Tips On How To Properly Care For Your Cat

Feral cats are ones that don’t have a home. These cats are overpopulated and can become a troublesome pest if you live in urban areas. Keep reading for the cat care of your pet.

If you are planning to get a pet cat, be sure to check with your local shelter. Many shelters have more cats than they can handle and the fees associated with adoption take care of vet visits. You really are saving a life and keeping the feline population in check all in one!

Keep your drapery cords away from your cats. This may hurt or possibly kill them. Keep your drape cords out of reach as a preventative measure.

Cats are great pets, but smaller kids may be too rough with them. Make sure your children the proper way to handle a cat. Teach them about appropriate activities are good and how to gentle pick up the cat. Cats have more fragile bones than dogs so should be treated carefully.

Spay your female cat. Even if she stays inside all the time, she could get out when in heat and end up pregnant. Spray your cat so that this does not occur.

Create a tablecloth just for the feline. Cats will sometimes pluck food outside of their bowl. This can result in a big mess that needs to be cleaned up.

Think over whether or not you should let your cat outside. This can put your cat’s safety. Your cat may get fleas or something even worse parasites. Cats can be harmed by cars, stolen or hit by passing vehicles. If your cat really wants to go outside, make sure it is only in a small area near the house.

If you take your cat with you when you travel, be mindful of their ears. You may prefer loud music as you drive down the freeway, blasting your stereo, but your feline friend likes softer sounds better. Keep the music turned down or off when taking your cat on a trip.

TIP! You need to establish some boundaries if you are getting a cat for your children. Tell your kids which rooms the cat is allowed in.

Do you have a cat and a cat? Dogs take every opportunity they can get to eat food from your cat’s bowl. This is why it is necessary to have a feeding areas. This will also prevent the two from fighting over the water when the food dishes are empty.

Litter Box

Talk to others when you have a problem with your cat. It is possible to work out the problem yourself, but help from others can be invaluable. Your vet is a great source of advice, or you can find forums on the Internet to connect with other cat owners.

TIP! Reduce the chances of raising a finicky cat by feeding them several brands of food while they are young. Keeping the same kind of food around most of the time makes it to where they only want that specific food.

Don’t teach the litter box is supposed to be used. This is something that comes naturally and is not learned fro another. Don’t try to force them into the litter box by rubbing their paws or you will traumatize them.

Do not punish your cat if it makes a mess outside of the litter box. If this happens, it’s probably because their litter box is not properly cared for. Punishing your cat will only make him to become afraid of you in the future.

Always make sure that your cat has on identification tags and a collar. This is even true for indoor cats. Cats are naturally curious and a door or window that’s open invites exploration. The identification tags should contain your home phone number and the number for your veterinarian. If your kitty has medical conditions, this information can be a life saver.

TIP! Anytime you get a new pet, you must introduce them to your cat slowly to help to avoid problems and let the cat get used to it. Keep them separated for at least two weeks, but let them sniff at each other under a closed door.

Don’t get rid of an old scratching post just because it looks worn. This is the time when your cats actually most appreciate. If you throw it away, that cat may look to your furniture for some clawing while it slowly breaks in a new scratching post.

Canned food is an excellent choice for your cat. While dry food is less costly, canned food is healthier. It’s easier for older cats to chew it as well. Speak with your veterinarian before making any major changes, however generally speaking, canned cat food is better for your cat.

Frequent or misdirected urination may warrant a trip to your vet’s office. A change in where or how a cat urinates can signal a UTI or other health problem. A course of antibiotics often does the trick.

It’s important for your cat to get play time. Make sure you play with your cat.

Think about extra care is entailed in bringing a cat with long hair. The hair may be a gorgeous thing to behold, except when it’s all over your furniture. Don’t get such a cat unless you are prepared for the extra cleaning. Long-haired cats are also often have hairballs.

Avoid any products containing phenol around your cats. This chemical is often found in cleaning products such as Pine-Sol and Lysol. Cats hate the smell, and it can do sever damage to a cat’s liver if left near it for prolonged periods.

Litter Box

Be aware of your cat suddenly quits using its litter box. There are conditions that will cause your cat to use the restroom in places other than their own litter box. A UTI or kidney disease can cause your cat to stay away from the reason for its bathroom problems. Speak with a veterinarian if your pet stops using the litter box.

Only put a breakaway collar with tags on your cat. Cats are smart and will try to get out whenever they get the chance. If your cat is wearing the appropriate collar with tags, you’ll have a good change of finding it.

TIP! Make sure you regularly use a flea and tick treatment on your cat. There are drops you use monthly that can be effective.

Your cat should be kept inside whenever it can be near your home.Cats that stay inside for most of their lives have a much longer than the ones that are allowed to roam your neighborhood.

You should never medicate a cat use meds that is for humans. If your cat is suffering from a medical condition, then you should take your cat to the vet. Giving your cat your medication can cause your pet serious problems and may even be fatal.

Spaying or neutering your cat is a great decision. Cats are instinctively curious. Even cats that live indoors will attempt to get outside. If your cat ventures outside even for a little bit, she can get pregnant. Thousands of cats have to be put to sleep yearly due to overpopulation.

TIP! Cats often can’t resist the temptation of houseplants. This could be a huge issue, even more so if your plant is poisonous.

Now you should have no trouble helping your cat to have the best life it possibly can. Cats often attack other pets and tear up your gardens if you don’t watch out. You should still be considerate of a cat’s sensitivities when interacting with it. Who knows, there could even be a feral cat out there that steals your heart!