A little furry ball of fluff came into your life, so what are you going to do with it? A cat is a wonderful companion for anyone, but you’ve got to know how to handle one. They aren’t dogs, after all! Here are some great tips for dealing with felines.
If you have multiple cats, save money on cat dishes by checking your local dollar store for salsa dishes. You can usually get a package of three for a dollar. These are sturdy and come in pretty colors. They look nice in your kitchen, and they are just the right size for cat food.
If you want to have the love of a cat, get one from a shelter. Shelters have a lot of cats in them and you can get one adopted for a small fee. When you bring home a shelter cat, you will be saving its life and you will be doing your part to help out.
If your cat is picky about drinking water, invest in a cat fountain. These battery operated or plug in fountains keep water circulating and aerated. Many cats prefer this. A cat fountain will help keep your cat out of the kitchen sink and the toilet. It will also help prevent your cat from pawing water onto the floor in search of fresh water.
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.
As your cat gets older, changes in behavior may signal pain. If your cat doesn’t like to jump or climb any more, it may be in pain. If your cat stops taking care of grooming or stops using its litter box, pain may be the cause. Be sure to have your older cat checked out by your vet if you notice behavior changes.
Cats are hunters by nature. They love to chase mice and other small animals and insects. Buying little fuzzy mice filled with catnip and batting them around with your cat is a great idea. Your cat will feel as though they are really hunting prey. This will also help you to connect with your cat better.
If your cat kicks litter all over the floor, simply use a bigger container. A large, roomy tote with high sides makes a good litter box. A big round tub also makes a good litter box. A restaurant size bus tub is a capacious litter box. Providing higher sides and more space will solve your cat’s litter kicking problem.
If your cat tends to be antisocial and anxious with company, try giving it a catnip toy a few hours before company arrives. Many cats become very mellow when exposed to catnip. Even if your cat does not want to socialize after catnip exposure, it will probably be happier and less anxious.
Be considerate of your cat’s preferences while traveling. You cat is used to being at home and it might shock him to hear you singing at the top of your lungs. Therefore, try to turn down your music or keep if off altogether so your cat has a better trip.
Should you leave the house with your cat, make sure that she is wearing a collar with tags. This way, if anything happens and you two become separated, anyone can find her and know how to reach you. Your cat may not like the collar all the time, but when she’s out of the house it can save her.
While usually cats make great pets for kids, younger kids may be too rough with them. Teach your kid how to properly handle a cat. Give them examples of how to be gentle with it and what should and should not be done. Feline bones are weaker than those of many other pets, so they must be handled with care.
If your cat has to have a surgery such as being spayed or neutered, they will need rest when they come home. It is hard to keep a cat from jumping up on furniture, but necessary to avoid pulling out stitches. Designate an area in your house for your cat to recuperate where they will be less likely to injure themselves, until they are healed enough to roam free.
While a torn up scratching post might look unattractive, do not get rid of it. It may not look as nice, but cats love a scratching post with some wear and tear. By throwing away an old scratching post and replacing it with a newer one, your cat will likely look for older items to scratch, such as your furniture.
Don’t buy cheap cat food. Read the ingredient label, and make sure a protein from meat tops the list. Try avoiding foods that have non-protein elements like corn. Cats are carnivores and must have a lot of animal protein for proper nutrition and better health.
Make sure your cats always have identification tags on. Even if your cat is a house cat, this is still a good idea. Cats are curious creatures, and you never know when they might wander off to explore. Tags that list your contact number and vet’s name need to be worn. This is very important if your pet is likely to get lost or has some medical needs.
Now that you’ve read this article, you have some ideas for how you can best take care of your cat. These unique creatures can enrich your life, but only when they’re happy. Your cat may never seem satisfied, but if you use the tips in this article, he may purr a few times!