Cats are wonderful companions that you can spend hours playing with. Sometimes it’s a good idea to provide some extra stimulation with a fun toy, unique game or interesting activity. Fun with a cat does not always involve the expenditure of money. The following article will give you some great ideas that both you and your cat will love.
Make sure your cat is always well groomed. They need to be brushed every day. If you brush cats on a regular basis, it will keep their coats clean and attractive. It can cut down on shedding and spitting up hairballs, too. Regularly grooming your cat will help keep it and your home looking great.
It is always important to take your cat to the veterinarian for regular checkups. Cats require special shots to prevent illness and the vet can check their overall health. Try to stick with one vet during the life of your pet. That way, the doctor will be familiar with the history of your cat.
Cats love to squeeze into tiny spaces. They can get caught or stuck if they happen to be wearing a collar. A collar that will breakaway is the best idea for safety. This can help to save a couple of your cat’s nine lives.
Regular vet visits are very important for your cat’s health. They should have a routine check-up once a year or more if important shots are due. Cats should visit the vet right away if they are having any issues.
The litter box for your cat needs to be kept in a good place. Try to keep it away from areas of household traffic and away from your cat’s eating areas. Also, minimize the smell by making sure it is a well ventilated area. You and your cat will greatly appreciate this.
Some male cats get urinary crystals, but this is preventable with proper diet. A cat passing the crystals can be very hurtful with an expensive vet bill to boot. Give your cat foods that are low in magnesium. Read the ingredient list on the label. Poultry products will tend to have lower amounts than seafood based products.
When traveling on the road with your cat, understand that they are sensitive to sounds. You may like music loud and booming, but a cat will prefer lower volumes as their ears are more sensitive. Spare your cat’s sensitive hearing by keeping the volume down at all times.
If you give your kids a kitten, provide them with firm boundaries at the same time. You can then teach your kids which areas your cat can go into. Advise your children not to let the cat out if it is to be an indoor cat. Establishing these boundaries ahead of time prevents any confusion.
Reconsider outside time for your cat. Going outdoors isn’t very safe for a domesticated cat. Cats can become infected with fleas, ticks and ringworm. Cars, people, or animals could hurt your beloved pet. If you must let your cat outside, do so in a very small area of your backyard or lawn.
Take care if you leave a kitten with youngsters. Children under 5 years of age should not be alone with the pet. They simply lack the maturity to comprehend the harm they can potentially do to kittens. Once the child is older and more mature, decide if they are ready for the responsibility of handling animals.
If your cat relieves itself somewhere other than its litter box, it shouldn’t be punished. It might be happening because you aren’t caring for the box good enough. Punishing your cat will make it afraid of being close to you.
Make sure your cat is always wearing a collar with proper identification tags. This is even true for indoor cats. Cats are curious by nature, and an open window or door invites exploration. Tags that have your vet’s name and phone number are good things to put on the collar. This is very important if your pet is likely to get lost or has some medical needs.
Think about extra care before you take home a cat with long hair. Cats are beautiful with hair that is long and silky. Your clothes, floors and furniture aren’t. Don’t adopt a cat with long fur unless you’re sure you can handle the extra cleaning. Also, give them the right food which is anti-hairball.
Outdoor Cats
It is best to keep cats indoors, near you and treated as part of your household. Studies have proven that cats who live most of their life indoors live longer than outdoor cats. Outdoor cats face numerous predators and are at a higher risk of disease.
Do not let a declawed cat outside. It can’t defend itself with no claws. Only declaw your cat if you are serious about keeping them indoors. Remove only the front claws. The back claws are left because these won’t scratch your furniture or floors.
Apply some sticky tape to your furniture. A little strategically-applied tape can discourage your cat from tearing upholstery and scratching furniture. Check a pet store for this kind of tape. By keeping your furniture covered with tape and getting a scratching post put up, you will get your cat to scratch that instead.
Cats can get the same colds you do. Your cat is part of your family, and you know if your cat isn’t quite feeling that great. If you notice something, seek the advice of your veterinarian. That way the vet can rule out other more serious conditions.
Do you love playing with your cat? The techniques provided here will bring much joy to life with your cat. Get to know your cat and do your best to become a responsible cat owner.