There are so many joys you can get from just having a cat. You also have to realize that having your own cat is hard work. There are a variety of important responsibilities that all cat owners must understand. Read here about which responsibilities you will be taking on. Keep reading!
Check-ups are an absolute must for any pet cat. The vet will be able to provide your cat with needed vaccinations and any medications it requires. Veterinarians also keep tabs on your cat’s overall health and diagnose any problems they find. Do your best to keep the same vet for your pet’s entire life. They’ll understand what your cat has been through.
Clip your cats nails regularly. Cats do have to scratch. However, when cats scratch, their nail sheaths come off and their sharp, pointy claws are exposed. Clipping your cat’s claws every two to three weeks keeps them blunt and helps keep harm to furniture, humans, and other pets to a minimum.
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 and electrical cords don’t mix. If you notice your cat has a habit of chewing on electric cords, try to bundle them up and hide them out of the cat’s reach. If that’s not possible, spray a little bit of bitter apple onto the cords. Not only is bitter apple non-toxic, cats absolutely hate the taste.
Make sure you have a good pet carrier or basket for transporting your cats from one location to the next. A proper carrier or basket should have enough room for them to turn around in comfortably. It should also be easy to clean. Make sure that it is lined with a blanket, cushion, or towel to help it stay comfortable and cozy for them when traveling.
Cats appreciate all the affection you can give. Most cats crave the same warmth and companionship they give their owners. Cats have a need to communicate with others to show they are part of the family. Make them feel at home.
Should you leave the house with your cat, make sure that she is wearing a collar with tags. This way, if anything happens and you two become separated, anyone can find her and know how to reach you. Your cat may not like the collar all the time, but when she’s out of the house it can save her.
Get your cat a breakaway collar. Make sure it has tags that reflect a phone number, even if you are uncomfortable with an address. Cats can run outdoors or slip away, and you don’t want to worry that you’ll never see your cat again. Make sure that there is adequate information so you can be reached.
While children should help with the care and responsibilities of a cat, leave the litterbox duties to the grownups or older children. A cat’s litterbox can carry diseases and parasites. Since younger children may not follow proper handwashing procedures, this job is better left to those older and more responsible.
There’s always a chance that you cat can slip outside your home and become lost. This can be prevented with a breakaway collar. The collar includes an ID, featuring your name, phone number, and address. If the cat is found, anyone can easily contact you and return the cat to you thanks to the information on the collar.
There are a lot of cats that are overweight. An obese cat can end up developing health problems such as arthritis or diabetes. If your cat could stand to lose a pound or two, try cutting back their food a little bit at each feeding. You can also buy some toys and encourage your cat to play and exercise.
To make sure your kitten is properly socialized to humans, begin early in his life, about ten to twelve weeks of age. Be sure that he is handled and petted by humans in his family and by others as well. When he is older, he will be a calmer, friendlier cat.
Don’t throw away your cat’s old scratching post. While it doesn’t appear clean and new, your cat probably thinks otherwise. For a cat, it is comfortable and familiar. If you throw it away and replace it too quickly with a new one, they may shun the new one and go after your carpet and furniture.
If you have ever given your cat a bath, then you know how much they shiver when it is over. This is because their wet fur provides them with no insulation. You can help your cat out by using your hairdryer to dry the hair fast. Just remember not to hold it too close and burn your cat.
If you suspect that your cat is pregnant, make an appointment with the vet as soon as you can to make sure that is really the case. There are a few serious illnesses that can mimic pregnancy, so you want to make sure that none of these has affected your cat.
Be aware of your cat stopping their litter box usage. A common sign that a cat has a medical condition is failure to use the bathroom in the litter box. Kidney, bladder and infection issues can make this occur. Call your veterinarian right away if your cat doesn’t use the litter box.
As you can now see, cats can bring you much joy. However, you must properly care for your cat in order for both of you to be happy. Use these tips to make your cat’s life complete.
