Cats are extremely clean animals that immediately want to remove any filth that they encounter during their day. Naturally, cats will lick themselves and wipe the dirt away with their tiny paws. However, you can do a much more efficient job with the right shampoos and moisturizers inside your own bathroom.
Make a free toy for your cat by placing a little dry rice or a few dry beans inside an empty pill bottle. Close the lid and roll the rattly toy across the floor. Most cats can’t resist the sound and motion. You can also tie a length of twine around the neck of the bottle to make a pull toy or a dangly toy.
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.
Make sure to keep chemicals and dangerous substances away from your cat. Chemicals like antifreeze have a sweet taste. This encourages the cat to drink it, most often resulting in fatal consequences. Keeping your chemicals locked up in a cabinet will help to ensure that your curious cat does not end up ingesting poison.
Most cats are nocturnal. Because of this, night time is when they are most active. Keep your bedroom door shut if your cats make too much noise at night. This will keep the cats away while you’re trying to sleep because they won’t be jumping all over you.
Place a “tablecloth” under your cat’s food bowl. Cats will sometimes pluck food from the bowl and enjoy it straight off the ground. This may make a big mess that you need to clean up. An easy solution to this problem is a placemat underneath the food dish, or a piece of fabric you can easily wash.
Sometimes you need to give your cat a pill. Some cats are harder than others, but you should trim their nails first. Then hold the head, open the mouth, and put the pill in. Then blow on the cats face. This will likely make the cat lick its nose, and the pill will go down naturally.
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.
Cats have an uncanny ability to always find their way home. If you move to a new home, keep your cat inside for about a month. This will help your cat to familiarize themselves with the smells of your new place. If you let your cat out too soon, they might go home to the wrong house.
Your kittens don’t want dirty mouths either, so take a toothbrush and clean those gums everyday before breakfast. Without proper brushing, cats can catch diseases, infections, and suffer serious side effects. A few minutes daily keeps these teeth healthy, strong, and sparkling. You should ask a veterinarian how to properly brush your cat’s teeth.
Do not let a declawed cat outside. Your cat may be seriously injured or killed because they are not prepared to defend themselves against another animal who may attack them. Only declaw your cat if you are serious about keeping them indoors. If you do choose to have your cat declawed, only the front claws should be removed. Don’t cut the back claws because they won’t scratch up your furniture or floors.
When introducing a new cat to your home, make sure that your other pets have time to adjust. You will want to give the new cat extra attention, but it is important to keep up established routines with your other pets. Allow the new cat to explore its new home while you care for your other pets.
Keep an eye out for panting. For dogs, panting is completely normal. While excessive panting may be a symptom of anxiety, it may also be a symptom of something more serious. Call your vet, especially if you cat has a history of respiratory problems.
If you are lucky enough to have a cat that has a lot of hairballs, and brushing doesn’t seem to be helping to lessen them, then the following tips might help. You can try adding a teaspoon or so of pumpkin to your cat’s food. A teaspoon of tuna water mixed with pumpkin can also work. There are foods that inhibit hairballs which have fiber in them. They might take care of the issue.
You have to take your cat into the vet for certain things, but the vet bills can really add up. You can save a great deal of money by filling your cat’s prescriptions online. Do a quick online search, and you will find several companies that offer delivery service of the medications to your home. This will save you both time and effort.
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.
Most cats do not like water at all and will go crazy if their owner tries placing them in a bath. This is why you have to get the cat accustom to water and teach them that it’s not a bad thing. Once your cat gets a look at its clean, shampooed fur, it’ll never be afraid of water again!
