Have you welcomed a cat into your home? If you are, you know how special cats can be. A cat requires lots of care and love. However, you are more than capable of meeting your cat’s needs. This article will show you how its done.
Local rescue organizations are a great place to look for a new pet cat. Shelters always have plenty of cats available and adoption fees are usually very affordable. Besides, adopting a cat from an animal shelter means you are saving this cat’s life.
If you have a male cat, it is important to have him neutered before he goes into heat. When male cats start maturing, they will begin to spray around the house. It smells like ammonia and is hard to remove. Having your male cat neutered can help to prevent this from happening.
Realize that cats do not normally pant. Dogs pant to keep cool. If a cat pants, it’s a sign of trouble. Your cat could be very anxious or in pain. Likewise, rapid breathing is a sign of pain or anxiety. Be sure to contact your vet right away if your cat starts panting.
Do not flush clumpable litter in your toilet. This can lead to problems with your plumbing. Instead just lift the clumps and dispose of them in a trash bag. Don’t forget, moisture is what makes the litter clump in the first place! Avoid doing that to your pipes and just dispose of it properly.
While usually cats make great pets for kids, younger kids may be too rough with them. Make sure that you teach your children the proper way to handle a kitten or cat. The objective is to be as gentle as possible with your cat. Because cats are more delicate than dogs, they need to be handled more carefully.
Cats are pretty low maintenance pets. They do not need as much attention and one-on-one time as dogs do. Cleaning the litter box is one of the most dreaded chores in the house. Investing in a good self-cleaning litter box can help to reduce the amount of times you have to clean it out.
If your cat goes outdoors a lot, the chances are good that they come home filthy once in a while. When your cat is especially dirty or smelling like a skunk, you should make an appointment with the local groomer. Groomers will be gentle with your cat, resulting in a less traumatic experience.
You may find it is helpful to talk to others about challenges you have 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. You can locate forums about cats online if you search for them. On these forums you can ask for advice, or you can just speak with a vet.
Make sure that there are enough litter boxes in your home for all of the cats that are staying there. It is optimal to have one litter box for each cat. If you live in a home that has a lot of floors, there should be one on each floor for each cat.
If you have ever given your cat a bath, then you know how much they shiver when it is over. This is because their wet fur provides them with no insulation. You can help your cat out by using your hairdryer to dry the hair fast. Just remember not to hold it too close and burn your cat.
While cats can be finicky, you should not encourage this behavior. A cat will eat the exact same cat food their whole life if it is tasty and nutritious. You do not need to mix up the flavors. Doing this can encourage the cat to skip certain foods they previously ate and wait for another.
While there is nothing wrong with using clumping cat litter for older felines, you should stick with sandy litter when dealing with kittens. The clumping litters are usually treated with all types of chemicals that may nto be safe for smaller cats. Once they are older, you should be able to make the switch with no issue.
When you are looking to finally adopt a new kitten, but don’t want to spend big bucks on an expensive bloodline, you should investigate your local shelters. Most animal shelters offer dogs and cats that need a home badly, regardless of their heritage or costs.You may be able to find a similar cat with a different cost.
Sometimes cats can have problems with arthritis when they get older. This makes it harder for them to get around. You can buy them a heated bed to lay in to help ease the discomfort. It is also a good idea to talk to the vet about any medications that might help out.
One easy way to prevent a lot of potential feline health problems down the road is to refrain from over-feeding your cat. Eating over the normal amount can cause them to develop serious health problems or become obese. Therefore, ensure you provide the proper food portions to your cat, and keep its diet healthy and well balanced.
Most cats love to spend time outdoors, but indoor-only cats rarely enjoy this opportunity. While it’s not safe to allow your indoor cat to roam freely outdoors, there are other options. For example, you can use a leash and harness to take your pet outdoors. It’s a rare sight, but it certainly isn’t impossible. You are most likely to be successful if you start leash training as a kitten.
You probably love your cat and want to be sure you’re caring for it to the best of your abilities. Now that you’ve read this, you should know much more about proper cat care. Use the above tips to be sure your cat lives a happy, healthy life. Loving your cat will cause them to love you back.