Your feline friend can be a part of your life for a long time. That’s why you need to stay vigilant about her care and make sure you are doing everything to help her stay fit and healthy. Here are some tips that will give you some tricke to keeping your cat well.
Keep a clean litter box. Like you, a cat will generally not use a bathroom that is filthy. Find a quiet area out of the way that the box can stay in, and don’t move it unless absolutely necessary. Scoop solids out a couple time of day. Make sure to dump the whole box, wash it with a gentle detergent, and refill it once a week.
Choose a high quality food. The key to a healthy cat starts with nutrition. Take a look at the ingredients label. If you look at most “popular” commercial cat foods, you may be surprised to see the top ingredient listed is corn. Cats are carnivores, so look for a food with a real meat as the top ingredient. You may pay more up front, but these foods are often more nutritionally dense, meaning your cat eats less and the bag lasts longer.
It’s not easy to keep cats off counters. Cats like to climb on things and a counter can look very inviting. You may mitigate the problem by providing designated heights for them to use. Your cat will not go on your counters if there’s a cat tower close to the kitchen.
Is your cat constantly destroying your toilet paper? Make sure that your bath tissue is stopping it from rolling over the top. You can also make or buy a toilet paper cover. These covers are not expensive and will save you money if your furry friend insists on playing with your tissue.
Cats are usually great for kids, but smaller kids may be too rough with them. Guide your kids in handling a feline. Demonstrate the appropriate way to pick the cat up and how to play with them. Feline bones are weaker than those of many other pets, so they must be handled with care.
Do you love your cat but suffer from allergies? If giving up your feline-friend is not something that you can do, try these things first. Get rid of as much carpeting as possible because your cats dander gets trapped in it. You can also not allow your cat in your bedroom at all. This will make living with your cat easier on your allergies.
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.
While children should help with the care and responsibilities of a cat, leave the litterbox duties to the grownups or older children. A cat’s litterbox can carry diseases and parasites. Since younger children may not follow proper handwashing procedures, this job is better left to those older and more responsible.
When you are washing a cat litter box, it is a good idea to use basic soap and water. You may think that it would be more sanitary to use a harsh cleaner like bleach or ammonia, but all that will do is create a smell that the cat will find offensive.
If you suspect your cat has sprayed in your home but can not find the area, there is hope. Purchasing an inexpensive black light can save you from having to rip up your carpets. Your cats urine will glow under the black light, showing you exactly where to clean.
You should keep wet cat food in the refrigerator after it has been opened. Bring it to room temperature before serving it to your cat, because it will smell more enticing to them and be less likely to cause an upset stomach. If you like, place it in the microwave for a bit to warm it up.
If you plan to add a second cat to your household, be sure to allow two to three weeks for your resident cat and the new cat to get used to each other. They might have conflict, hide from each other or swat one another. After a bit of time, you’ll have two cats that will tolerate, and possibly enjoy, each other.
Place the litter box for your cat in an open area. You may believe that the litter box should be kept in a small place so that you won’t smell it. However, it’s important to make sure your cat can easily access its litter box. Understand that cats are extremely picky. If its litter box is not in a convenient location, then your cat might not use it. A litter box located in the basement should be placed on a thick mat or rug.
Clean your cat’s eyes as frequently as possible because their vision is extremely important and extremely sensitive. Cats interpret five times as much visual stimuli during their day and the smallest particle can become stuck and cause damage. A pair of thumbs and a damp cloth are perfect for clearing the eyes and keeping your cat clean.
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.
Hopefully you’ve gotten some great ideas from this article about how to make sure your cat is healthy and fit. Your cat is a dear, trusted friend, and you want her to stay well. Just put the tips here into practice, and you will see that your cat stays happy.
