The ancient Egyptians viewed cats as gods. If you glance over at your cat, that isn’t difficult to understand. These creatures are beautiful and elegant, mysterious and fascinating. You can never truly understand a cat, but you can do your best to care for them. Here are some cat tips to assist you in caring for this wonderful animal.
Taking your cat in for regular check-ups at the veterinarian’s office is part of being a responsible pet owner. Cats need vaccinations to keep them healthy, and your vet can keep an eye out for any other health issues. Try to stick with one vet during the life of your pet. This way they will know your cat’s history the best.
Have your kids help you take care of the cat. Assign daily jobs such as feeding the cat and cleaning the litter box. Not only will taking care of the cat teach them responsibility, it also gives you a break from these tasks. This means that you can spend more time cuddling with your cat.
Don’t be pushy when you are getting to know your new cat. Cats prefer to be in control and take things at their own pace. Make sure your new cat is comfortable and safe. Let your cat take its time exploring its new environment. When your cat feels at home, it will be more likely to try to make friends with you.
Clip your cats nails regularly. Cats do have to scratch. However, when cats scratch, their nail sheaths come off and their sharp, pointy claws are exposed. Clipping your cat’s claws every two to three weeks keeps them blunt and helps keep harm to furniture, humans, and other pets to a minimum.
Keep the litter box clean. Cats are naturally very clean animals, and a dirty litter box will have your cat looking for alternative places to relieve himself. Cats also value their privacy, so try to locate the box in an area that does not get a lot of foot traffic.
Make sure your cat gets lots of love. A cat’s companionship should be returned with the same. Cats need social time with the family just like people do so that they know that they are valued. Cats want to feel loved and needed.
Who says only dogs can do tricks? Cats are very intelligent and have the ability to learn as well, especially as young kittens. Some people train their cats to play fetch just like dogs do. There are even people who have successfully trained their cat to use a regular toilet, instead of a litter box.
To make sure your kitten is properly socialized to humans, begin early in his life, about ten to twelve weeks of age. Be sure that he is handled and petted by humans in his family and by others as well. When he is older, he will be a calmer, friendlier cat.
Carriers are great devices for you to have as a cat owner. While punishment is a good strategy to train dogs, it is not adapted to cats. Encouragement is a better way to get your cats to perform. Take their favorite blanket and place it within the carrier. Then leave the carrier with the door ajar in a frequented spot. After some time, your cat will respond better to the carrier. Transporting the carrier with your cat inside makes your next trip out much easier.
Provide your cat with a drinking fountain. Cats that live in the wild like drinking from running water, and they have the same desires in a home. Cats react better to a moving water stream. In fact, there are cats that enjoy drinking from a running sink instead of a bowl. A fountain will allow your cat to have the happiness of drinking from running water.
If your cat begins defecating or urinating too frequently, it’s time to see the vet. Cats often do such things when suffering from urinary tract infections or other sorts of health issues. Affordable antibiotics can solve concerns that may otherwise be quite serious.
Do not place the cat litter box in the same area where you place the bowl your cat eats from. Cats want a clear separation between the two areas, so make sure you give it to them. It is not likely you would want to eat in the same place where you use the bathroom, so give your cat the same courtesy.
Don’t give a cat medicine that is intended for humans. If your cat is sick, take it to the veterinarian and use the medication recommended. When you make the mistake of giving any type of human medication to your cat, it can kill them or cause them some other type of grave medical misfortune.
If your cat is diabetic, check his blood sugar at least once a day. Having a record of his blood sugars can provide you with helpful information to pass on to your vet. Your vet can then adjust insulin and other medications accordingly. This can also help you to determine how food is effecting your cat’s health condition.
You may not think your cat is a god, but he probably does! The best you can do is to take care of his health and care for him. Use the advice in this article to take care of your cat in the way he is used to. Even if you never get a thank you, he appreciates it.