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.
Take your cat in for regular vet exams. Your vet will provide your cat with the shots it needs to prevent disease. Your vet can also check the overall health of your cat. Do your best to use the same vet for your cat’s entire life. This one vet will be aware of the cat’s history.
If your dog and cat are best friends, be sure to keep them separate after flea treatment. Your dog’s flea products are very hazardous for cats. Cats that come in contact with dog flea products often die. Be sure to use only cat products on your cat and only dog products on your dog.
Protect your cat from choking. Be sure to dispose of poultry and fish bones safely. Wrap them in a paper or plastic bag and put them in your outdoor garbage can with the lid tightly secured. Alternately, place them in a plastic bag and freeze them until garbage pick up day.
A great toy for your cat is a laser pointer. Cats love to chase the laser around and try to catch it. This will help you give your cat some exercise, while your cat is having fun at the same time. It will also help to fine-tune their hunting skills.
Whenever you take your cat anywhere, use a cat carrier. No matter how gentle your cat is, it could become frightened. If this happens, it could bolt off and be quickly lost, injured or killed. At the vet’s office, your cat will be safe from unpredictable animals if you use a pet carrier.
Get a scratching post to keep your cat from tearing up your carpet. If you can, get a post that does not have the same type of carpet that is on the floor of your home, so your cat doesn’t associate the two. Instead, get a post that is covered in cardboard, sisal, or thick rope.
Try to avoid your cat from becoming bored each day. It is necessary for them to play and get exercise. Unfortunately there are too many cat owners who don’t properly exercise their cats. If your cat is bored, it might develop a depression, obsessive compulsive behaviors or ruin some of your furniture. Provide your cats with the toys and space it needs. If they are indoors, give them a scratching post or something to climb on.
Is your cat constantly munching on your house plants? If so there is a fix for this. Growing oat grass or catnip yourself can help entice your cats away from your plants. Giving them plants that they can eat and like will help draw them to those plants over and over again.
Find out how much food you are supposed to be feeding your cat. While cat food containers give general information, find out from your vet how much food your cat should be eating. Many owners do not do this, and end up overfeeding their cats. Take the time to find out the proper amount so you don’t end up with an overweight kitty.
When you purchase a kitten for your child, set rules and boundaries beforehand. You can then teach your kids which areas your cat can go into. If your have an indoor-only cat, be sure the kids understand that the cat is not to go outside. Clearly explaining the rules will limit future mishaps.
Do you have more than one cat? If so, then you should have more than one litter box as well. Having one for each of your cats will give them multiple spots to go. If the odor gets too much you can add a little baking soda to the litter to freshen it up.
Cats have a natural instinct to hunt small prey. This can sometimes be a problem if you have other small animals in your home. Make sure that bird cages are hanging from the ceiling. If you have a gerbil or hamster, make sure their cages are secure and up high out of your cats reach.
Have patience with your cat. Remember that your cat is not a dog, and may not be as easily trainable as one. However, if you are being clear in your commands and gently encouraging them, you’ll find that your cat responds the way you want him to. Just be patient.
Play is essential to your cat’s life. Really play is something that all mammals share, no matter the age. Even older cats like to play. Make sure you have fun with the cat whenever you can!
Buy a pet drinking fountain to prevent dehydration. Cats are attracted to running water, so a pet drinking fountain may help to encourage your cat to drink more. Proper hydration can cure and prevent a large number of feline health problems. Therefore, a pet drinking fountain could improve the health of your cat and reduce vet bills.
Playtime is important for kittens as well as older cats. The best games are those that involve hunting and chasing. Try to think like your cat, choosing toys like feathers on string. The cat is attracted to the movement of the toy, so he will love to chase it if you pull it along without him seeing you. It is important to let your pet win occasionally, to keep him interested.
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.
