Cats don’t have to compete with any other animal and they are great to have around your house because of a few reasons. They can help keep your home free of rodents and they can also be very amusing to watch. To learn more about properly caring for your cat, keep reading.
Make a free toy for your cat by placing a little dry rice or a few dry beans inside an empty pill bottle. Close the lid and roll the rattly toy across the floor. Most cats can’t resist the sound and motion. You can also tie a length of twine around the neck of the bottle to make a pull toy or a dangly toy.
Avoid being kept awake by your cat romping through the house at night. When you first get your kitten, establish a habit of putting it to bed in a comfortable crate with a nice bed, litter box, food and water at night. If you start this early, your cat will appreciate having its own safe, cozy room.
If your cat is a female, be sure to get her spayed when she is old enough. It is best to spay your cat, even if you want to keep it as an indoor pet. Spaying your cat is the best way to prevent this from happening.
Be careful when treating your cat for fleas. Be sure to consult with your vet before using natural alternatives to control your cat’s fleas. Cats are very sensitive to essential oils and many herbs. Your vet will probably recommend you use a prescription flea treatment, which is usually best for cats.
Have your kids help you take care of the cat. Assign daily jobs such as feeding the cat and cleaning the litter box. Not only will taking care of the cat teach them responsibility, it also gives you a break from these tasks. This means that you can spend more time cuddling with your cat.
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.
Should you leave the house with your cat, make sure that she is wearing a collar with tags. This way, if anything happens and you two become separated, anyone can find her and know how to reach you. Your cat may not like the collar all the time, but when she’s out of the house it can save her.
Cats like to chase birds and catch them. This helps cats to build and deliver crucial hunting skills. But what if you have an indoor cat? You can find cat toys at the pet store that will help you simulate a bird flying around. Your cat will love it, and love you for it.
There’s always a chance that you cat can slip outside your home and become lost. This can be prevented with a breakaway collar. The collar includes an ID, featuring your name, phone number, and address. If the cat is found, anyone can easily contact you and return the cat to you thanks to the information on the collar.
Increase the variety of food that you give your cat. If you feed them the same thing day in and day out, it will be the only thing that they are able to eat later on down the road.
When you introduce a new cat into your home, you have to be careful with how your other cat reacts. Try giving the new cat a little space in one room at first, and then introduce him to the rest of the house. Make sure to have different litter boxes at first too. If you ease the new cat in, it will go more smoothly for everyone.
You should try keeping your cat inside or allowing it to go in the backyard. Cats trained to live inside instead of outside live longer according to certain studies. Outdoor trips should be made in the company of the owner to keep cats safe from the dangers (like infections and attacks) that free-ranging cats face.
If your cat could stand to lose a few pounds, choose foods that help the animal to feel full. If the cat acts like it is hungry all the time, you will be tempted to feed (and overfeed) it. Look for cat foods that contain higher amounts of protein and fiber. This also promotes a healthy digestive system, which contributes to weight loss.
Do not allow your pet to go without a tag and collar. Cats are wily creatures, and many have no problems wiggling out of a collar. If your cat gets lost, your chances of getting it back will be much higher if she has a collar and a tag.
Some cat owners are tempted to bathe their cats to keep them clean and well-groomed. But unlike dogs, bathing is not often necessary, unless the cat has gotten himself into a little bit of trouble somehow. Cats spend much of their time grooming themselves, using their barbed tongues to clean dirt and debris from their fur. Cats are really picky about how they look.
It is always important to make sure to get your cat neutered or spayed as early as your vet will allow you to. Cats are known for their curiosity. Even indoor cats may try to escape. When your cat escapes for just a minute, they may impregnate another or become pregnant themselves. Thousands of cats and kittens are euthanized every year due to overpopulation.
While a big dog might look like a better hunter than a small cat, it won’t track pests the way a cat will. Cats are natural hunters and they do not lose that instinct when they are pets. There are so many reasons that cats maintain a high popularity.
