There are plenty of cats out there who are in need of a good home. If you have always wanted to know how to adopt a cat, keep reading.
Check out the shelter when adopting a cat. They have tons of amazing cats who desperately need a home. When adopting a shelter cat, you’re saving a life and aiding in controlling the cat population.
Check out your local animal shelter if you purchase a cat. Shelters always have a lot of great cats and adoption fees are usually very affordable. Adopting from a cat this way helps to save their life and cut down on unwanted animal births.
You need to take your pet to the vet for a regular basis. Cats require special shots to prevent illness and the vet can help you make sure your cat is okay. Do your best to use the same vet for your pet’s entire life.This is because this person will be more knowledgeable on your cat’s history.
Your cat’s claws can wreck havoc on your furniture. If you have problems with a cat that shreds furniture, invest in a durable scratching post. Encourage them to scratch that instead. This solution might take time to take, but it will help in the end.
Make sure your cat has a collar and tag if it goes outside. Cats can range far from your home and the tag they could become lost forever. The tag should have at least the pet’s name and number for contact purposes.
Give your cat lots of love. Cats are looking for a response in kind in exchange for all of the friendly companionship as they offer to humans. They want to know they are a big member of the family.
Do not allow your cat to be bored frequently. Cats should have a lot of exercise and playtime. Sadly, many cat owners do not understand the importance of this. Bored cats will quickly wreck your home or become obese. Give them plenty of room to exercise and a wide selections of toys. If you have an indoor cat, provide a kitty gym for them to climb on or a scratching post.
If you start them off eating the same type of food all of the time and you never change it up, this can become the only type of food they will willingly eat.
Canned food is usually the best option for cats. Dry food may cost less, but there are quite a few benefits to canned food. It’s much easier for older cats to chew as well. Speak with your veterinarian before making any major changes, however generally speaking, canned cat food is better for your cat.
Think over whether or not you should let your cat go outdoors. Going outdoors isn’t very safe for a domesticated cat. They can get fleas, feline AIDS or even leukemia. Cats can be gravely injured or killed by eating poisonous plants, flowers or chemicals, hit by a car or even harmed by neighbors who are irritated with your cat on their property. If you’ve just got to have the cat outdoors, limit it to an enclosed area.
Make sure your cat is always wearing a collar on with proper identification tags. This is even to indoor cat. Cats can slip out a door or a window. This is crucial if they have specific medical attention.
If adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a few weeks to get to know each other. They may swat at each other initially.
You can tap fellow cat owners for advice if you’re having problems with your pet. Other cat owners may have had experience with what you’re going through right now. There are a number of message boards for cat owners on the Internet, or you can go to your vet with problems.
Frequent or misdirected urination outside the litter box may indicate a trip to your vet’s office. Cats often do such things when suffering from urinary infection or other sorts of health issues. Some inexpensive antibiotics can resolve potential risks for your cat.
Haired Cats
Pay attention if your cat suddenly stops using the litter box properly. It may be the sign of an underlying medical issue. This may be a symptom of an infection of the urinary tract or another health problem in your cat. In many cases, cheap antibiotics will resolve the problem and keep your cat healthy.
There is more care to consider with long-haired cat. While long haired cats are soft and look great, it doesn’t look so beautiful all over your home. Don’t get such a cat unless you can handle the extra cleaning. Long-haired cats are also often have hairballs.
Are you getting rid of cat hair in your home? Cats can shed quite a bit; therefore, so it is important to brush them often. If your cat sheds often, you should brush it more regularly. This will also prevent their coat from getting tangled or matted.
If your cat stops using the litter box suddenly, take note. Health problems may be causing your cat to urinate in places other than their litter box. A variety of infections and kidney disease can cause your cat to stay away from the box when they suddenly associate it with pain due to their medical condition. Speak with your vet if your pet stops using the litter box.
Chemicals that have phenol shouldn’t be anywhere near your cat. This chemical is often in cleaning products such as Pine-Sol and certain other regular household cleaners.
Don’t let a cat outdoors for long periods of time. The cat won’t be able to fight back if other animals attack it and may get hurt. Indoor cats are the only type of cat that may be declawed. Even then, only their front claws should be removed. Don’t cut the back claws as cats need them to stay balanced.
Keep your cat on a diet of dry food if at all possible. Little kittens need moist food since their baby teeth can’t handle much else. When adult teeth come in, the harder foods maintain the strength of their teeth. Try combining both dry and wet food together should you have a finicky feline.
If your feline has hairball issues, and there’s been no help from brushing, then the following tips might help. Mix in pumpkin (a teaspoon’s worth) into your cat’s food. You may also use some tuna packing water to mix with the pumpkin to see if that helps. Some cat foods include hairball fighting elements, such as fiber, which may resolve the problem.
Adopting a cat is a wonderful thing to do. Afterall, you have opened your home to a cat that needs your love and care. The bonds between a cat and its owner can last a lifetime. Take care of your cat and your cat will take care of you.
Give your pet a tag and collar, and be sure it always wears it. Cats can escape. By requiring your pet to wear a tag on the collar, you can be more confident that you will be reunited if the cat escapes.