Adding a cat to your family can be quite enjoyable. You should not adopt a cat until you are better prepared. Even if you are an experienced cat owner, there are always things you can learn to take better care of your cat. A great idea for you is to read the suggestions here and add a few more tidbits to your list of expectations.
Make sure you don't allow your cat to be around drape cords. Cats can potentially strangle themselves on these cords so it is important to protect your cat from this potential danger. This could kill them. All drape cords should be fastened and kept away from any harm that might come to the cats.
Take your cat to the vet regularly to make sure they remain in good health. Cats should go to a vet at least once each year for a check up, and more frequently for required shots. Don't hesitate to take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice anything unusual about their health or if they are injured.
Flea Products
You should not use products designed for other animals. Cats don't like dog products. This particularly applies to flea products. These dog flea products can even cause feline death. In fact, your cat should be kept away from your dog for several hours after the dog has been treated for fleas.
Make sure your cat has a collar if it goes outside. Cats can travel far, and a tag will help you find the cat easier if they get lost. Make sure at a minimum to put your pets name and your phone number on the tag.
Spray bitter apple on electrical cords to keep cats away from them. If the cat likes to chew on cords, its best to cover them as best you can. The tube from a used-up roll of paper towels makes an excellent shield for loose cords. If you have electrical cords laying out that are not being used, put them away as cats can play with them and then move on to live electrical cords.
It's not easy to keep cats off counters. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings. You may mitigate the problem by providing designated heights for them to use. Keep your cats off the kitchen counter by placing their towers near the kitchen or even in it.
You can also consider outfitting your cat with a chip so you can monitor its whereabouts. Even indoor cats may get out of your home at some point. Collars or tags can identify your cat, but cats can wiggle out of those, and they are also at risk of getting hung up on something. Microchips are tiny and contain all your contact information. The majority of veterinarians possess scanners that can read your chips. Because these chips are placed underneath your cat's skin, they won't get lost.
Male felines tend to get crystals in the urine that can be prevented with proper diet. Passing these crystals is painful and the vet bill to have this corrected is expensive. Make sure your cat's food is not high in magnesium. Read the label on any food you choose. Cat food with lots of fish tends to have more magnesium, while products with lots of poultry tend to have less.
Do you have both a dog and a cat? Dogs are known for eating other pet's food. This is why it's important that the cat's feeding area is in a spot that's too high for a dog to get to. This can also prevent unnecessary arguments between your pets over the water supply, once the food has been consumed.
Litter Box
Don't get mad at your cat if it urinates outside the litter box. The major cause of such accidents is usually because the litter box hasn't been given the proper care. Punishing the cat will only make him afraid to be around you in the future.
If your cat's scratching post looks old and worn, don't throw it away immediately. It's in this condition that cats tend to love it the most. 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.
Those quality-training tips are perfect for all breeds of cat, regardless of age or location. There are several concepts involved when you raise a little cat, however, the way these are applied differs from one circumstance to the next. Most importantly, enjoy your cat.