Cats are amazing to watch and obviously make exceptional pets. Their inclination toward independence is ideal for busy folks. The following article will teach you what you need to know to take good care of your pet.
An indoor cat who gets a taste of the outdoors will forever want to go outside. If you know your cat will always be an indoor cat, do your best to keep them from sneaking out. You can try to train your cat to stay in your yard when you are outside.
It can be hard to make your cat stay off the counter. A cat will naturally want to be high enough to view everything around them. Therefore, you should create high areas for resting. An excellent tool for preventing your cat from jumping on the counter is a cat tower that is in the kitchen.
If you don’t want your cat to scratch up furniture, try filling a small spray bottle with water and spritzing your cat whenever he tries. Cats generally avoid water altogether for reasons no one is sure about, so he will not like this. Eventually he will stop scratching to avoid getting sprayed.
Do not try to bathe a kitten that is less than four weeks old. It is not very easy for a young kitten to regulate the temperature of their body. This may result in the kitten getting a chill. To be on the safe side you should wait between 12 and 16 weeks after they are born to bathe them for the first time.
Put the right amount of cat litter in the litter box. Some people try to get out of cleaning the box by putting too much litter in there. Cats don’t like walking on sand dunes! Two inches or so should be sufficient for the cat’s needs, and you just have to be vigilant about cleaning the box out.
You should never punish your cat for not using the litter box. Many times, this is caused by failure to properly clean or place the litter box. If you punish the cat, it may shy away from you at future times.
When your cat has kittens, it can be tempting to get rid of them as soon as possible, but you should wait a reasonable amount of time. A kitten needs to learn a few things from mom before going off into the world alone, so give him six weeks to learn all he can.
Playtime is important for kittens as well as older cats. The best games are those that involve hunting and chasing. Try to think like your cat, choosing toys like feathers on string. The cat is attracted to the movement of the toy, so he will love to chase it if you pull it along without him seeing you. It is important to let your pet win occasionally, to keep him interested.
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.
A kitty door is a great way to allow your cat to go in and out, without any help from you. You can also use kitty doors on doors inside your home. This can be great if you have a dog or small children, to keep them out of the room with the litter box.
If you’re dealing with a cat that won’t use the litter box, you should place it somewhere else. Instinctively, cat’s will search out a safe place to eliminate, so try relocating the litter box to a quiet and secluded area. Some good places would be basements, laundry rooms, and any other place that doesn’t have a lot of noise and people going in and out.
With dogs, tail wagging is a sign they’re in a good mood, or glad their owners are around. When a cat wags its tail, it’s for a completely different reason. Cats wag tails if they sense conflict, or if they’re trying to decide whether to fight or flee. Along the same line, if your cat wags its tail while you are holding it, you should put it down to avoid getting scratched.
There are lots of cats out there that do not have homes. Consider adopting one from your local pet agency before heading to the pet store. They usually provide the cat with all of the necessary shots before you adopt them. The cats are also spayed or neutered to prevent pet overpopulation.
Despite popular belief, you should never give your cat milk to drink. Cats’ digestive systems lack an abundance of lactase, the enzyme used to break down dairy products. The reality is that this can cause your cat to experience diarrhea, vomiting, and other types of gastrointestinal discomfort. In this case, milk does NOT do a body good!
Try your best not to feed your cat any table scraps, even if you are sure this would be better than throwing the extra food away. Once you feed your cat this type of thing, they will no longer want to eat the cat food that you give them regularly.
If your cat could stand to lose a few pounds, choose foods that help the animal to feel full. If the cat acts like it is hungry all the time, you will be tempted to feed (and overfeed) it. Look for cat foods that contain higher amounts of protein and fiber. This also promotes a healthy digestive system, which contributes to weight loss.
Autonomous, smart and happy; cats are terrific pets. As a responsible cat owner, however, you must educate yourself on the proper way to care for your kitty. The next time you interact with your cat, remember what you’ve just read. Your cat will enjoy a full and comfortable life.
