In case you are unfamiliar with the word, feral cats are the population of cats that live wondering along the street. Cats come with many issues from health issues to overpopulation. You should keep reading if you want to learn more about what owning a cat means.
Cats enjoy finding small spaces to fit into. Collars can be a safety risk if your kitty gets stuck. A breakaway style collar will literally "break away" if pulled too tight. This can make the difference in whether your cat have nine lives or only a couple of them.
Take your cat to the vet regularly to make sure they remain in good health. They should have a routine check-up once a year or more if important shots are due. Make vet appointments immediately if your cat has a medical condition or has become injured.
Get a microchip for your cat. Even an indoor cat can get the urge to run out of a door or leap through a window. While a collar with a tag is useful, remember that your cat may be able to escape from the collar while they are away. Collars can also harm your cat if they get caught. Microchips are very small, approximately as large as a single grain of rice. Although they are small, they can hold your entire contact information. All shelters and vets have scanners to ensure your cat gets home safely.
Be sure to show your cat affection as much as possible. A cat's companionship should be returned with the same. Like many people, cats need to socialize with people so that they feel like they are an important part of their family's lives. They probably would like to feel as though they are a wanted part of the family.
Male cats may develop crystals in the urine, which usually occur as a result of a poor diet. The cat is in pain passing the crystals, and the correction for this is costly. To stop this from happening, make sure your cat's food doesn't have much magnesium in it. Read the label. Fish products are usually higher in magnesium.
Brush your pet often. This will help spread the natural oils within their fur while stimulating their skin's blood flow. It will also minimize hair loss. Avoid the choking that can be a result of hairballs which slowly build up as your cat grooms himself.
Litter Box
Consider the placement of your cat's litter box. You may believe that the litter box should be kept in a small place so that you won't smell it. The litter box should be somewhere that is easy for your cat to get to, however. Felines can be finicky. This means you must give them the right location and make sure it is inviting. If you are going to put the litter box in a room without carpet, put a mat beneath it to keep the box warm.
Stay current on your cat's exams and vaccinations. It is especially important that you get good vet care for kittens so they get all the shots they need. Treat your cat as if it were a member of the family.
Confine a sanitary area of the house for your cat to give birth. The birth process can last up to four hours, which means you must exercise patience. If the birth takes an excessively long time or you believe a kitten is stuck inside, an immediate visit to the veterinary hospital is essential.
You should get a collar with your contact information and make sure your cat wears it all the time. Even a house cat may get outside. If this happens, ensure there's a way they can find home again.
If you can, keep your cat inside and close to you. Cats who stay inside for most of their lives have a much better life span and are less likely to get diseases and parasites. Roaming around the house doesn't cause as much risk as roaming the wild.
Cats do best on a diet high in dry food. Kittens need wet food since they have tiny teeth. However, dry food is better for adult cat teeth. You can also mix wet and dry food together if your cat is really picky.
If you worry about the cat you have getting fleas, rabies, or any kind of fungus then the cat shouldn't go outside. While issues can affect your cat while inside as well, you run the risk of more when you offer outside as an option.
Vet visits are often inevitable, and the bills can quickly pile up. You could save a lot of money if your order your cat's medicine from an online retailer. Some companies actually deliver medications straight to your home. This is ideal for monthly heart worm pills and flea treatments that your cat needs.
You want to be sure your cat has a collar with tags on all the time. Cats are very resourceful and like to try to escape whenever the chance presents itself. If there are tags on the cat that does leave, there's a better shot that animal will be returned to you.
Defend yourself against cats that are intruding. Cats can make great companions. Of course, cats are still sensitive animals and should be handled with care! Do your best to be a considerate and responsible cat owner.