As pets, cats are always a great choice, except that they can get a little pricey. The cost of vet bills, food, toys, and cat litter are enough to make any person reconsider owning a cat. The following article will teach you what you need to know about caring for a cat.
Groom your cat. You can regularly brush or comb your cat. If you brush cats on a regular basis, it will keep their coats clean and attractive. In addition, it helps decrease shedding, which results in less hairballs. A well-groomed feline looks great on their own, but also helps keep a home well-groomed too.
If you’d like to make an elderly cat’s bed more comfy, stick a heated tile beneath its bed. Place a tile made of terra cotta or a similar material in an oven heated to 200 degrees for around 15 to 20 minutes. Wrap the tile in a towel and then put it under the bed. When the tile cools down, change it out for a fresh, warm one.
Spraying the electrical cords in your home with a bitter apple solution helps keep the cats from chewing on them. If your cat is especially intent on chewing cords, keep them covered as much as possible. Any loose cords should be bundled up and placed in things like paper towel rolls. Whenever you aren’t using any thin, electronic cords, you should store them away.
Cats can use their claws to destroy furniture and other parts of the house. If you find your cat tearing up things around your home, buy a scratching post or cat tower. They can scratch the post instead. It may take some time, but will be worth the effort and expense.
Cats will be up during the night more often than not. The result is that they active while you’re sleeping. If your cat’s activities are keeping you awake at night, try keeping your bedroom door shut. This will ensure you sleep much better, without cats jumping into bed with you.
Male cats often develop crystals in their bladder that come out in their urine. This can be prevented with a proper diet. If they have to pass the crystals it can cause the cat a lot of pain and paying a vet to help with this can cost you a lot of money. Your cat needs food low in magnesium. This means you should pay attention to labels on food. Fish products tend to be higher in magnesium than poultry products.
Make a tablecloth for your cats. Some cats like removing food from their bowl and eating it beside their bowl. That means you will have to tidy up the food left beside the cat bowl. An easy solution to this problem is a placemat underneath the food dish, or a piece of fabric you can easily wash.
Do you have a cat and a dog? Keep in mind that the two animals have separate dietary needs, and dogs will try cat food if given the chance. Thus, you must keep cat food out of the dog’s reach. This also makes sure that the two don’t fight over water.
High areas are ideal for cats. A cat will only be happy if you give it a safe spot to look over everything. You can have a cat tree or even a strong wall shelf. Providing a blanket or bed for your cat is an extra treat for them.
Your cat deserves a high quality food. Beef, fish or chicken, all great protein sources, should head the list of main ingredients. Don’t feed your cat food that includes corn or other fillers. Cats are carnivores and need animal protein to stay healthy.
If you desire a long-haired cat, it’s best to know what kind of care is involved before you do so. The hair looks good, except when it’s all over your furniture. Long-haired cats can be very high maintenance over the course of the year. There will be hairball issues as well.
Litter Box
If you’re dealing with a cat that won’t use the litter box, you should place it somewhere else. Cats feel vulnerable when relieving themselves, so make sure the litter box is in a secluded spot. Try placing it in a laundry room or a basement, where there is limited traffic in the home.
Make sure your cat’s collar has important information, such as your address, phone number and name. Even if they’re an indoor cat, they may get out. If this should happen, you will have a better chance of getting your cat back home.
Certain foods may be fine for you to eat daily, but not for your cat. These can include chocolate, grapes, onions and tomatoes. Allowing your cat to eat even a few bites may cause serious illness or even death. Milk is also not especially good for your cat’s stomach.
To the greatest extent possible, you’ll want to keep your cat close to you and your house. Indoor kitties typically live longer than the outdoor variety. Cats who live indoors are less likely to contract a disease than those who live outdoors.
Don’t give a cat human medications. If your cat is sick, take it to the veterinarian and use the medication recommended. Drugs and medicines designed for human consumption can cause serious health problems for cats, and in extreme cases, can even be fatal.
Cats have shockingly sharp noses, which means they can spot changes in their home with ease. This may cause a problem if you give them a new bed, scratching post or food dish. Don’t fret if your cat doesn’t use the items right away. As the smell of your home gets onto the items, they’ll warm up to them.
Cats can be a very expensive animal to take care of. The care they need is similar to that of children. These tips make it clear that you can care for your cat appropriately while spending less money.