In case you are unfamiliar with the word, feral cats are the population of cats that live wondering along the street. Cats come with many issues from health issues to overpopulation. Keep reading for some excellent advice about taking care of your pet.
You must always take your cat for regular vet check-ups. Cats need special shots to keep them from getting sick, and the veterinarian will check your cats overall health. When you find a vet you like, stick with them. They will understand your cat and its issues better this way.
Cats enjoy finding small spaces to fit into. A collar can be a dangerous thing to wear in such a place. Put a breakaway collar on instead. This can keep your cat alive.
You shouldn't ever use products designed to be used on dogs on your cat. Cats can have strong negative reactions to a product that is formulated for a dog. Flea products especially. These products can be fatal for your cat. Keep them separated by at least one door for a few hours after treatment.
If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. Cats sometimes travel a bit when outside, and a tag prevents any mishaps due to your cat being lost. Have your phone number engraved on the tag.
Your house can really get torn apart by a cat's claws. If your beloved feline friend is shredding and damaging parts of your home, try investing in a cat tower or a scratching post. Teach your cat to scratch this instead of the legs of a couch or sofa. Your cat will eventually understand they should only use the post or tower for scratching.
Enticing kitty to stay off the kitchen counter is sometimes challenging. They love to be able to look around from up high. One way to nip this problem in the bud is to give your cat a dedicated perch of their own as an alternative to using your space. An excellent tool for preventing your cat from jumping on the counter is a cat tower that is in the kitchen.
Become Bored
Don't allow your cat become bored. Play and exercise are both important for cats' well-being. Sadly, many cat owners do not understand the importance of this. Cats who become bored often have issues that can affect them in a big way. Some of these issues are obesity due to eating out of boredom, OCD issues, fighting with other pets and depression. Give them room to play and a large number of toys. If they're an indoor cat, get them an object to climb on or a scratching post.
A proper diet for male cats will help prevent kidney problems that cause them to pass crystals with their urine. Passing those crystals hurts and having this corrected by a vet is expensive. Look for foods that are low in magnesium for your cat. This means you should pay attention to labels on food. Fish products can have more magnesium when compared to poultry.
Be careful as small kids may treat kittens too roughly. Make sure that you teach your children the proper way to handle a kitten or cat. Demonstrate the appropriate way to pick the cat up and how to play with them. Cats have weaker bones than dogs so should be treated carefully.
Cover the area around your cat's bowl with a cloth. Cats will sometimes pluck food from the bowl and enjoy it straight off the ground. If this occurs, you will have a mess on your hands. Something as simple as a place mat can help make cleanup easier.
Do you own a dog and a cat? Understand that dogs will usually eat cat's food if they can. Try locating your cat's food in an area where the dog cannot go. The added benefit is that you will prevent fights over the other animals food and water when one of them runs out.
Avoid spending too much time trying to train your cat to utilize its litter box. This will be something that the cat does on its own and it usually is not learned fro another. Contrary to what most people believe, it's actually incorrect to rub a cat's paw in the litter.
You should brush your cat on a regular basis. It really helps move natural oils around the cat's fur, and it improves blood flow. It also loosens hair that is about ready to fall out. This will help you to avoid hairballs, which may cause your cat to choke. Hairballs are caused when a cat grooms itself.
You should now be able to step outside of your residence and defend against stray cats invading your yard. A cat can be a constant companion or just a decent neighbor - if you know how to treat it right. Therefore, give your cat as much love as possible. You might even surprise yourself and decide to take a member of the feral litter home with you!