There is a quote by a famous author that broke down how important cats are. Eliot described felines as a being that all households are dependent on, and that’s true. Happy, healthy cats can make life complete. Unfortunately, cats aren’t always the easiest creatures to live with. Consider these tips for how you can coexist with your pet.
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.
Avoid letting your cat go outdoors. Letting your cat outside greatly increases his risk level. Your cat could get fleas or even worse parasites. They might get injured by some other animals, vehicles, or people. If you think your pet needs to go outside, think about enclosing a back patio with metal mesh or some type of heavy screen to keep your cat inside, yet allow them to experience the outdoors.
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.
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.
Sometimes you need to give your cat a pill. Some cats are harder than others, but you should trim their nails first. Then hold the head, open the mouth, and put the pill in. Then blow on the cats face. This will likely make the cat lick its nose, and the pill will go down naturally.
There are a lot of cats that are overweight. An obese cat can end up developing health problems such as arthritis or diabetes. If your cat could stand to lose a pound or two, try cutting back their food a little bit at each feeding. You can also buy some toys and encourage your cat to play and exercise.
Understand that your cat is easily influenced by its surroundings. Cats have superior memories and will usually retain training for a lifetime. Conversely, they also retain frightening experiences and it takes them a long time to get over their fears. Be encouraging with your cat and avoid situations that scare them.
If you’ve just met a cat, don’t look at them in their eyes. Cats do not like being stared at by people they don’t know. That’s why they are more comfortable if you are not looking at them. They are more likely to approach you that way, and more likely to kindly regard you in the future.
Play is essential to your cat’s life. After all, everyone likes to play. Kitties who are senior citizens may not be super energetic, but they still enjoy playing. Playing with your cat will help you to form happy and cherished memories to look back on.
Be mindful of where you place the litter box. You may really want to hide that box from everyday life. It is equally important that the litter box is readily accessible to your cat, though. It has to be a quiet area with little traffic. For example, a rug or mat is a good way to make a litter box placed on a concrete floor more attractive to your cat.
Cats have an uncanny ability to always find their way home. If you move to a new home, keep your cat inside for about a month. This will help your cat to familiarize themselves with the smells of your new place. If you let your cat out too soon, they might go home to the wrong house.
Pay attention if your cat won’t use their litter box. When cats are suffering from something, they may end up going to the restroom randomly outside of their box. A bladder infection is often at the root of the problem. If this happens, you are advised to take your cat to the vet.
It might seem like a little much for an animal, but you should comb your cat’s hair as often as possible. Combing the hair helps prevent the cat from licking loose fur and building a furball to spit up later. Different cats shed at different rates and some require a lot more maintenance than others.
Put a collar around your cats neck that contains your name, address, and number. Even a house cat may get outside. Fitting your cat with a tag and collar greatly increases the chance that your cat will make it home safely.
You can use certain scents to discourage your cat from going into certain areas of your home. Aloe gel, citrus peels, and citrus juices smell wonderful to us, but cats don’t feel the same way. Soak a cotton ball in one of these liquids, then place it on top of a piece of foil to prevent the liquid from staining your surface. Place the foil and cotton ball near the off-limits area.
While owning a cat isn’t always easy, the reward is great. The tips you’ve read can help you build a better bond with your cat. Soon, the purrs will become more frequent than the meows.
