unfixed cats can have a multitude of behavior problems. Males who are not neutered at a young age often start spraying to mark their territory, and females who are allowed to come into heat yowl incessantly as they try to escape to find a mate. Kittens can begin to breed as early as 4 months of age, so get your new kitten spayed or neutered as soon as possible.
Make sure to keep chemicals and dangerous substances away from your cat. Chemicals like antifreeze have a sweet taste. This encourages the cat to drink it, most often resulting in fatal consequences. Keeping your chemicals locked up in a cabinet will help to ensure that your curious cat does not end up ingesting poison.
Grooming is something that most cats do all the time. When the cat’s hair is longer, this could lead to hairballs. To assist your cat if it has this problem, you should get food that’s special. Look for cat food that is designed to minimize hairballs to keep you and your cat happier.
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.
Don’t get rid of an old scratching post. This is the time when your cats actually most prefer it. 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.
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.
Does it feel like your home is overrun with your cat’s hair? Brushing your cat regularly can fight the constant shedding that often can occur. The more a cat sheds, the moor they should be properly brushed. This can also prevent their coat from becoming matted or tangled.
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.
You can use certain scents to discourage your cat from going into certain areas of your home. Aloe gel, citrus peels, and citrus juices smell wonderful to us, but cats don’t feel the same way. Soak a cotton ball in one of these liquids, then place it on top of a piece of foil to prevent the liquid from staining your surface. Place the foil and cotton ball near the off-limits area.
Don’t give cats human medication. If the cat is sick, you must take it to the vet. Refrain from giving cats any medication not intended for them.
Act fast if you cat is panting. Dogs love to pant. Cats often pant when they are anxious or overheated, but this may also signal a more serious issue. Be sure and make an appointment with your vet if you notice any respiratory problems with your cat.
Cats can make great pets. You need to learn more on how you can take care of a cat before you decide to adopt one. Study the information contained in this article very carefully to learn how to be an ideal cat owner. Your cat now can enjoy a much more fun life.
