If you could save the life of an animal, would you? Countless numbers of felines are just waiting for a place to call home. If you have always wanted to know how to adopt a cat, this article can help you.
If you have outdoor cats, be sure to discourage pests such as coyotes, possums and raccoons by bringing cat food indoors at night. Feed your cats first thing in the morning, and make sure there is no food left at nightfall. This will keep your cats safe from attack and illness.
If you have an outdoor cat, make sure he is fitted with a tag and collar. Tags can save you a lot of trouble if your cat gets lost. Be sure that the pet’s name and also your home number are on the tag.
If your cat tends to be antisocial and anxious with company, try giving it a catnip toy a few hours before company arrives. Many cats become very mellow when exposed to catnip. Even if your cat does not want to socialize after catnip exposure, it will probably be happier and less anxious.
Cats generally will meow for a reason. Once you become familiar with your cat and its needs, it will become easier to determine what he needs when he meows. She could be signaling that she is hungry, or she might want to go outside. You’ll learn her cues quickly.
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.
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.
When you introduce a new cat into your home, you have to be careful with how your other cat reacts. Try giving the new cat a little space in one room at first, and then introduce him to the rest of the house. Make sure to have different litter boxes at first too. If you ease the new cat in, it will go more smoothly for everyone.
Feed canned food to your cat. Although it is usually more expensive, canned food offers real nutritional advantages. That’s because this type of food provides your cat with more protein, good fat and water. If your cat is getting older, canned food is easier to chew as well. Talk to the veterinarian prior to making any big changes; but, usually, canned food is best for your cat.
Do not leave wet cat food in the bowl for longer than twenty minutes after your cat is done eating it. After you see your kitten is done for the time being, throw out the rest of the food and make sure to wash their bowl thoroughly with light soap and water.
There is more care to consider with long-haired cats. Long-haired cats shed constantly, and the fur ends up on your clothing, floors, and everything else in your home. Unless you have time to dedicate to cleaning up their fur, don’t get long haired cats. Also, cats with long hair tend to have frequent hairball issues.
Clean your cat’s eyes as frequently as possible because their vision is extremely important and extremely sensitive. Cats interpret five times as much visual stimuli during their day and the smallest particle can become stuck and cause damage. A pair of thumbs and a damp cloth are perfect for clearing the eyes and keeping your cat clean.
If there is a place where your cat likes to use the bathroom other than the litter box, there is a simple way to deal with this. There are sprays formulated to be very offensive to cats. If you apply this spray in these areas, the cat will stay away from there.
Cats have an uncanny ability to always find their way home. If you move to a new home, keep your cat inside for about a month. This will help your cat to familiarize themselves with the smells of your new place. If you let your cat out too soon, they might go home to the wrong house.
There is no need to bathe a cat since they are able to do most of their cleaning by themselves. The only way that you should bathe a cat is if there is something on their coat that has not come off for a good length of time, like oil and chemicals.
Your cat needs to get regular checkups and vaccinations. This is the only way to make sure that they stay healthy and don’t pick up any illnesses or parasites. A veterinarian can provide these services for you. Animal shelters can be used as well if there isn’t a vet near you.
You can use certain scents to discourage your cat from going into certain areas of your home. Aloe gel, citrus peels, and citrus juices smell wonderful to us, but cats don’t feel the same way. Soak a cotton ball in one of these liquids, then place it on top of a piece of foil to prevent the liquid from staining your surface. Place the foil and cotton ball near the off-limits area.
Taking care of a cat is something that should make you proud. Afterall, you have opened your home to a cat that needs your love and care. You new little friend will be there for you for the rest of their lives. Give your time and affection to your cat, and it is almost certain that you will receive the same in return.
