A cat is a cherished member of the family. Cats are enjoyed as pets by millions, but they need to be taken care of properly. No cat wants this sort of problem. Keep reading for great tips on keeping your cat healthy.
Watch the amount of treats that you give your cat. Like humans, cats can easily overeat junk food. This can cause them to gain weight and may lead to some health problems like heart issues and diabetes. If you do give your cat treats, give them a small amount and make it a special thing instead of a regular routine.
Be sure to have your pet cat spayed or neutered by the time it is six months old. A spayed or neutered cat is a more satisfactory pet because it is calmer, quieter and more likely to stay home. Neutered male cats do not spray urine to mark their territory. This is definitely a plus when it comes to cat ownership.
Refrain from giving your cat any food that is spoiled. This can lead to indigestion and food poisoning, which can cost you a trip to the veterinarian. Always buy your food fresh from the store and be sure to check the expiration date before you feed it to your 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. Passing those crystals hurts and having this corrected by a vet is expensive. Give your cat foods that are low in magnesium. Read the labels. Fish-based foods usually contain more magnesium than poultry-based foods.
If your cat has a tendency to eat your plants, you can stop him. You can either purchase bitter apple spray and spray the pot, or you can put a bit of clove oil on a cotton ball and bury it a bit in the soil. Your cat will avoid both.
Give serious thought to spaying or neutering your cat. Your vet can give you the pros and cons of both, but if you plan to keep your cat for a long period of time you should consider this operation. Cat overpopulation is a real problem, and you can do your part.
Play with your cat. A lot of cat owners don’t do this. They are happy to let their cat entertain themselves. However, playing with your cat can help to mentally stimulate him and give him the physical activity he needs. Use small balls, paper bags and any number of small toys to get your cat moving.
Do not throw away your cat’s scratching post because it is starting to look very old and worn. This is the time when your cats actually most prefer it. Ditching the structure may alienate your cat, making it more likely to turn elsewhere in your home for its scratching needs.
When your cat has kittens, it can be tempting to get rid of them as soon as possible, but you should wait a reasonable amount of time. A kitten needs to learn a few things from mom before going off into the world alone, so give him six weeks to learn all he can.
Try to be consistent with the type of cat litter and food you buy your cat. If you change up, it may cause some issues. Cats are creatures of habit, and they do not adapt well to change. If you must make some changes, it would be a good idea to do them gradually.
If possible, clip your cat’s toenails once weekly. If the nails grow too long, your pet cannot retract the claws. This causes your pet to experience discomfort. Regular trimmings also prevent the claws from snagging carpet fibers, clothing, and other fabrics. If you cannot do this, you should at least provide scratching toys and posts for your cat.
Cats have a heightened sense of smell, and they can detect environmental changes easily. This can cause a problem when trying to introduce a new bed, scratching post, or food dish. You shouldn’t be disappointed if your cat avoids new items at first. Eventually the cat will get used to the smell and things will go back to normal.
Getting another pet can upset your cat initially. To avoid conflict, keep your new pet separate from the cat. Let them get used to the new pet’s smell. After a while, introduce the new pet to the family cat.
A clean litter box is essential for a healthy cat. Litter training your cat is relatively easy. It is almost an instinct for a cat to use a litter box. Make sure you scoop it every day and every week completely change the litter and wash the litter box with dish soap.
Cats hate a dirty litter box. Litter boxes should be scooped at least once per day, and completely changed each week. Cats are clean, picky animals, and if the litter box gets smelly or full, they will likely look for other areas to go potty. These include carpets, closets and other places you may not know about until the problem is already out of control.
If you are worried about your outdoor cats stray too far away from home, you should consider having a microchip inserted inside under the skin. This will allow you to track your lost pet’s location from your computer in order to find them.
If you are adding a kitten to your family, be certain to teach young children how to treat and handle the kitten properly. Children have a tendency to bother kittens by holding them too much, pulling on tails and chasing them. These can all contribute to a cat who does not like humans and will never become a calm, happy member of the family.
All animals are capable of getting parasites. Your cat is no exception. These vermin will remain with your pet unless you take action. You can get rid of them and even prevent them when you use the featured methods. By staying educated, you can have a wonderful cat.
