Cats are wonderful and unique pets. Cats are also a very common household pet, and they are very populated in many areas. Learning to coexist with such animals indoors is a different story. Cats have a very high intelligence level, which you will need to be on par with.
You should be bringing your cat to their vet for a check-up regularly. Cats need yearly shots and overall health assessments. For the most consistent pet care, choose one veterinarian and stick with them. This also allows the vet to become more familiar with your cat's unique health needs and personality.
You can keep your cat away from electrical cords by spraying them with some bitter apple. If your cat still insists on chewing your cords, try to cover as many of them as possible. You can take loose cords, bundle them up, and stick them inside the tube from an old roll of paper towels. Put your electronics away so your cat is not tempted to chew on the cords.
Scratching Post
Your house can really get torn apart by a cat's claws. If you find your cat shredding your furniture, consider purchasing a scratching post or cat tower. Redirect your cat to the scratching post when they start to go after your furniture. Catnip can be put in the posts or on the tower to help train the cat to use it. It might not happen overnight, but the problem should eventually stop.
A lot of cat owners have a hard time keeping their cats off the counter. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings. Give them an alternative. A carefully placed cat tower in the kitchen will keep cats away from the counter.
It's very important to get your cat microchipped. Even cats that live their lives entirely indoors can suddenly escape out a window or door. 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. Your name and the best way to contact you can be encoded on the chip, which is tiny. Almost every vet and shelter has a scanner these days, and they can retrieve your contact information should they find your pet.
Try figuring out why the cat is purring. Over time, you will pick up on the reasons why your cat is making this gesture. The cat might want something to eat, or just to go outside. Look for the cues and you'll be much more in tune with your pet.
Understand that leaving a small kitten together with small children can be dangerous to both. A child under five should not be left alone with a pet. These children just do not possess the maturity to handle a kitten. They aren't aware of the danger that they can cause to it. As they grow, you will be able to decide when it is the right time for them to handle a cat or kitten without supervision.
Talk to people you know about any cat problems you're having. You may wish to deal with it alone, but you may need advice from other cat owners. You can find several cat forums online where you can ask questions, or you can choose to simply call your vet for advice too.
Brush your cat regularly. This will reduce the amount of bacteria on the fur. Furthermore, it helps reduce all the loose hair. This will help to eliminate hairballs, which build in your cat's stomach and prevents it from grooming itself.
You cat will not be likely to be a finicky eater if you vary the type of food you are feeding from time to time. Keeping the same kind of food around most of the time makes it to where they only want that specific food.
You need to buy some quality food for your cat. Check out the ingredients, and make sure meat tops the list. Look for foods that do not have corn or elements that aren't protein. Cats are carnivores and their diet should reflect that.
If adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a couple of weeks to get comfortable with each other. They may still hiss and growl when they are in the same room together. Eventually, they become used to each other and are comfortable together.
If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, you should take him to the vet. 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.
You'll be able to run circles around your cat once you have read these and other cat care tips. You'll teach them where they should go and what areas they should avoid in no time. That said, a well behaved cat is also a wonderful pet to have, so get down to work!
