You might have already raised a pet in the past. You might have even said that you would never raise another pet, but it’s never too late to look towards the future and adopt a lonely kitten. Adopting cats at the local shelter helps get them off of the streets and back in a healthy home. You should keep a few key questions in mind while visiting your local shelters.
Feed your cats proper food. Remember that cats must eat meat. Only give your cats cat food to eat. Do not feed them or let them eat dog food. Dogs and cats have different nutritional needs and some of the ingredients in dog food could harm your cat. Feeding your cat dog food for food could also lead to malnourishment, among other issues.
Do not assume that because a medication is okay for you to take, that it is safe for your cat as well. Many medications made for humans are lethal to cats, such as acetaminophen containing drugs and aspirin. Always check with your veterinarian before you give your cat anything.
Put your cat’s food on a tablecloth. Often, a cat will remove food from his bowl to eat on the side. This can result in a mess that needs to be cleaned up. To make clean up a breeze, use a place mat underneath the bowl or a piece of fabric. You’ll be able to pick it up easily and shake the excess food into the trash.
Give cat box liners a try. These may not work for everyone, but they can be helpful if they work for you. Line the litter box with one of these liners, and then put cat litter in as usual. If it works correctly, you should be able to gather the liner and dispose of the litter. Unfortunately, sometimes cats just scratch the liner to pieces as they are doing their business.
If your cat does not use the litter box, do not use punishments to try to discipline him. Check out the box instead and see if it has been neglected; this is often a cause of accidents. If you get mad, they’ll never use the box again.
If you have a kitten, a very important part of raising him is to get him socialized. This means making sure he is comfortable in many situations. These include: handling by humans, grooming and nail care, vet visits, and other social situations. The time to do this is between ten and twelve weeks of age.
If you have more than one cat, you need more than one litter box. Ideally, each cat should have its own box. This prevents the box from becoming overfilled or crowded. An unappealing shared litter box sometimes causes cats to take their bathroom business elsewhere in your house. As you can imagine, this can be quite a nasty surprise!
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.
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.
If your cat stops using the litter box suddenly, take note. Abandoning proper litter box habits is often a warning sign of serious health problems in cats. Kidney, bladder and infection issues can make this occur. Contact your veterinarian if your pet abandons its litter box.
Dogs usually wag their tails as a sign of friendly greeting or encouragement. Cats move their tails for a very different reason. A cat that is flicking its tail is either feeling threatened or predatory and is considering his next move. Along the same line, if your cat wags its tail while you are holding it, you should put it down to avoid getting scratched.
Cats are able to smell very well and will notice changes to their environment. When you offer a new feeding bowl, cat condo, or bedding, your cat may resist. Don’t get discouraged if you find that your cat is not interested in these things right away. Your cat is going to like them more as they acquire your home’s smell.
When adopting a cat, consider adopting two. Cats are social creatures, and they prefer to be in the company of other feline friends. Having two will help to keep your kitty occupied, and it can make it easier to take care of your new pet. If owning two is not an option, make sure to spend extra time giving your cat love.
Make sure to feed your diet pet food specifically made for cats. While a bag of dog food might be cheaper pound for pound, it will not contain the necessary vitamins, minerals and especially protein content to keep your cats healthy. Giving a cat dog food on a regular basis can also cause kidney failure and other serious illnesses.
If you own a cat, you should get it spayed or neutered as soon as possible. Cats are natural explorers and love to look around and check things out. Your cat will attempt to get out even if it is always inside. Even a short visit outside can lead to unwanted kittens down the road. Many cats have to be put down to the overabundance in this country.
Shelters are not the only source of local pet adoptions. You can find classifieds in the papers or online where citizens are offering cats, kittens, and everything else in between for little-to-no cost.. Many times, these people are giving these pets away for free in hopes of giving them a good home.