Cats are wonderful, fascinating animals, but caring for a cat can be extremely difficult if you do not know what you are doing. If you considering adopting a cat or are a current pet cat owner, study the info contained in this article very carefully. Utilize all of the great cat tips to keep your kitty healthy.
Shop at your local pet shelter for your next cat. Shelters have tons of great cats and their adoption fee will generally cover necessary vet care. Taking a cat home with you means that a life has been saved.
To help prevent tapeworm infestation in cats, feed a small amount of food grade diatomaceous earth for two weeks out of each month. About a quarter of a teaspoon per cat per day is adequate. Food grade diatomaceous earth kills internal parasites and causes them to be expelled from the system.
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.
Although depicted in countless movies and cartoons, milk is not the best source of nutrition for your cat. Once cats have grown, they do not need milk as a regular part of their diet. Milk can cause stomach distress and bloating. Instead of giving your cat milk, always have fresh, clean water available to them instead.
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. You can take loose cords, bundle them up, and stick them inside the tube from an old roll of paper towels. Electronic items with thin, tempting cords should always be put away when not in use.
Keep your cat indoors. Unlike dogs, it is nearly impossible to confine a cat to a yard. This can lead to many dangers for your cat, from cars, dogs, diseases from feral cats, and simply disappearing to parts unknown. Loose cats also be a nuisance to others, often killing songbirds and leaving unwelcome “deposits” in neighbor’s gardens. If your cat really enjoys the outdoors, they can be trained to wear a harness and leash or you can invest in a specialty cat fence or screened-in porch.
If you cat is pregnant is with babies, you can expect to have a lot of kittens on your hands. Create a comfortable place for the cat to deliver her babies somewhere in your home. Make sure the spot is big enough for the kittens to move around as they grow.
Who says only dogs can do tricks? Cats are very intelligent and have the ability to learn as well, especially as young kittens. Some people train their cats to play fetch just like dogs do. There are even people who have successfully trained their cat to use a regular toilet, instead of a litter box.
Brush your cat’s coat often. It really helps move natural oils around the cat’s fur, and it improves blood flow. You will also decrease the amount of fur throughout your home. This avoids the hairball problem, which may lead to choking and a buildup of hair in the stomach.
It is important to make sure that your cat always has fresh water available. You should refill your cats water dish everyday with clean water. There are drinking fountains that provide your cat with a constant stream of fresh water, so you do not have to worry about changing it as often.
You should install a small drinking fountain for your cat. This will make things more comfortable and homey for your cat. Cats prefer to drink water that is streaming. Cats often like the running water more than their own bowl of water. So a drinking fountain makes a smart investment that’s both environmentally friendly and loved by your feline.
While there is nothing wrong with using clumping cat litter for older felines, you should stick with sandy litter when dealing with kittens. The clumping litters are usually treated with all types of chemicals that may nto be safe for smaller cats. Once they are older, you should be able to make the switch with no issue.
Be aware of your cat stopping their litter box usage. Abandoning proper litter box habits is often a warning sign of serious health problems in cats. A bladder infection is often at the root of the problem. Be sure to go see your vet if your cat stops using its box.
Make sure you provide adequate space to a cat that is about to give birth. Understand that a female cat will require three or four hours in order to give birth to every kitten. When six hours passes, get to the vet immediately.
Do not leave the door to your washing machine or dryer open if you have cats. This is a place where cats love to crawl and take a nap, but it can be very dangerous. You don’t want to turn on the machine then find out your cat is in there. It will be very frightening for them and it may cause an injury.
As wonderful and amazing as cats are, owning a pet cat is not always easy. To be a good cat owner you must educate yourself on the best cat care tips and advice and apply what you learn. Read this article a couple of times to gain a complete understanding of what you need to do to keep your cat healthy.
