Pets are never as easy to handle as they seem at first. You gain many new responsibilities when you adopt a cat and it’s even harder if you don’t know what they are. This article covers those basic responsibilities and few other tips that will help your new life with your new cat more enjoyable.
Putting a warm tile beneath the bed of an older cat will help it rest comfortably. A terra cotta tile about a foot square is ideal. You can warm it with a 15-20 minute stop in your oven, set to approximately 200 degrees. Put the tile inside a towel and place it under the cat’s bedding. Change it regularly if you need to.
An outdoor cat must always wear a tag on its collar. Tags can save you a lot of trouble if your cat gets lost. The tag needs your phone number and cat’s name at the minimum.
If you replace an old scratching post, your cat may be unhappy with the new one. Save money on scratching posts. Wrap your old scratching post with some sisal rope to spiff it up. Your cat will be happy not to lose its favorite old post. You will save a little cash.
It can be hard to make your cat stay off the counter. Cats enjoy high places so they can see what is happening around them. Therefore, you should create high areas for resting. A cat tower near your kitchen can give them a place to watch you that is out of the way.
Be sure to show your cat affection as much as possible. They give lots of affection and need some in return. Like people, cats like to socialize and need to feel like they’re an essential part of your life. They want to feel like a contented and satisfied member of the family.
If your cat is overweight, there are two things you need to do. First, you have to adjust the amount of food you give them, and the other is that you need to get them exercising. Get them cat toys, or play with them yourself, to make sure they are getting the activity they need to slim down.
If your cat seems to want to avoid his food bowl, try getting a different kind of bowl. Plastic can sometimes turn a cat off if it isn’t cleaned constantly, and can hold on to certain scents. Try glass or a metal bowl for best results, so your cat will keep eating.
Use a tablecloth underneath your cat’s dish. Cats often like to remove food from their bowl to eat it off to the side. That means you will have to tidy up the food left beside the cat bowl. An easier way to do that is to either buy a placemat and put it underneath the cat bowl, or to cut a bit of fabric to use as a tablecloth that you can pick up and wash or shake over the garbage can.
Be very careful about allowing children to be alone with a kitten. Children under five years of age should not be left alone with a kitten. They aren’t mature enough in order to handle the potential dangers of a kitten. As a kid ages, they can show maturity with handling a little pet.
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.
While it is perfectly normal for a dog to pant a lot of the time, you should be alarmed if you notice your cat doing it. It may only be a small case of anxiety, but in some cases it is something much more serious like cardiovascular or respiratory distress.
If there is a place where your cat likes to use the bathroom other than the litter box, there is a simple way to deal with this. There are sprays formulated to be very offensive to cats. If you apply this spray in these areas, the cat will stay away from there.
Is your cat really sweet and lovable? If so, they might make a good therapy pet. Pet therapy uses animals to go into places like nursing homes, and bring some joy to the people there. Your cat will be happy with all the attention, and you can feel good about doing something positive for others.
There are things you can eat that your cat cannot. Examples include garlic, grapes, green tomatoes and onions. Your cat can get sick after eating these foods. Milk is something that can hurt your cat’s stomach, so beware of that too.
Do not give human medications to cats. If your cat is sick, take it to the veterinarian and use the medication recommended. You can kill a cat by giving them human grade medications.
Make sure to feed your diet pet food specifically made for cats. While a bag of dog food might be cheaper pound for pound, it will not contain the necessary vitamins, minerals and especially protein content to keep your cats healthy. Giving a cat dog food on a regular basis can also cause kidney failure and other serious illnesses.
As you can clearly see, there is a lot of work to be done all of the time. This can be overwhelming for some, but for others it is the chance of a lifetime. By using these tips, you can raise your new feline in a happy, healthy home where it is loved dearly.
