There are usually obstacles that arise when you first buy a cat. Never purchase a cat before you plan in advance. But because they are curious creatures, some mishaps will still occur even with planning. However, preparing yourself in advance is best, and it helps you be ready for your new pet.
Before acquiring a cat, be sure that you have the wherewithal to take care of all necessary vet care. Cats reproduce at an alarming rate, and spaying or neutering is essential to keeping cat population under control. Check spay, neuter and vaccination costs and packages with local vets and clinics and be sure you can afford to give your cat proper medical care.
Protect your cat from choking. Be sure to dispose of poultry and fish bones safely. Wrap them in a paper or plastic bag and put them in your outdoor garbage can with the lid tightly secured. Alternately, place them in a plastic bag and freeze them until garbage pick up day.
An inexpensive rubber welcome mat helps keep cat food off your floor. This is also a great tool to keep your cat from tracking litter out of the box. Black rubber mats cost about three dollars at dollar stores. Put your cat food dish on one and your litter box on another.
Keep your cat indoors. Unlike dogs, it is nearly impossible to confine a cat to a yard. This can lead to many dangers for your cat, from cars, dogs, diseases from feral cats, and simply disappearing to parts unknown. Loose cats also be a nuisance to others, often killing songbirds and leaving unwelcome “deposits” in neighbor’s gardens. If your cat really enjoys the outdoors, they can be trained to wear a harness and leash or you can invest in a specialty cat fence or screened-in porch.
If you cat is pregnant is with babies, you can expect to have a lot of kittens on your hands. Create a comfortable place for the cat to deliver her babies somewhere in your home. Make sure the spot is big enough for the kittens to move around as they grow.
Should you leave the house with your cat, make sure that she is wearing a collar with tags. This way, if anything happens and you two become separated, anyone can find her and know how to reach you. Your cat may not like the collar all the time, but when she’s out of the house it can save her.
Make sure that you brush your cat’s coat often. This keeps the fur well oiled and the skin healthy. It can help decrease the amount of loose hair as well. This helps to stop hairballs and their associated medical problems.
Feeding your cat the proper canned food is ideal. Dry food is less expensive, but canned food provides more benefits. There is more water, more fat and more protein in it. Canned food is much easier to chew for older cats. Talk to your vet, but canned food is generally superior for your cat.
Many people do not realize that it is perfectly normal for you to take cats on walks so they can get exercise and fresh air. There are special harnesses made for you to use with your cat. If you use the type that were made for dogs, there is a chance your cat can get away.
Entertain your cat with simple “toys” made from household objects. Many cats enjoy exploring boxes, such as those that hold 12-packs, small appliances, or other products. Before allowing your pet to play with a box, you should be sure that the animal cannot get stuck in small openings or tight spaces. This would be dangerous and very frightening to your pet!
If your cat is bitten by another cat, try to get him to the vet within 24 hours. The vet can put him on antibiotics that will protect him from infection setting in, and causing serious health problems. Cat bites can trap bacteria under your cat’s skin, forming an abscess, or other dangerous infection that can cost you hundreds of dollars to treat later.
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.
Chemicals that have phenol in the should not be used around a cat. A lot of household cleaners have this in them, so you should read the labels before using them around your cat. It causes liver problems in felines.
Don’t give your cat medicine that is meant for humans. When your cat has health issues, they should be taken to their vet, who will give them any medication they need. Pets that have taken human medications face serious injury or worse.
Reconsider giving a cat table scraps. Human food is not good for cats, due to the additives and ingredients used and the ways we cook food for humans. A bit of cooked meat or egg is a healthy treat your cat will enjoy. However, as long as you follow the instructions for feeding on your choice of cat food, his diet should be nutritionally complete.
Think about your cat and how it should be strictly one that remains inside. Most cats that reside outdoors tend to lead shorter lives, and are more easily apt to get a disease that could seriously harm them. Some diseases that cats get can be spread to humans. Make sure that any indoor cat has a location to sit in sunlight.
The above advice is helpful for cats of all ages and breeds. You have learned fundamental ideas on how to raise a happy and healthy cat; however, understand that all cats are different, and you will have to continually change your strategy. Just remember to enjoy every minute with your adopted kitten no matter what.
