Your feline friend can be a part of your life for a long time. That’s why you need to stay vigilant about her care and make sure you are doing everything to help her stay fit and healthy. Here are some tips that will give you some tricke to keeping your cat well.
Make sure to keep your cat’s litter box clean at all times. Most cats do not like to use a dirty litter box, much like you would not want to use a dirty toilet. Scoop it at least once a day. Empty and give it a good cleaning once a week or more if needed.
Keep the litter box clean. Cats are naturally very clean animals, and a dirty litter box will have your cat looking for alternative places to relieve himself. Cats also value their privacy, so try to locate the box in an area that does not get a lot of foot traffic.
Most cats are nocturnal. This means nighttime is an active time for your cat. If your cats are busy keeping you awake early, just close your bedroom door. This can keep them from waking you up at night and from pouncing on feet under the blankets.
Prevent crystals from forming in the urine of male cats with the right diet. The cat is in pain passing the crystals, and the correction for this is costly. Feed cats food that’s low in magnesium. Consult the ingredient list. Fish products can have more magnesium when compared to poultry.
Attend cat shows for tips about your cat. A cat show only costs a few dollars to attend. But when you attend one, you see vendors selling cat items, and show pet owners that give their cats the best of everything. You can get ideas for best brands to feed your cat, as well as ideas for grooming and caring for your cat.
Use your cat to teach your children responsibilities. A pet demands care that the whole family can participate in. Each child can take different day to feed the cat, for instance. Same thing for litterbox care. You can make a schedule and post it on the refrigerator. Then, everyone knows what they are responsible for.
Get your cat a breakaway collar. Make sure it has tags that reflect a phone number, even if you are uncomfortable with an address. Cats can run outdoors or slip away, and you don’t want to worry that you’ll never see your cat again. Make sure that there is adequate information so you can be reached.
Cats enjoy heights. To keep your cat healthy, provide your cat with a high place to sit. If a cat tree is not in your future, providing a stable shelving unit with no small items on it will do very well. For an additional treat, put a little bed or blanket in there, too.
Do not wait too long to scoop any waste that has accumulated in a cat litter box. When left dirty for too long, bacteria can grow and it can cause health issues for you and your kitten. It is best to do this every single day so you avoid any issues.
Cats have a natural instinct to hunt small prey. This can sometimes be a problem if you have other small animals in your home. Make sure that bird cages are hanging from the ceiling. If you have a gerbil or hamster, make sure their cages are secure and up high out of your cats reach.
Your cat should be acclimated to a carrier as a kitten. Punishment affects cats differently from dogs. Encouragement is a much better strategy. Place a blanket or favorite toy inside the carrier to make your cat more acclimated to the carrier. After some time, your cat will respond better to the carrier. This will make getting the cat inside easier later.
Don’t get rid of an old scratching post. This is the time when your cats actually most prefer it. If you throw it away and replace it too quickly with a new one, they may shun the new one and go after your carpet and furniture.
If you have ever given your cat a bath, then you know how much they shiver when it is over. This is because their wet fur provides them with no insulation. You can help your cat out by using your hairdryer to dry the hair fast. Just remember not to hold it too close and burn your cat.
Make sure play time is an important part of your cat’s life. Just like playtime is important for other types of pets, the same holds true for your cat, despite whatever their age happens to be. While older cats aren’t near as energetic, they still enjoy playing often. Take time and play with your cat regularly.
Understand the difference between cat play and real aggression. Both activities can look the same to an untrained eye, but there are differences. When two cats are playing, they will bat each other around with claws retracted. They will “bite” with their jaws loose. Real aggression will involve hisses, squeals and hard biting.
If you are expecting a child, this is more than enough reason for you to have your pet spayed or neutered. Some cats get very aggressive when they see little ones in the house. After having this procedure done it is less likely for your cat to do anything to harm the baby.
If you have a cat that goes outdoors, consider having him micro chipped. A micro chip will help someone to locate you if they ever find your pet. This is especially important if your pet lands in a shelter, as shelters give pets a limited time if they cannot locate the owner easily.
Hopefully you’ve gotten some great ideas from this article about how to make sure your cat is healthy and fit. Your cat is a dear, trusted friend, and you want her to stay well. Just put the tips here into practice, and you will see that your cat stays happy.
