Cats make wonderful pets, but they are expensive to take care of properly. Food, medical expenses, litter and toys can really add up. These tips will help you own a cat without spending a fortune.
Cats enjoy getting into spaces that are small. If they have a collar on, this can be dangerous. A breakaway style collar will literally “break away” if pulled too tight. This can help to save a couple of your cat’s nine lives.
Spritz a little bitter apple on electrical cords to protect your cats. If they like to chew on cords, try covering them as much as you can. Hide those loose cords and keep them out of sight in no longer needed paper towel rolls. Store electronics when they are not in use rather than leaving them plugged in.
It can be tricky to keep a cat off the kitchen counters. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings. One way to deal with this issue could be to devote certain high spaces for your feline friend to sit in. Having a cat tower near your kitchen will keep them off your counters.
Use a tablecloth underneath your cat’s dish. Some cats like removing food from their bowl and eating it beside their bowl. Sometimes, this results in food outside the bowl that you have to clean up. To make clean up a breeze, use a place mat underneath the bowl or a piece of fabric. You’ll be able to pick it up easily and shake the excess food into the trash.
Be careful if you leave a kitten with a young child. Children under five years of age should not be left alone with a kitten. They’re not really mature enough to know how dangerous a kitten can be. As kids age, you can then determine whether they are mature enough for small pets.
Talk to others when you have a problem with your cat. You may think it’s something you can take care of on your own, but other people that own cats could help. There are many online cat forums that will help you get questions answered. You could also try asking your vet.
Litter Box
Don’t get mad at your cat if it urinates outside the litter box. Your cat probably did not use the litter box because it is not well taken care of. The cat will be fearful of you if you punish it.
You cat will not be likely to be a finicky eater if you vary the type of food you are feeding from time to time. If you feed your cat the same food all the time, your cat will likely be uninterested any any other brand or flavor.
Consider getting your cat a fountain to drink from. A cat will always drink from running water if possible. Cats seem to like a water stream better. Cats will even drink from the tap if they can! A fountain will allow your cat to have the happiness of drinking from running water.
If you are bringing home a new cat, make sure to give him time to adjust to your current cat. It usually takes about three weeks. They might hide from each other or hit each other. Sooner or later, they’ll tolerate and even begin to love each other.
Put some thought into where you place the litter box. It is tempting to place it out of sight, in order to avoid the image of it or smells that go along with dirty litter. However, if you hide it from your pet he might not try very hard to find it when he needs to go to the bathroom. Cats are finicky, so you must provide an environment that is not inconvenient or off-putting to the animal. If you have the box on a floor that is cold cement for example, put a rug or mat under it.
Take notice if and when your cat ever stops conducting their business in their litter box. There are conditions that will cause a kitty to do this. Issues like a kidney infection are often behind such behaviors. If your cat stops going in the litter box, a call to the vet is in order.
If a cat is about to give birth, provide them an area that’s spacious. It will take about three to four hours for all of the kittens to come out, so be patient. Once 6 hours have passed, if all the kittens have not been delivered you should seek the help of a vet.
Make sure your cat stays inside as much as it can, near to both its home and its owner. Indoor cats live longer than others allowed to walk around the neighborhood freely. 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.
Cats can get sick in some of the same ways you can. They’re a part of your family, so you should know when they’re not feeling well. If you notice something, seek the advice of your veterinarian. The veterinarian can rule out any serious conditions.
If you worry about your cat getting rabies, fleas or getting exposure to fungus, don’t allow them to go outside. Some of those issues may affect indoor cats, but cats that are outside have a higher chance of dealing with them.
Cats are a wonderful creature to share your space with, though they can be pricy. It’s so much work, it rivals raising a child! These tips make it clear that you can care for your cat appropriately while spending less money.