Cats are interesting, unique and make for a family member to share your home with. They are independent and have a busy life, even if you’re not at home all the time. You should go over the following article to find out how you can adopt a new cat and properly take care of it.
Contact local shelters if you want to adopt a cat. There are tons of loving cats there, and the fees often cover the needed vet care. You really are saving a life and keeping the feline population in check all in one!
Keep a clean litter box. Like you, a cat will generally not use a bathroom that is filthy. Find a quiet area out of the way that the box can stay in, and don’t move it unless absolutely necessary. Scoop solids out a couple time of day. Make sure to dump the whole box, wash it with a gentle detergent, and refill it once a week.
If you have a female cat it is important to have her spayed once she becomes old enough. You may not think it’s necessary if you have an indoor cat, but your cat may escape. Unless you want the hassle of getting rid of kittens, spaying is the best option for your cat.
Choose a high quality food. The key to a healthy cat starts with nutrition. Take a look at the ingredients label. If you look at most “popular” commercial cat foods, you may be surprised to see the top ingredient listed is corn. Cats are carnivores, so look for a food with a real meat as the top ingredient. You may pay more up front, but these foods are often more nutritionally dense, meaning your cat eats less and the bag lasts longer.
Give your new cat some space. Moving to a new home can be stressful on a cat, especially one who is no longer a kitten. To help them adjust, give them a quiet place that they can call their own, such as a spare bathroom or laundry room. This gives them a safe space they can retreat to until they have become comfortable with exploring the whole house. Depending on the cat, this process may take a few days up to a month or more.
Kitty claws can be quite destructive to fabric and furnishings. If your beloved feline friend is shredding and damaging parts of your home, try investing in a cat tower or a scratching post. Place this device into an area that your cat frequents, and attempt to get your cat to scratch it rather than the furniture. Eventually it will cause you less of a headache.
Check your cats ears frequently for ear mites. You may notice your cat shaking their head or scratching their ears a lot if they have them. They are tiny parasites that look like coffee grounds in your cat’s ears. If you have more than one cat, they can also travel from cat to cat. See a vet before using any medication on them since their ears need properly cleaned first.
Cats and electrical cords don’t mix. If you notice your cat has a habit of chewing on electric cords, try to bundle them up and hide them out of the cat’s reach. If that’s not possible, spray a little bit of bitter apple onto the cords. Not only is bitter apple non-toxic, cats absolutely hate the taste.
Do you love your cat but suffer from allergies? If giving up your feline-friend is not something that you can do, try these things first. Get rid of as much carpeting as possible because your cats dander gets trapped in it. You can also not allow your cat in your bedroom at all. This will make living with your cat easier on your allergies.
Just as important as it is to take care of your own teeth, you need to take care of your cats as well. Cats can develop tarter and plaque build-up over time. Purchasing a toothbrush and toothpaste made specially for felines is a great way to keep your cats teeth clean and healthy.
Help keep your cat’s fur soft and healthy with regular cleaning. While your pet might object violently to a dunk in the bathtub, there are other options. Many pet stores sell feline cleaning wipes. These convenient disposable wipes reduce allergens and remove oils and dirt. Some are scented with chamomile, which helps to calm your cat. These are especially useful if you have an older or injured pet that cannot groom itself properly.
Make sure that the litter box placement is easy for your cat to get to. It’s sometimes tempting to put the box somewhere that you don’t have to smell or see it. The litter box should be somewhere that is easy for your cat to get to, however. Cats are finicky, so you must provide an environment that is not inconvenient or off-putting to the animal. If the litter box is on a hard surface, make sure to put something soft underneath it.
Buy a pet drinking fountain to prevent dehydration. Cats are attracted to running water, so a pet drinking fountain may help to encourage your cat to drink more. Proper hydration can cure and prevent a large number of feline health problems. Therefore, a pet drinking fountain could improve the health of your cat and reduce vet bills.
If you notice that your cat isn’t using its’ litter box anymore, you need to take note. Abandoning proper litter box habits is often a warning sign of serious health problems in cats. These conditions include kidney and bladder problems. If your cat stops using the litter box suddenly, get him to a vet for a visit.
Cats are independent and intelligent house pets. There are some things you need to learn to keep your cat healthy and energetic, though. Read this article again and again until you have these tips memorized. By following proper care, a cat can live a happy life for decades.
