Cat Care Basics - Some Tips To Help You With Your Pet

 Cat Care Basics - Some Tips To Help You With Your Pet

Becoming a cat owner is a big decision. Sure cats have a history of being independent pets, however this doesn't mean you don't have to take care of them. There are a number of things to consider when caring for a pet cat. The article below will illustrate what things you need to know.

Ensure your cat remains groomed. Regular combing and brushing is usually all that is required. Do this often in order to aid in keeping your cat's outer coat clean and healthy. Doing this will also help alleviate hairballs and excessive shedding. A well-groomed feline looks great on their own, but also helps keep a home well-groomed too.

Clip your cats nails regularly. Cats do have to scratch. However, when cats scratch, their nail sheaths come off and their sharp, pointy claws are exposed. Clipping your cat's claws every two to three weeks keeps them blunt and helps keep harm to furniture, humans, and other pets to a minimum.

Give your cats easier access to a window in order to keep your curtains from getting scratched. Putting vertical blinds up will allow the easiest access for your cat, but if you need to keep your curtains, use a lightweight rod that will fall if your cat attempts to climb the curtains. It will keep both your curtains and your cat safe.

Use petting to check on your cat's health. Petting isn't just a way for you and your cat to spend time together, but it's a great way to find anything abnormal on their body. You can pet them to feel for bumps, lumps, or sores. This is also a great time for you to check their ears.

Keep your cat amused. Play is important to the health and vitality of your cat. Sadly, many cat owners do not understand the importance of this. Bored cats will quickly wreck your home or become obese. Give them toys they can play with, play with them yourself, or at the least give them room to exercise. If your cats are kept inside, set up a carpet lined scratching pad or post. There are many climbing structures that can be purchased or made for cats who enjoy heights.

If you get a small kitten for your children, make sure they understand the rules ahead of time. Make sure your children know where in the house the cat is permitted to be. Advise your children not to let the cat out if it is to be an indoor cat. Your children will be able to understand the rules more easily if they know them ahead of time.

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.

If you have more than one cat, you should have as many litter boxes as you have cats. If too many cats have to share the same litter box, it can mean disaster! The cats may choose not to share their eliminating space, instead, using other areas, such as clean laundry or hidden corners of the home to do their business.

Getting a second cat is usually beneficial to both, but you have to give the two cats a few weeks to get acclimated to each other. They may still hiss and growl when they are in the same room together. If you give them enough time though, chances are good they will befriend each other and enjoy the extra company.

Do not leave wet cat food in the bowl for longer than twenty minutes after your cat is done eating it. After you see your kitten is done for the time being, throw out the rest of the food and make sure to wash their bowl thoroughly with light soap and water.

If your cat has bad breath, a trip to the vet is in order. Bad breath in cats can be a red flag for tooth decay or more serious conditions. These include diabetes, stomach problems and lung disorders. So, if your cat's breath smells worse than the food he eats, get to the bottom of the issue before it gets out of control.

Get your cat all the necessary vaccinations. There are a number of them and you should talk to your veterinarian about the proper schedule. Many are given at the early stages of a kitten's development, then given annually thereafter. These vaccinations prevent such problems as feline leukemia, rabies and respiratory problems.

There is no need to bathe a cat since they are able to do most of their cleaning by themselves. The only way that you should bathe a cat is if there is something on their coat that has not come off for a good length of time, like oil and chemicals.

If your cat has been scratching things that they should not have, do not think of declawing them as a good way to deal with the issue. While this surgical procedure would stop them from causing any more damage, it is a very painful procedure and it is pretty difficult to recover from.

Despite popular belief, you should never give your cat milk to drink. Cats' digestive systems lack an abundance of lactase, the enzyme used to break down dairy products. The reality is that this can cause your cat to experience diarrhea, vomiting, and other types of gastrointestinal discomfort. In this case, milk does NOT do a body good!

Your cat has a remarkable sense of smell, much better than humans. They detect subtle changes in their environment. This can cause problems when making changes in diet and surroundings. Don't be upset if the cat does not take to these items immediately. After your cat adjusts to the new scent, they'll be more interested in the new object.

As was mentioned in the beginning of this article, there are many things to consider when owning a cat. Be sure to use the information provided if you are a cat owner or are seriously considering getting a pet cat. When you take care of your cat, your cat will take care of you.

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