Cats can make great pets! These abandoned kittens make up nearly half of the population of domesticated felines and can become a troublesome pest if you live in urban areas. Keep reading for some excellent advice about taking care of your pet.
Cats are curious by nature, which can end up getting them into trouble. There are ways to make sure that their collar does not get stuck. Purchase breakaway collars that will give if they are yanked tightly. This could help save your cat if it gets caught in a tight spot.
If you own a female cat, it's crucial to spay it at the appropriate age. While your cat may be an indoor one, there is always the possibility it can get out and you wind up with kittens one day. Spaying a cat can prevent this.
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. Tags and collars can help you cat return home, but cats can wiggle out of them or risk injury by snagging them on a tree branch or bush. Microchips are as tiny as a piece of rice and will tell people where the cat belongs. Scanners to read pet microchips are available in every town and they will not come out from under the skin.
Male cats often develop crystals in their bladder that come out in their urine. This can be prevented with a proper diet. Passing crystals is very painful for your cat, and the vet's bill will be painful for you. Choose a cat food low in magnesium. Read the labels. Fish products are usually higher in magnesium.
Buying Online
Look online for cat medicine. In emergency situations, buying online may not be a good option. For more routine situations, saving 50% by buying online is quite possible.
Remember to take care of your cat's ears if you travel with him. Although you might enjoy jamming to your music, understand that cats prefer peace and quiet. Therefore, keep your music or other sounds at an acceptable level.
You need to establish some boundaries if you are getting a cat for your children. Let your kids know which rooms your cat is allowed in. If you want to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that they cannot let it go outside. By making the rules well known to your children, your children will understand what is and is not allowed.
Never make the mistake of leaving a kitten in a room alone with small children. Under five, the child needs to be watched. Younger children cannot fully understand how to properly handle a small pet. Wait until your child gets older, and pay close attention to whether or not they're mature enough to hold or handle a tiny pet.
Cats love being up high. To keep your cat happy, offer him a spot of his own up high where he can survey his kingdom. You can have a cat tree or even a strong wall shelf. Providing a blanket or bed for your cat is an extra treat for them.
Don't get mad at your cat if it urinates outside the litter box. Many times this occurs because the box wasn't well maintained. Punishing the cat will only make him afraid to be around you in the future.
It may be time to take your cat to see the vet if it begins urinating more frequently and in places besides its litter box. This may be a symptom of an infection of the urinary tract or another health problem in your cat. Most of the time, these conditions can be resolved with relatively affordable antibiotic treatments.
Keep products containing phenol away from your cat. Lysol, for example, has many harmful agents that can harm your cat. This smell is very offensive to cats, and prolonged exposure can even damage their liver.
Human Medication
Don't give cats human medication. If health problems arise, take your cat to a vet. 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.
Cats have a very sensitive nose and can easily detect any changes to their environment. This applies to new pets and food in the home. Don't get frustrated if they don't like these items right away. Once your cat becomes accustomed to this smell, he or she will begin to like it.
Put tape that's sticky onto your furniture. This can deter your cat from scratching the upholstery. There is specific tape for this sold at pet stores. You should also provide your cat with a scratching post or a tower it can use instead of your furniture.
If you worry about the cat you have getting fleas, rabies, or any kind of fungus then the cat shouldn't go outside. While it is possible for a home bound cat to catch some of these diseases, the chances are increasingly significantly when a cat spends a good amount of time outdoors.
Feral Cats
You are now ready to protect your home and pets from feral cats. Learn as much as you can about proper pet care and incorporate it into your life. Of course, cats are still sensitive animals and should be handled with care! You could even end up bonding with one of the feral cats.