Cats are creatures that exhibit power, agility, and finesse. Felines are common and found just about everywhere. Sharing your home with a cat can be quite the challenge. Cats are very intelligent, yet they can be hardheaded.
You should make sure your cat stays groomed properly. Cats need to be combed or brushed regularly. Do this often in order to aid in keeping your cat's outer coat clean and healthy. It helps your cats shed much less too, which keeps them from spitting those hairballs up. A well groomed cat will be much more pleasant for everyone and will also help you keep your home clean.
You must always take your cat for regular vet check-ups. Your cat requires a variety of vaccines and shots to prevent illness, and it is also important to identify health problems before they become too severe. Try to stay with the same veterinarian throughout your pet's life. This helps make sure your vet knows your cat's history.
If you have an outdoor cat, be sure he or she has a tagged collar. This can help if your cat becomes lost while wandering in the great outdoors. Be sure the name of your cat and your number can be found on the tag.
A microchip will allow you to find your pet if it is lost. Indoor cats could run out your door or jump out the window. Cat collars are a great thing to have in case your cat gets lost, but they also pose a risk if they get caught on something. Your important information can all fit nicely on a rice grain sized microchip. 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.
Most cats spend a large amount of time on grooming themselves. Hairballs are very common for long-haired cats. To help your cat out with this problem, try buying him special food. There are foods on the market for cats that specifically deal with the hairball problems and are good for the cat.
Male cats sometimes have crystals in their urine, but this can be prevented with the right cat food. Passing these crystals is painful and the vet bill to have this corrected is expensive. Your cat needs food low in magnesium. Read the label. Fish products can have more magnesium when compared to poultry.
Make a tablecloth for your cats. Some cats prefer removing their food from the bowl and eating it on the side. Sometimes, this results in food outside the bowl that you have to clean up. There are two ways to do this. You can either put a placemat under the food bowl or use some stray fabric that you have lying around. Either way, you can easily get rid of debris by dumping them in the garbage.
Avoid leaving a kitten alone with small children. If the child is younger than 5, don't leave them alone with a kitten. Kids of this age aren't old enough to know how dangerous a cat can be. Once the child is older and more mature, decide if they are ready for the responsibility of handling animals.
Speak with friends and family when you have difficulty with your cat. Although you might want to take care of things on your own, advice from other people with cats can be a big help. There are a number of message boards for cat owners on the Internet, or you can go to your vet with problems.
Provide your cat with high-quality cat food. Check out the ingredients, and make sure meat tops the list. Steer clear of food made primarily of corn and fillers. Understand that your cat needs a lot of animal protein to stay healthy.
Drinking Fountain
Get your cat a drinking fountain. A cat will always drink from running water if possible. Cats prefer to drink water that is streaming. In fact, many cats like to drink from a running faucet instead of drinking from their water bowls. A drinking fountain will be good for the environment and can help the cat to enjoy its water more.
Is your cat shedding like a madman? Since cats shed so much, they need to be frequently brushed. The more a cat sheds, the moor they should be properly brushed. It's also a great aid to keeping the cat's coat as pristine as possible.
Litter Box
Pay attention if your cat won't use their litter box. There are a number of health conditions that can make your kitty urinate and go to the bathroom in places other than the litter box. A UTI or kidney infection may be the reason for its bathroom problems. Be sure to go see your vet if your cat stops using its box.
Has your cat stopped using its litter box? If so, consider moving the box into another location. Whenever a cat is using the restroom, it feels vulnerable; therefore, the litter box needs to be kept in a safe and quiet location. Basements, laundry rooms and other quiet spots are best.
There are things you can eat that your cat cannot. Some of these foods are green tomatoes, grapes, onions and garlic. These foods are healthy for humans, but they can make cats very sick. Your cat should also steer clear of dairy products.
Sticky Tape
Apply sticky tape to your furniture. Cats will avoid scratching furniture if it is equipped with sticky tape. Certain pet stores even sell this type of tape for this reason. Place sticky tape on your furniture and install a scratching post in order to kick this bad habit.
You'll be able to run circles around your cat once you have read these and other cat care tips. Cats will learn some basic things, like where they're allowed or not allowed to be. While cat's are harder to train than dogs, they are generally more well-mannered by nature.