Cats are downright mysterious by their nature. They seem so independent, but they like your company as well. They may also engage in erratic behavior. Check out these tips to help you better understand and help your furry little friend.
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.
Use your cat to teach your children responsibilities. A pet demands care that the whole family can participate in. Each child can take different day to feed the cat, for instance. Same thing for litterbox care. You can make a schedule and post it on the refrigerator. Then, everyone knows what they are responsible for.
Try not to let your cat go outside. This can be very unsafe for your cat. Your cat can pick up fleas, or worse. Your cat might be injured by people, other animals and even vehicles on the road. If your cat has to be outside, make sure it is only in a small area near the house.
Seek the advice of others if you have a cat that’s giving you problems. Although you might want to attempt to handle the problem yourself, other cat owners can provide you with excellent advice that may help you to resolve it. You can find several cat forums online where you can ask questions, or you can choose to simply call your vet for advice too.
Don’t throw away your cat’s old scratching post. To your cat the post is just right. Removing the post could cause your cat to look for something else scratch, possibly damaging your furniture.
When you introduce a new cat into your home, you have to be careful with how your other cat reacts. Try giving the new cat a little space in one room at first, and then introduce him to the rest of the house. Make sure to have different litter boxes at first too. If you ease the new cat in, it will go more smoothly for everyone.
If your cat bothers your Christmas tree or other plants, try beating him at his own game. Make his favorite chewing and climbing areas unattractive to him by placing the peelings of oranges, lemons or grapefruit around the places you wish for him to avoid. Cats hate citrus, and this is a natural way to keep them from getting into trouble.
If your cat is not getting trained to use the litter box as fast as you would like, there are sprays available that can make things a bit easier. These sprays have a scent that will attract your cat to the box, which means they will be more likely to go there when they need to use the bathroom.
Don’t buy a closed litter box without first considering the disadvantages. True, it’s nice that you don’t have to see the contents of the litter box. However, odors tend to build up in closed boxes, making it necessary to clean it more frequently. Covered litter boxes also constrict your cat’s movement, which is a problem for larger pets.
A kitty door is a great way to allow your cat to go in and out, without any help from you. You can also use kitty doors on doors inside your home. This can be great if you have a dog or small children, to keep them out of the room with the litter box.
When your cat first gives birth to her kittens, resist the urge to pick them up. This is a crucial time for kittens to bond with their mother and learn some basics, so leave them alone. You should be able to have more interaction with the kittens after about a week.
There are lots of cats out there that do not have homes. Consider adopting one from your local pet agency before heading to the pet store. They usually provide the cat with all of the necessary shots before you adopt them. The cats are also spayed or neutered to prevent pet overpopulation.
Kittens should never be taken from their mothers before they are eight to ten weeks old. During this time, kittens learn most of their social and instinctive behaviors, and removing them from the mother too soon can cause future behavioral issues the mother cat could have taught them had they not been removed too early.
Your cat has a remarkable sense of smell, much better than humans. They detect subtle changes in their environment. This can be troublesome sometimes if you’re trying to feed the cat new food or give it new toys. Don’t get frustrated if they don’t like these items right away. Eventually the cat will get used to the smell and things will go back to normal.
When disciplining a cat for bad behavior, you must catch him in the act, or discipline is futile. You must also never hit your cat, as this could hurt him and damage the relationship you have with him. Instead, try using a squirt gun, giving him a gentle squirt when you catch him engaging in bad behavior. This will eventually teach him that there is an undesirable consequence for what he is doing, causing him to think twice before he does it again!
While cats make excellent pets, be prepared to be thrown off balance sometimes! Allow the advice this article contains to help guide you on a path to a happier life for you and your pet. A well cared for cat can be a true joy and can be the beginning of a great friendship.
