feline friend

Keep Your Kitty It Top Health With These Handy Tips

Cats can be a handful. The following piece offers great insights into feline dietary needs, vet requirements and a number of other key issues.

TIP! Be sure you show your cat lots of love. Your cat will enjoy your company if you pet and play with her.

Check with your shelter before you purchase a cat. Sometimes, you may find the cat of your dreams at a shelter. Adopting from a pet shelter benefits the cat population.

TIP! If you are traveling with a cat in tow, be aware of the noises in your car. Although you may love singing loudly to your favorite songs while driving, your cat would probably prefer softer sounds.

You can make your old cat feel better thanks to a hot tile placed under its bed. Just heat a one-foot square terra cotta tile in your oven at about 200 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Wrap the tile in a towel and then put it under the bed. Change it regularly if you need to.

TIP! Think hard before allowing your cat outside. The outside world is very dangerous for cats.

Be sure you have a vet that your cat sees regularly so it stays healthy. A yearly visit for a regular check-up is important, with more frequent visits for shots as required. If your cat is having a health issue or injury, they need to be seen by their vet right away.

TIP! High areas are ideal for cats. Designating a high-up area where your cat can hang out and watch everything from will help him to feel comfortable.

It can be tough to keep cats off the countertops. A cat will naturally want to be high enough to view everything around them. One way to deal with this issue could be to devote certain high spaces for your feline friend to sit in. The use of a cat tower within your kitchen or close by can help make the cats stay off the counter.

TIP! If your cat relieves itself somewhere other than its litter box, it shouldn’t be punished. Many times, this is caused by failure to properly clean or place the litter box.

It is likely that your feline friend enjoys grooming his fur. If your cat is long haired, this may cause hairballs. Buy special food in order to help that problem. Certain cat foods are made just for decreasing hairballs, benefiting both your cat and yourself.

TIP! Don’t throw away your cat’s old scratching post. It’s in this condition that cats tend to love it the most.

Crystals in the urine, an issue many male cats have, can be avoided with the proper food. A cat passing the crystals can be very hurtful with an expensive vet bill to boot. Your cat’s food should be low in magnesium. Consult the ingredient list. Products that contain fish are normally much higher in magnesium over ones containing poultry.

TIP! Purchase high quality food for your cat. Beef, fish or chicken, all great protein sources, should head the list of main ingredients.

You should think before allowing your cat to go outside. It is dangerous in today’s society. Cats can attract fleas and other parasites. Cats can be harmed by cars, people and other animals. If you still insist your cat be able to go outside, then do so in the fenced backyard.

TIP! Provide your cat with a drinking fountain. Cats that live in the wild like drinking from running water, and they have the same desires in a home.

Do you own a dog and cat? That dog will really love stalking (and eating) that cat food. This is why you should have a feeding area for your cat that is too high for the dog to reach. This will also prevent squabbles between them.

TIP! Does it seem like your cat’s hairs are everywhere you look? You have to brush your cat to avoid their shedding. If your cat is shedding too often, you should brush it more regularly.

You can tap fellow cat owners for advice if you’re having problems with your pet. You won’t have the knowledge to handle every cat issue properly, so take advantage of the experiences of others. You can find several cat forums online where you can ask questions, or you can choose to simply call your vet for advice too.

TIP! If you are having problems getting the cat to use the litter box, move it. A cat’s instinct tells him that eliminating puts him in a vulnerable state, so try putting his litter box in a safe, quiet area of the house.

Though caring for a cat can seem like no big deal, there are actually a lot of things to consider, including veterinarian visits and giving them extra amounts of attention. With the suggestions provided above, you’ll be in a better position to address your feline friend’s needs and even anticipate them before they can cause problems. Everything you learn will improve the quality of your life and of your pet’s!

Cats Are Worth It! Find Out How Much With These Tips!

TIP! Cats love to squeeze into tiny spaces. If you keep a collar on your pet, getting stuck in one of these spaces can be very dangerous.

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.

TIP! Keep your older cat comfortable by placing a heated tile underneath its bed. Simply heat a single foot cotta tile at 200 degrees between 15 and 20 minutes.

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.

TIP! You shouldn’t ever use products designed to be used on dogs on your cat. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs.

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.

TIP! It’s often cheaper to buy medicine for your cat on the Internet instead of through your vet. Naturally, some stuff won’t be available online.

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.

TIP! Cats are generally great with kids, though small kids may be too rough. Make sure your child knows how to pet a cat.

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.

TIP! Try and figure out why kitty is meowing. After some time, you’ll understand why your cat purs or meows based on what she wants.

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.

TIP! Is there a dog in your home, as well as a cat? Dogs will generally try to eat the cat’s food whenever the opportunity comes along. Therefore, your cat’s food bowl should be placed in a high location that is out of your dog’s reach.

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

TIP! If you are experiencing an issue with your feline friend, seek advice from others. Although you may want to go it alone, it can be helpful to seek advice from other people that have experience owning cats.

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.

TIP! Don’t teach the basics of using a litter box. This is natural to them and does not need to be taught.

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

TIP! Although your cat’s old scratching post may look very worn out, you shouldn’t throw it away. It may not look as nice, but cats love a scratching post with some wear and tear.

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.

TIP! Feed canned food to your cat. Dry food is less expensive, but canned food provides more benefits.

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.

TIP! Make sure you consider where you are going to place the cat’s litter box. It’s sometimes tempting to put the box somewhere that you don’t have to smell or see it.

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.