Cats make wonderful pets, but they are expensive to take care of properly. Vet bills, toys, cat litter and food add up. The following tips can help you maximize your happiness without breaking your wallet.
Keep your cat groomed. A cat’s fur must be brushed or combed on a regular basis. This helps them keep their precious coat properly clean at all times. Removing excess hair also reduces shedding and can prevent hairballs. Regularly grooming keeps cats looking well and keeps your home neater.
Regular visits to the vet will make sure that you cat is as healthy as he can be. Your cat needs to get a checkup about once every year, or more if there are issues that come up. Cats should go to a vet immediately if they have any conditions, health problems, or injuries that need to be tended to right away.
Don’t allow your cat become bored. Just like dogs, cats need playtime and physical exercise, too. Unfortunately, many owners do not realize this important part of ownership. Bored cats can develop depression and other harmful health conditions. Provide them with space to exercise and lots of toys to play with. Give them a cat tree to play with.
Adore your cat! A cat’s companionship should be returned with the same. Like humans, a cat has to be around people in order to feel special. They also like feeling important and a big member of the family.
Be sure you think about your cat’s ears when traveling. You may prefer loud music as you drive down the freeway, blasting your stereo, but your feline friend likes softer sounds better. If your cat seems upset or agitated, turn down the music and speak calmly to him.
You cannot teach a cat to use a litter box. This is a natural instinct that cannot be taught. It’s not a good idea to rub your cats paws in litter. Some people think this is the way to train. It isn’t.
Litter Box
If your cat relieves itself away from its litter box, do not spring into action with punishment. Many times, this is caused by failure to properly clean or place the litter box. Punishing your cat will just make them afraid of you later on.
You eat quality food, and if you want your cat to stick around a long time, they need quality food, too. Carefully look over ingredients, and be sure that a quality protein source like chicken, fish, or beef is at the beginning of the list. Any foods with non-protein sources, such as corn, should be avoided. Since cats are carnivorous, they require animal protein to stay in the best health.
Haired Cats
Prior to adopting any long-haired cat, make sure you understand the extra work involved. Although it may look nice, it will look much worse when it sheds all over your home. Long-haired cats can be very high maintenance over the course of the year. Be prepared to deal with hairballs, which are a problem for long-haired cats.
If your feline friend is having kittens, make sure to give her lots of room to birth in. The kittens will arrive within three or four hours, so try to be patient. If the birth takes an excessively long time or you believe a kitten is stuck inside, an immediate visit to the veterinary hospital is essential.
Pets can be pricy to care for and cats aren’t an exception. Cats require so much attention and care you would swear they are as needy as human children are. Fortunately, now that you are more informed by the knowledge presented here, you can save money and enjoy a better cat.