The ancient Egyptians viewed cats as gods. If you glance over at your cat, that isn’t difficult to understand. These creatures are beautiful and elegant, mysterious and fascinating. You can never truly understand a cat, but you can do your best to care for them. Here are some cat tips to assist you in caring for this wonderful animal.
Making sure your cat doesn’t jump on the counters is hard to do. Cats love being up high so that they can see. Give them an alternative. A cat tower near your kitchen can give them a place to watch you that is out of the way.
If you absolutely must bathe a cat, set everything up in advance. Set up two tubs large enough to dunk a cat. Fill them with comfortably warm water. Set your open bottle of cat shampoo, a heavy towel, and a secure pet carrier close by. Wear heavy rubber gloves. Grasp your cat by the scruff of the neck. Dunk, shampoo and scrub quickly in one tub. Dunk to rinse in the second tub. Wrap the cat securely in the towel and place in the carrier to dry.
Do not use medicine meant for a dog on a cat. This is especially important for topical medicines. Cats do their own cleaning, and if a dog medicine is used on a cat, your pet can ingest it. There are some medicines that work for both cats and dogs, but only use them if the vet says it is okay.
Use short words when you want to express displeasure with your cat. A short ‘no’ will be remembered, even if not always followed. A lot of people think that cats don’t listen to anything, but short word commands are certainly understood by cats, and they will respond to those commands if you are consistent with them.
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.
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.
Most veterinarians recommend that you feed your cat food that is in the can as opposed to the dry varieties in the box or bag. This is because the canned food contains more water, fat and protein than the dry variety. It is also easier to consume for cats with dental issues.
Let your cat get comfortable using a carrier. Cats and dogs do not usually respond the same ways to punishment. They prefer encouragement instead. Leave your cat carrier open and put a few special toys inside. Your cat will start to venture into their carrier more often, until they are completely comfortable with it. Transporting the carrier with your cat inside makes your next trip out much easier.
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 your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, you should take him to the vet. Cats can show this behavior if they have a type of urinary tract infection or other health issue. Some cheap antibiotics can get rid of some dangerous illnesses.
It’s important that cats get play time. It is pretty normal for all different types of species to have an inner desire to play. Older cats might not be quite as energetic as they used to be, but light play can still be fun for them. Play with your cat, and you’ll both have fun.
If you’re tempted to load up on litter to cut back on cleanings, think again. Some people believe that the more cat litter they use, the longer they can go between emptying the litter box. Actually, this is a waste of your litter! Many cats refuse to use a litter box with more than 2 inches of litter on the bottom. Some prefer to dig to the bottom of the box before doing their business.
Is your cat really sweet and lovable? If so, they might make a good therapy pet. Pet therapy uses animals to go into places like nursing homes, and bring some joy to the people there. Your cat will be happy with all the attention, and you can feel good about doing something positive for others.
Kittens should never be taken from their mothers before they are eight to ten weeks old. During this time, kittens learn most of their social and instinctive behaviors, and removing them from the mother too soon can cause future behavioral issues the mother cat could have taught them had they not been removed too early.
You should try to keep your cat indoors most of the time since there are many things out there that can hurt them. Poison, injury and disease are just a few of the things that can happen to him. If he needs fresh air, open a screened window and allow him to sit there.
You may not think your cat is a god, but he probably does! The best you can do is to take care of his health and care for him. Use the advice in this article to take care of your cat in the way he is used to. Even if you never get a thank you, he appreciates it.
