Friday, February 14, 2014

Taking Care Of Your Cat: A Short Guide

By Teresa Young


If you're a cat owner or you want to get a cat in the near future, you're probably wondering how you can care for it properly. Cats make great pets but they can take a little work to take care of. Read through this article for some solid advice, and this will be something you can do.

Cats enjoy getting into spaces that are small. If your cat is such a curious one, wearing a collar is a safety risk, as your feline might get stuck because of it while exploring. A collar that will breakaway is the best idea for safety. This can save all "nine" of your cat's lives.

Keep your cat properly groomed. A cat's fur must be brushed or combed on a regular basis. Doing it constantly can help you keep their coats clean. Doing this will also help alleviate hairballs and excessive shedding. Keeping a cat groomed properly can help them and your home look great.

If your cat takes all the ornaments off the Christmas tree, don't fight it. Begin collecting attractive cat toys and unbreakable ornaments to decorate the tree next year. Be sure not to decorate with potentially dangerous items like tinsel and garlands. Tinsel is a choking hazard for cats and garlands can cause strangulation.

Do not feed your cat any kind of human food that contains bones in it. If you are giving your cat chicken or fish, be sure to remove the bones beforehand to prevent a choking hazard. Chop the food that you serve into small bits to make it easier to digest for your cat.

Male cats sometimes have crystals in their urine, but this can be prevented with the right cat food. Your cat will experience considerable pain when he has to pass these crystals, and it's not an easy (or cheap) problem for your veterinarian to fix. Choose foods low in magnesium for your cat. Just as in the grocery store, take the time to read the labels. Poultry products are typically lower in magnesium than fish products.

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're taking a trip with your cat, be sure to protect its ears. While you may like some good tunes, your cat is going to appreciate other things. To ensure your cat's trip is pleasant, turn off the music or keep the volume low.

Go pick yourself up one of those water fountains for cats. Cats like running water in the wild, as well as in the home. Cats usually like to drink from a water stream. In fact, the running water in a sink garnishes more attention from a cat than their water bowl usually does. A drinking fountain is a more environmentally-friendly way to allow them to drink naturally.

Have patience with your cat. Remember that your cat is not a dog, and may not be as easily trainable as one. However, if you are being clear in your commands and gently encouraging them, you'll find that your cat responds the way you want him to. Just be patient.

If you have more than one cat, you should have as many litter boxes as you have cats. If too many cats have to share the same litter box, it can mean disaster! The cats may choose not to share their eliminating space, instead, using other areas, such as clean laundry or hidden corners of the home to do their business.

Your first cat is a special pet that should remain in your memories as a great time spent raising an adorable animal. Future pets will get easier to train and feed, but cats will always be a complex, confusing, messy animal. Small changes here and there help make this a unique experience.




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