indoor cat

Some Things You Need To Know About Caring For Cats

TIP! Check with your shelter before you purchase a cat. Many shelters are overcrowded with lovable and adoptable cats.

Popular poet T.S. T.S. Eliot once called cats a crucial element to a home, and this statement rings true today. A cat that is healthy, well-mannered, and happy can make an excellent addition to your home. Sadly, cats can be difficult to live with sometimes. Here’s some advice for building a healthier relationship with your pet.

TIP! Spray bitter apple on electrical cords to keep cats away from them. If your cat likes to chew cords, hide the cords as best you can.

If you have a female cat it is important to have her spayed once she becomes old enough. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands. Getting your cat spayed is the best in regards to prevention.

Flea Products

TIP! Cats will often devote most of their time to grooming. Hairballs are more common in long-haired cats.

You should not use products designed for other animals. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs. This particularly applies to flea products. When used on your cat, flea products for dogs can be lethal. If you own a dog, and they’ve been given a flea treatment, you should separate them from your cat for a few hours.

TIP! Male felines tend to have a build-up of crystals that present in the urine, so you need to avoid this with proper nutrition. Just like kidney stones, these crystals are painful and vet bills are pricey.

Never let your cat experience frequent boredom. They need exercise and they get it through play. A lot of cat owners do not keep their cats busy. Bored cats are more prone to depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, as well as many other behavioral issues. Provide them with space to exercise and lots of toys to play with. An indoor cat needs a good scratching post.

TIP! You will often find ways to save money on medication for your cat on the Internet instead of getting it from your vet. Online prescriptions are not the best choice if you do not have the time to wait on a mail order, such as in a medical emergency.

Children usually take well to cats, but if you have a small child, you may need to provide some instruction. Guide your kids in handling a feline. Spend some time showing them how to lift a cat and how they can interact with the cat. Cats don’t have strong bones like dogs do, so they need to be treated gently.

TIP! Children usually take well to cats, but if you have a small child, you may need to provide some instruction. You need to show your children how the cat should be treated.

When you buy a small kitty for your children, set the boundaries ahead of time. Make sure your children know where in the house the cat is permitted to be. Be sure that your children understand that an indoor cat must never be allowed outdoors. Creating rules and boundaries will help the children learn what is allowed.

TIP! Never reprimand your cat for missing the litter box. If your cat makes a mess, it’s probably because their litter box is not properly cared for.

Moist, canned food can be a very good option for your cat. Dry food is usually cheaper, but canned food boasts a number of benefits. They have more water, protein and fat too. Aging cats find it makes it much easier to chew. Canned food is usually a great option for your cat, but talk with your vet.

TIP! Take time to train your cat to go into a car carrier. The same response to punishment that you would expect from a dog does not apply to a cat.

Make sure your cat always wears identification tags on their collar. Even if it’s an indoor cat, this is important. Cats are naturally curious and a door or window that’s open invites exploration. Those tags can help if someone finds your kitty. Make sure your info and your vets info is on it. Include medical issues if appropriate.

TIP! Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat. Your cat will prefer drinking from running water since this is a natural behavior.

Cats need to play! It is pretty normal for all different types of species to have an inner desire to play. Even older cats like to play. Make sure you play with your cat at least once a day.

Haired Cats

TIP! You need to carefully consider where you put the litter box for your cat. You may believe that the litter box should be kept in a small place so that you won’t smell it.

Long-haired cats require more care than their short-haired comrades. Long-haired cats are beautiful animals, but keep in mind that they will shed everywhere in your home. Do not choose a long-haired cat unless you can commit to the added cleanup. Additionally, consider that longer-haired cats are more likely to have issues with hairballs.

TIP! If you have a pregnant cat ready to birth her babies, be sure she has enough space. The birth process can last up to four hours, which means you must exercise patience.

Take your cat for checkups and vaccinations on a regular basis to keep him healthy and strong. Kids need shots, and so do cats. When you have a cat, it becomes a member of your family, so you’ll want to ensure that it’s as healthy as possible.

TIP! If your cat is spitting up hairballs frequently, and extra grooming does not help, these handy tips may help. Use pumpkin in your cat’s food to help with digestion.

Owning a cat can be hard at times, but it is worth it. You need to get to know your cat better so you can focus on the kind of attention it needs the most. You’ll better your relationship in no time.

Give The Best Care Possible To Your Cat With These Ideas.

TIP! Taking your cat to the vet is part of being a responsible pet owner. They should have a routine check-up once a year or more if important shots are due.

Does a cat reside in your home? Chances are, you know just how remarkable a cat can be. Your cat needs plenty of love and attention. The good thing is that it is very likely that you can meet these needs. Read on to learn more on how to properly care for your cat.

TIP! Don’t allow your cat become bored. They need exercise and they get it through play.

You never want to leave the cords of your drapes dangling down. Cats should not be allowed to play with these cords, as they can get parts of their body stuck in the cord loops. This could seriously injure or even kill them. Pin and hide drape cords to avoid this.

TIP! Discuss any issues you have with your pet with others. Although you might want to take care of things on your own, advice from other people with cats can be a big help.

Check your local animal shelter if you have plans to get a cat. Shelters have lots of great cats available, and your adoption fee often covers key veterinary services. Besides, adopting a cat from an animal shelter means you are saving this cat’s life.

TIP! If your cat relieves itself somewhere other than its litter box, it shouldn’t be punished. Usually, this sort of thing happens when the box isn’t being tended to properly.

Microchip your cat. You never know when your cat could get away from you. While a collar with a tag is useful, remember that your cat may be able to escape from the collar while they are away. Collars can also harm your cat if they get caught. A microchip, on the other hand, is inserted near your cat’s shoulder blades, takes only a second to do, and all of your current contact info can be read through the chip. Scanners to read pet microchips are available in every town and they will not come out from under the skin.

TIP! Be sure to carrier train your cat. Cats can’t be punished like dogs.

Do not allow your cat to be bored frequently. It is necessary for them to play and get exercise. Too frequently this need is overlooked by owners. Bored cats tend to develop emotional and mental disorders that may negatively impact their health. Make sure you give them lots of toys and room to play. If you have an indoor cat, offer him a variety of toys, scratching post or objects he can climb on.

TIP! Don’t get rid of an old scratching post. While it doesn’t appear clean and new, your cat probably thinks otherwise.

Your cat needs attention and a lot of affection. They want warm companionship since that’s what they provide to you. Cats need social time with the family just like people do so that they know that they are valued. They need to feel as though they are an important part of the family, as well.

TIP! If you are bringing home a new cat, make sure to give him time to adjust to your current cat. It usually takes about three weeks.

Although your cat’s old scratching post may look very worn out, you shouldn’t throw it away. When it is in this condition, cats tend to like it the most. If you throw it away and replace it too quickly with a new one, they may shun the new one and go after your carpet and furniture.

TIP! Think about where you want to put the litter box. It is tempting to place it out of sight, in order to avoid the image of it or smells that go along with dirty litter.

Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat. Cats out in the wild like to drink from running water, so they would like that at home too. Cats react better to a moving water stream. In fact, there are cats that enjoy drinking from a running sink instead of a bowl. A fountain will give them the same effect, and it is more environmentally friendly.

TIP! If you notice that your cat isn’t using its’ litter box anymore, you need to take note. There are a number of health conditions that can make your kitty urinate and go to the bathroom in places other than the litter box.

A collar and tags are a great way that your cat can be identified if it is found stray. This will be important even if you have an indoor cat. An adventurous cat can easily slip through an open door or window. The tag should have your name and address and also your vet’s. This is particularly important if you have a cat with medical needs.

TIP! If you notice your cat is not using the litter box, try moving it to a new location. 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.

If your cat or kitten begins to urinate frequently or in places other than his litter box, a trip to the vet may be in order. Cats can show this behavior if they have a type of urinary tract infection or other health issue. Affordable antibiotics can quickly resolve the problem.

TIP! Dogs will wag their tails often to show their owners that they’re excited to see them. Cats wag or move their tails from side to side as well, but not for the reasons dogs do.

You love your cat and want to care for them properly. After reading this article, you should know more about caring for a cat. Use this information to keep your cat as happy and healthy as possible. When you show your cat you love it, it will return the love.

Solid Advice To Help You Relate To Your Cat

TIP! You never want to leave the cords of your drapes dangling down. You should not allow your cat to play with drape cords since they could end up with the cord wrapped around their neck.

If you want a wonderful pet, look no further than a cat. If you haven’t owned a cat previously, then you definitely need to keep reading. There are plenty of great pieces of advice that would be of use to any potential cat owner below.

TIP! Cats enjoy getting into small spaces. If your cat gets caught on something wearing a traditional collar they could end up hurting their neck trying to break free.

If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. Tags can save you a lot of trouble if your cat gets lost. You have to be sure you have your pet’s name and number written on the tag.

TIP! Dog products shouldn’t be used on cats. They can have very strong and possibly negative reactions to dog products.

Do not allow your cat to get an electrical shock. Spray them with bitter apple, and they will stay away. If they like to chew on cords, try covering them as much as you can. Loose cords can be bundled and tucked inside old paper towel rolls. Put your electronics away so your cat is not tempted to chew on the cords.

TIP! Don’t let your cat get frequently bored. Cats need to exercise and play.

A microchip for your cat is something that you should really consider. Your pet may be an indoor cat, but that doesn’t mean it’ll never dash through your door or slide outside via an open window. Collars and tags can help get your cat home, however cats are experts at wiggling out of these, not to mention the risk they pose if they were to get snagged on a bush or tree branch. Microchips are extremely small, but they can hold all the same information as an identification tag. Many vets and shelters have scanners that can read these chips and since they lie under their skin, they won’t get lost.

TIP! Avoid the chance that your male cat will develop crystals in his system that will come out in his urine by feeding a high quality diet. These crystals can cause your cat pain to pass, and your vet bill can be expensive.

Don’t allow your cat to get bored too often. It is necessary for them to play and get exercise. Too frequently this need is overlooked by owners. If your cat is bored, it might develop a depression, obsessive compulsive behaviors or ruin some of your furniture. Provide your cats with the toys and space it needs. If your cat is an indoor cat, a cat tower or scratching post makes an ideal source of fun and exercise.

TIP! While usually cats make great pets for kids, younger kids may be too rough with them. It is important to show your child how to approach and handle a cat.

Give your cat lots of attention and love. Your cat will enjoy your company if you pet and play with her. Like people, cats like to socialize and need to feel like they’re an essential part of your life. Cats want to feel loved and needed.

TIP! Try to figure out why your cat makes meowing sounds. By paying attention, you should eventually learn why your cat is meowing.

It is likely that your feline friend enjoys grooming his fur. If the cat has longer hair, it can be the cause of hairballs. Special food can help. Some foods contain extra oils and nutrients, specifically designed to prevent or diminish hairball concerns.

TIP! Do not attempt to teach your cat how to use the litter box. This will be something that the cat does on its own and it usually is not learned fro another.

A cat can make a great pet. Cats are often a comfort and can also aid in stress relief. Having said this, in order to actually enjoy your cat, you need to be aware of how to properly care for for your cat. Be sure to use the advice above so that you and your cat can coexist for years and years.