Several jobs come included with the package when you adopt a new cat. Feeding and entertaining your pet are the obvious two, but you also need to focus on keeping them clean. Cleaning a cat can be an extremely daunting experience because cats hate water and they usually have claws. Use the tips below to keep your feline healthy and clean all year around.
Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. Cats need to be combed or brushed regularly. This will help them maintain a clean and healthy coat. It also helps to reduce their shedding and can cut down on how many times they are spitting up hairballs. Regularly grooming keeps cats looking well and keeps your home neater.
Let kittens and cat-friendly pet dogs get to know each other slowly. Put up a baby gate to keep dogs in one room while your new kitten gets used to its surroundings. Supervise carefully when the kitten ventures to the gate to meet the dogs. When the kitten feels safe, it will climb the gate. If it feels threatened, it will pop right back out to safety.
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.
Avoid eye contact to make friends with a cat. Ever wonder why cats seem drawn to the person who likes cats the least? The answer lies in cat body language. To cats, staring is “rude” and can be considered a challenge. Looking away shows that you respect their space and are not going to be a threat. So next time you are looking to meet a new feline friend, look away and let them approach you.
Protecting your cat from household chemicals is something that you may already know, but did you know that protecting them from medications is just as important? Common over the counter medicines such as ibuprofen can be toxic to your cat, even in small doses. Keep your medication safely out of the reach of your cat.
Cats can spend hours keeping themselves and their fur clean. If the cats hair is too long, this is what causes hairballs. If your cat needs assistance with this problem, consider a special diet. Some foods are in fact formulated specifically to reduce hairballs, and that is a good idea for your cat and you too.
Cats are pretty low maintenance pets. They do not need as much attention and one-on-one time as dogs do. Cleaning the litter box is one of the most dreaded chores in the house. Investing in a good self-cleaning litter box can help to reduce the amount of times you have to clean it out.
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.
Make sure that there are enough litter boxes in your home for all of the cats that are staying there. It is optimal to have one litter box for each cat. If you live in a home that has a lot of floors, there should be one on each floor for each cat.
Be sure to brush or comb your cat’s fur on a regular basis. The act of brushing helps the coat become glossy, and it helps stimulate the skin. It can also get rid of hair that is loose. Avoid the choking that can be a result of hairballs which slowly build up as your cat grooms himself.
Think about getting a drinking fountain for your cat. Most cats will prefer drinking water that is running over drinking water in a bowl. Cats usually like to drink from a water stream. In fact, there are cats that enjoy drinking from a running sink instead of a bowl. A fountain will give them the same effect, and it is more environmentally friendly.
If you live in an area that is populated by wild animals, such as coyote and fox, you may need to make you cat an indoor cat. Wild animals pose a real threat to cats, and to avoid the loss of a beloved pet, it is sometimes best to keep them indoors for the course of their lives.
When your cat starts urinating often or in odd places, it may be time to see the vet. Many cats develop these behaviors in response to a health problem, such as urinary tract infections. Inexpensive antibiotics generally clear this right up.
It’s important for your cat to get plenty of playtime. In fact, play is a common activity for all mammals, including people and cats, no matter their age. Even older cats like to play. Spend some time enjoying your cat.
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.
Now, not only can your cat be the biggest and baddest feline in the neighborhood, it can also be the cleanest cat in town. You might get lucky and find a cat that doesn’t mind the water and remains calm while covered in soap. Keep these tips in mind while you proceed and don’t let the past become involved.
