Cats are an integral part of any household. Eliot once stated cats are animals which households depend on. He was not entirely wrong in this statement. Well-behaved, healthy cats are great for any home. Not all cats will be like this. For better advice as to how you can co-habitate with your cat, read this article.
Check with your shelter before you purchase a cat. Shelters have great pets available for adoption, and the fee isn’t that high. Adopting your cat through a shelter means you are helping to control the cat population and saving a life at the same time.
Make frequent checkups with your vet to keep your cat healthy. Understand that cats require vaccinations in order to stay healthy, and the veterinarian needs to regularly check for any health problems. Try to stay with the same veterinarian throughout your pet’s life. This way, the vet will be very familiar with your cat and its history.
Cats often view small spaces as a fun challenge. If they have a collar, this can be a safety issue if they get stuck. Breakaway collars will “break” if they’re pulled too tight. Purchasing one could be the difference between whether your cat lives or dies when he gets stuck.
If your kitty is a female, make sure to plan a spaying once she is of age to breed. Even if you own an indoor cat, it might produce many kittens if it escapes during mating season. Spaying your cat is the best way to prevent this from happening.
Ensure that your cat goes to the vet often so that they are healthy. They should go at least once yearly for a check-up, and more often if they need any shots. Cats should see a vet right away if any health problems or injuries needing treatment occur.
Electrical Cords
Make sure your cat is out of harms way by putting a little bitter apple on all the electrical cords to avoid them getting shocked. If this does not work, make sure you cover the cords. If you have loose electrical cords, you can bundle them up and stow them away in a cardboard tube (think toilet paper or paper towel rolls). Any electrical cords that are really thin (and very tempting) should really be hidden whenever possible.
Your house can really get torn apart by a cat’s claws. You need to get a scratching post or a cat tower to prevent your cat from ruining your furniture. Put cat nip on it to attract them to it. It might not happen overnight, but the problem should eventually stop.
Cats generally will meow for a reason. After some time, you’ll understand why your cat purs or meows based on what she wants. This could mean that your cat needs to go out or is hungry. Listen to what’s she’s trying to tell you, and you’ll begin to understand her cues.
You should think before allowing your cat to go outside. This can be very unsafe for your cat. Your cat may get fleas or have other problems. Cats can also be hunted by other animals, stolen or hit by passing vehicles. If you allow your cat outside, make sure you live in a reasonably safe area.
Always watch a kitten around small kids. If a child is under the age of five, you should not leave the pet alone with them. Small children don’t have the mental capacity to understand that certain activities are dangerous to the kitten. Once the child grows up a little, he might be more able to handle the kitten.
Scratching Post
Although your cat’s old scratching post may look very worn out, you shouldn’t throw it away. It may not look as nice, but cats love a scratching post with some wear and tear. Ditching the structure may alienate your cat, making it more likely to turn elsewhere in your home for its scratching needs.
Being the owner of a cat isn’t always the easiest thing to be, but it is very rewarding. These tips will improve your relationship no matter what type of cat you own. Those meows will be replaced with purrs in short order.