Cats are marvelous creatures. T.S. Eliot stated cats make a home and there is evidence that this opinion is well-deserved. A well-behaved, healthy kitty is a dream to your household. The downside to cats, however, is they can be hard to deal with. Here's some advice for building a healthier relationship with your pet.
You can make your old cat feel better thanks to a hot tile placed under its bed. Put a square foot of terra cotta tile into your oven heated to 200 degrees. Keep the tile in the oven for about 15 minutes. Use an old towel to wrap it up safely before placing it beneath your cat's favorite napping spot. Change it out every few hours if you feel the need.
If your kitty is a female, make sure to plan a spaying once she is of age to breed. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands. If your cat has been spayed, however, you won't have to worry about this happening.
Don't use items on a cat that are meant for a dog. They can have very strong and possibly negative reactions to dog products. Flea products should not be used on cats in any circumstance. Some products designed for dogs could be harmful to your cat. If your dog has been treated for fleas, keep him away from your cat for at least three hours.
Deter your cat from chewing on inappropriate things by using bitter apple. If they like to chew on cords, try covering them as much as you can. You can take loose cords, bundle them up, and stick them inside the tube from an old roll of paper towels. Whenever you aren't using any thin, electronic cords, you should store them away.
A cat's claws can cause lots of damage to your home. If you find your cat tearing up things around your home, buy a scratching post or cat tower. Place this device into an area that your cat frequents, and attempt to get your cat to scratch it rather than the furniture. It might take a little while, but eventually it should stop the problem.
It is likely that your feline friend enjoys grooming his fur. Your cat's long hair can cause hair balls. To fix this problem, you can try buying a new food. Some foods are enriched in fibers and vitamins to facilitate the digestion of the hairballs.
Try figuring out why the cat is purring. When your cat is a member of the family, their sounds start to become familiar to you. This makes it easy to determine what various meows might mean. She may be hungry, or she may want you to let her outside. By taking note of your cat's cues, you'll understand it more.
Cat Owners
When something seems amiss with your feline friend, speak with other cat owners. You can solve most problems by yourself, but you might benefit from the experience of others. Use the Internet to share tips with other cat owners and ask your questions or talk with your neighbors, friends or veterinarian.
If your cats create messes near the litter box, don't punish them. Many times, this is caused by failure to properly clean or place the litter box. If your pet is punished, you won't do anything but make it afraid of you.
Help your cat get accustomed to the carrier. Dogs and cats will respond differently to punishment. Cats usually respond well to encouragement. Put their favorite toy and blanket in a carrier. Leave it somewhere they always go to. The cat will enter it on its own. This will make it easier to mobilize your cat.
Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat. Cats out in the wild like to drink from running water, so they would like that at home too. Cats seem to like a water stream better. You could even consider turning on your sink a few times a day to let your cat drink from the faucet. A fountain will allow your cat to have the happiness of drinking from running water.
Canned food is usually the best option for your cat. Dry food can be less costly, but there are quite a few benefits to canned food. The water content is higher, and there is more protein and fat in the canned food. If your cat is getting older, canned food is easier to chew as well. Speak with your vet to determine the proper course of action to take.
If your cat is urinating a lot or in areas away from the litter box, they may need to see the vet. Cats sometimes behave like this if they have a urinary infection or other medical problem. A quick course of antibiotics can head off dangerous complications if you get your cat diagnosed and treated early enough.
Caring for a cat can be difficult, but it is very gratifying. You need to get to know your cat better so you can focus on the kind of attention it needs the most. Soon, you'll be hearing less meows and more purrs.