Cats are great examples of being powerful, mentally aware, and having great agility when compared to other animals. Cats are very common house pets and there are many in the streets when active. Learning to live indoors with these animals is a new challenge entirely. Cats are strong, smart, and kind of difficult.
Set up a nice, warm and comfortable area for your cat to rest in your home. It should be lined with a warm towel or blanket. Make sure to wash the bedding regularly since it can acquire dust, dander, and anything from outside if your cat is an outdoor cat.
If you have outdoor cats, be sure to discourage pests such as coyotes, possums and raccoons by bringing cat food indoors at night. Feed your cats first thing in the morning, and make sure there is no food left at nightfall. This will keep your cats safe from attack and illness.
Your cat most likely spends quite a bit of time grooming. When your cat has long hair, this can cause hairballs. If your cat has this issue, try changing his food. There are foods on the market for cats that specifically deal with the hairball problems and are good for the cat.
Male felines tend to have a build-up of crystals that present in the urine, so you need to avoid this with proper nutrition. These crystals can cause a lot of pain to your cat and could end up costing you a lot in medical expenses. Keep your cat’s diet low in levels of magnesium. Check the label. You will notice that fish-based foods and products are higher in levels of magnesium than anything sourced from poultry.
Do not flush clumpable litter in your toilet. This can lead to problems with your plumbing. Instead just lift the clumps and dispose of them in a trash bag. Don’t forget, moisture is what makes the litter clump in the first place! Avoid doing that to your pipes and just dispose of it properly.
Handle your kitten often. The longer your cat is handled as a kitten, the more readily they will accept being handled when they are grown, especially around their paws. This is important as all cats will have to visit the vet occasionally, and this process is much easier and less stressful if the cat is accustomed to being handled. It will also make grooming and nail trimming much easier.
Make sure that you have a good tablecloth for your kitten. A lot of time cats will take their food from their bowls to eat it on the food bowl’s side. If this occurs, you will have a mess on your hands. Simply place a cloth placemat that will grab at the food under their plate and then shaken out over the trash. You can put a vinyl one underneath that can be picked up wiped down easily if you prefer.
Cats are great pets, but their litter boxes can be unsightly and have an odor. If you can’t stand the sight of your litter box, then it is time to go shopping. There are many different styles of litter boxes on the market. Some are even disguised as fake potted plants. Not only does it look better, it controls the smell as well.
A cat’s nails can grow really quickly. They sharpen their nails by scratching on different surfaces like a scratching post. You can help avoid your cat destroying your furniture by clipping their nails often. This will help to discourage your cat from scratching at different things around your house.
Do not try to bathe a kitten that is less than four weeks old. It is not very easy for a young kitten to regulate the temperature of their body. This may result in the kitten getting a chill. To be on the safe side you should wait between 12 and 16 weeks after they are born to bathe them for the first time.
Put the right amount of cat litter in the litter box. Some people try to get out of cleaning the box by putting too much litter in there. Cats don’t like walking on sand dunes! Two inches or so should be sufficient for the cat’s needs, and you just have to be vigilant about cleaning the box out.
As soon as you adopt your cat, fit him with identification tags attached to a collar. This applies even to indoor cats. Cats tend to be curious and open doors and windows can be inviting. Tags that have your vet’s name and phone number are good things to put on the collar. Also make sure to note any unusual medical requirements.
Keep track of your feline friend by having the animal microchipped. This small device is implanted beneath the skin between your cat’s shoulder blades. Microchip implantation may sting for a few seconds, but the implant is otherwise unnoticeable and will not cause your pet any discomfort. This chip makes it easier for animal control to locate your cat if it goes missing.
When you bring home a new cat for the first time, the experience can be overwhelming for both of you. Instead of granting access to your entire home, introduce your pet to its new environment one room at a time. For example, you might place your cat’s carrier in your study or den. As long as the carrier door is open, you should be in the room with the animal.
Cats may be smart, but you can be even smarter if you take the advice in this article. It is possible to train a cat. Although cats are tougher to train then dogs, they can still turn into well behaved animals that respect their owners.
