Cats make great pets, but caring for them can be costly. The cost of vet bills, food, toys, and cat litter are enough to make any person reconsider owning a cat. The following tips can help you maximize your happiness without breaking your wallet.
Contact local shelters if you want to adopt a cat. Shelters have great pets available for adoption, and the fee isn’t that high. When you bring home a shelter cat, you will be saving its life and you will be doing your part to help out.
Your cat needs to be groomed properly. Brushing is a very important component towards taking care of your cat. This helps them keep their precious coat properly clean at all times. It will also limit shedding and may cut down on hairballs. Regularly grooming keeps cats looking well and keeps your home neater.
A heated tile can be positioned beneath the bed of a mature cat. Simply heat a single foot cotta tile at 200 degrees between 15 and 20 minutes. Then, wrap this up into a towel and place it underneath your cat’s bed. If necessary, you can change out the tile after a few hours to provide continued warmth.
Use bitter apple on your electric cords to keep your kitty away from them. You can also cover your cords under a rug or tape them to walls. Use paper towel or wrapping paper rolls to bundle up cords. Put your electronics away so your cat is not tempted to chew on the cords.
Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. Even an indoor cat can get the urge to run out of a door or leap through a window. Cat collars are a great thing to have in case your cat gets lost, but they also pose a risk if they get caught on something. A microchip, on the other hand, is inserted near your cat’s shoulder blades, takes only a second to do, and all of your current contact info can be read through the chip. The majority of veterinarians possess scanners that can read your chips. Because these chips are placed underneath your cat’s skin, they won’t get lost.
Don’t allow your cat to get bored too often. Cats need stimulation. Unfortunately, a lot of cat owners neglect this. Bored cats can really be a problem. They can have health issues, OCD, and even depression. You need to give it new toys regularly and make sure your cat has plenty of space to run and play. You need to provide your cats with something they can climb and scratch.
Cats love to be clean. In long-haired cats, hairballs can result from excess grooming. There are special foods that can ease this issue. Some foods are enriched in fibers and vitamins to facilitate the digestion of the hairballs.
If you cat is overly vocal, try to figure out exactly why he or she is making so much noise. After living with your cat for long, it’s easier to interpret its meows. Possibilities include that she is hungry or wants to be let outside. Understand your cat’s preferences, and you’ll be that much better off.
Make sure that you brush your cat’s coat often. Brushing improves the circulation of your cat and helps spread natural oils in the fur. It will also minimize hair loss. This will help to eliminate hairballs, which build in your cat’s stomach and prevents it from grooming itself.
Scratching Post
Don’t get rid of an old scratching post. When it is in this condition, cats tend to like it the most. Your cat might not want to use the new scratching post and start ruining your furniture instead.
Consider buying your cat a special drinking fountain. Your cat will prefer drinking from running water since this is a natural behavior. They are more likely to get plenty of water when it is running. In fact, there are cats that enjoy drinking from a running sink instead of a bowl. Drinking fountains are more environmentally-friendly and they let your cat drink naturally.
Be patient with your pets when you introduce a second cat into your home. There will be an inevitable adjustment period as your two cats get to know each other. They may be leery of each other at first and fight. However, cats should eventually learn to co-habitate properly.
If you notice your cat urinating more frequently or outside his litter box, then it might be time to see the vet. This may be a symptom of an infection of the urinary tract or another health problem in your cat. Some cheap antibiotics can get rid of some dangerous illnesses.
Litter Box
Carefully consider where you will place your friend’s litter box. You may really want to hide that box from everyday life. Make sure your cat can easily reach the litter box at all times. This will keep your cat as happy as possible. If your litter box is on a cold surface, place a rug or mater underneath it.
Keep your cat’s vaccinations and checkups up to date with the vet. Kids need shots, and so do cats. Treat your cat as if it were a member of the family.
Move the litter box if your cat won’t use it. Cats know that during the elimination process they are left somewhat vulnerable, so moving the box to a more private area should help. Great suggestions include your basement and laundry room.
It’s difficult to deny that owning any type of pet comes with costs and conundrums. You should care for your pet like you would care for a child. You should apply the tips you just read, and do your best to be a responsible cat owner.