Cats can make absolutely delightful pets. You must, however, know how to properly care for them. It is not as simple as you may think. This article is packed with helpful cat care information and advice. Read on to learn several cat care tips you can apply to ensure that your sweet kitty enjoys a healthy life.
Be sure to have your pet cat spayed or neutered by the time it is six months old. A spayed or neutered cat is a more satisfactory pet because it is calmer, quieter and more likely to stay home. Neutered male cats do not spray urine to mark their territory. This is definitely a plus when it comes to cat ownership.
Be certain your cat has regular vet visits. Your cat needs to get a checkup about once every year, or more if there are issues that come up. If you notice that your cat appears to be experiencing some sort of illness or injury, do not delay a trip to the vet.
You can keep your cat away from electrical cords by spraying them with some bitter apple. If your cat likes to chew cords, hide the cords as best you can. If you have any loose cords around your home, try stuffing them into a used paper towel roll. The cords on electronics should be hidden as well.
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.
Cats are hunters by nature. They love to chase mice and other small animals and insects. Buying little fuzzy mice filled with catnip and batting them around with your cat is a great idea. Your cat will feel as though they are really hunting prey. This will also help you to connect with your cat better.
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.
Find cat medicine online if you want to get discounts. In an emergency, this won’t be much help, of course. For more routine situations, saving 50% by buying online is quite possible.
It is important to only feed your kitten food specifically made for kittens. Kitten food contains more fat and protein to help keep your growing cats body healthy. Adult cat food is leaner and is not specially formulated the same way as the kitten food. Your kitten will grow really fast in a short time-frame, so it is important that they eat right.
Remember that very young children can be a bit too rough with a cat or new kitten. You need to show your children how the cat should be treated. Show them to pick up kitty gently and the types of activities which are appropriate. Cats don’t have strong bones like dogs do, so they need to be treated gently.
Get your cat a breakaway collar. Make sure it has tags that reflect a phone number, even if you are uncomfortable with an address. Cats can run outdoors or slip away, and you don’t want to worry that you’ll never see your cat again. Make sure that there is adequate information so you can be reached.
Provide your cat with high-quality cat food. Look over the ingredients in the food, and be sure there is some kind of a protein source in the food. Don’t feed your cat food that includes corn or other fillers. Understand that your cat needs a lot of animal protein to stay healthy.
Make sure that you change your cat’s food and water on a regular basis. Just like humans, cats want to eat fresh food and drink water that is clean. Feed them at the same time each and every day if you want them to get into a regular feeding routine.
Don’t give cats human medication. If they have health issues, see a vet and give them what they provide. Using human medicine for your cat is harmful and can even cause their death.
Dry food is great for cats. Kittens need some wet food because they have very small teeth. As an adult, the harder texture of dry food keeps their teeth strong. If you have a picky eater, you might want to try blending wet food with dry food.
When choosing what type of cat to bring home, consider your lifestyle. Do you travel often? How long are you at home? If you will not spend a good deal of time in the company of your new pet, adopt a more mature cat. Kittens require considerable care and are easily frightened when alone. A mature cat requires care as well, but should fare well when you aren’t at home.
Introducing new animals into the household can irritate cats initially. It is best to keep the other animal away from your cat at first. Allow your cat time to get used to the new smell. You should introduce the new pet to your cat very slowly.
As mentioned in the opening of this article, provided that you know how to properly care for them, cats make great pets. Study all of the info contained in this article, and apply what you learn to ensure that your favorite kitty enjoys a wonderful life. With a little effort you can be a purr-fect cat owner.