Cats are extremely clean animals that immediately want to remove any filth that they encounter during their day. Naturally, cats will lick themselves and wipe the dirt away with their tiny paws. However, you can do a much more efficient job with the right shampoos and moisturizers inside your own bathroom.
If your dog and cat are best friends, be sure to keep them separate after flea treatment. Your dog’s flea products are very hazardous for cats. Cats that come in contact with dog flea products often die. Be sure to use only cat products on your cat and only dog products on your dog.
As your cat gets older, changes in behavior may signal pain. If your cat doesn’t like to jump or climb any more, it may be in pain. If your cat stops taking care of grooming or stops using its litter box, pain may be the cause. Be sure to have your older cat checked out by your vet if you notice behavior changes.
Protect your cat from strangling by making sure the cords of curtains and blinds are secured and out of reach. When you make or purchase a dangly toy for your cat, be sure to supervise during play. Put the toy away if you will not be around to watch.
Make sure to keep chemicals and dangerous substances away from your cat. Chemicals like antifreeze have a sweet taste. This encourages the cat to drink it, most often resulting in fatal consequences. Keeping your chemicals locked up in a cabinet will help to ensure that your curious cat does not end up ingesting poison.
Get a scratching post to keep your cat from tearing up your carpet. If you can, get a post that does not have the same type of carpet that is on the floor of your home, so your cat doesn’t associate the two. Instead, get a post that is covered in cardboard, sisal, or thick rope.
Be sure you show your cat lots of love. Cats need companionship as much as we do. Like many people, cats need to socialize with people so that they feel like they are an important part of their family’s lives. Make her feel like she is part of your family.
Long-haired cats require more care than their short-haired comrades. The hair looks good, except when it’s all over your furniture. Long-haired cats can be very high maintenance over the course of the year. Long-haired cats usually suffer from hairball problems too.
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.
If you suspect that your cat is pregnant, make an appointment with the vet as soon as you can to make sure that is really the case. There are a few serious illnesses that can mimic pregnancy, so you want to make sure that none of these has affected your cat.
Your food isn’t necessarily good for your cat. Examples of problem foods include garlic, green tomatoes, onions and grapes. These foods can make your cat very ill. Milk is also not especially good for your cat’s stomach.
If your cat’s been declawed, you should never let them outside. Your cat cannot defend itself, rendering it helpless against other animals. The only cats that should be declawed are indoor cats. Even in the case of indoor cats, you should only declaw the front claws. Don’t cut the back claws because they won’t scratch up your furniture or floors.
A cat can get lonely when your daily routine changes and you are no longer home during the day. To help avoid boredom, consider bringing another cat into the household.
Many diseases can be transmitted between humans and felines. You will probably be able to tell if your cat isn’t at 100 percent. Bring him or her to the veterinarian if this is the case. Tis will set your mind at ease, ruling out the most serious diseases and illnesses.
Make sure your indoor cat has something to occupy him while you are gone during the day. While your furry friend will spend a lot of time sleeping, he also needs something, or someone, to play with and stimulate his mind. Leaving him without toys or the company of others can quickly turn him into a trouble maker who destroys your house.
Watch your pet carefully for signs of illness. If you see your cat suddenly eating less, drinking more, seeming increasingly lazy or hiding from people that she normally loves, this could be a sign that something is medically wrong. In such cases, visit your veterinarian to get your kitty checked out as soon as possible.
You can microchip your cat. This will allow you to track your lost pet’s location from your computer in order to find them.
Never let your cat swipe at guests or bite anyone’s feet. This behavior looks cute, but it’s really a negative action. Train them from the day they enter your home to get them to behave well.
Most cats do not like water at all and will go crazy if their owner tries placing them in a bath. This is why you have to get the cat accustom to water and teach them that it’s not a bad thing. Once your cat gets a look at its clean, shampooed fur, it’ll never be afraid of water again!
