The ancient Egyptians viewed cats as gods. If you glance over at your cat, that isn’t difficult to understand. These creatures are beautiful and elegant, mysterious and fascinating. You can never truly understand a cat, but you can do your best to care for them. Here are some cat tips to assist you in caring for this wonderful animal.
Check-ups are an absolute must for any pet cat. Your vet will provide your cat with the shots it needs to prevent disease. Your vet can also check the overall health of your cat. Try keeping the same vet throughout your cat’s life. Your veterinarian needs to know about your pet’s history, and your cat will feel more comfortable if you always take her to the same vet.
Save your furniture with scratching posts and pads. It is natural for cats to want to stretch their claws out and scratch. This does not mean that a cat owner must have damaged furniture. Provide your cat with places that it is okay to scratch and redirect them there if they decide to try out your sofa. Cat scratching posts come in many shapes and materials and some cats prefer a particular type so it may take some trial and error before you find the right combination for your kitty.
Keep your cat away from boredom. Play and exercise are both important for cats’ well-being. Unfortunately, many owners do not realize this important part of ownership. Bored cats can suffer from depression, extreme compulsive disorders, and other harmful issues that can negatively impact their overall health and well-being. Provide your cats with the toys and space it needs. Be sure your cat has something they can climb and something they can scratch if they stay inside.
Keep an eye on early warning signs of health issues in cats. Cats usually display warning signs if they are struggling with health issues. Some common signs to look out for include eating habit changes, sleeping habit changes, not being able to groom properly, changes in eating habits, changes in sleeping habits, depression, sneezing, increased thirst, watery eyes, changes in behavior, hiding, and vomiting. If they display these symptoms, take them to a vet right away. The sooner you take, them the better.
Take your cat to the vet periodically. A lot of cat owners tend to avoid the vet because it can be harder to get a cat ready to go anywhere she does not want to go! It is also easy to avoid the vet because cats seem so self-reliant. However, it’s smart to get your cat to the vet to avoid any problems.
If you going to be gone for more than a day, you should have someone look in on your cat. Leave out plenty of food, but have someone come to make sure it doesn’t run out. If you do not have a neighbor or family to look in on your cat, you can usually find a cat sitter for a few dollars each day.
Get 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 respond well to this stream of water. 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.
Make canned food the mainstay of your cat’s diet. Dry food is cheaper, but some wet foods have more benefits. Canned food gives your cat more protein and the water content helps with hydration. Older cats find it easier to eat, too. Speak with the vet, but food in cans tends to be better.
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.
Understand the difference between cat play and real aggression. Both activities can look the same to an untrained eye, but there are differences. When two cats are playing, they will bat each other around with claws retracted. They will “bite” with their jaws loose. Real aggression will involve hisses, squeals and hard biting.
Consider the placement of your cat’s litter box. You are surely tempted to put it where the smell will affect your surroundings the least. However, it’s important to make sure your cat can easily access its litter box. A finicky cat may not use the litter box if the environment is very inconvenient. If the littler box is on cold, hard floor, try placing a rug beneath it.
Get your cat all the necessary vaccinations. There are a number of them and you should talk to your veterinarian about the proper schedule. Many are given at the early stages of a kitten’s development, then given annually thereafter. These vaccinations prevent such problems as feline leukemia, rabies and respiratory problems.
You may not think your cat is a god, but he probably does! The best you can do is to take care of his health and care for him. Use the advice in this article to take care of your cat in the way he is used to. Even if you never get a thank you, he appreciates it.
