Common Cat Problems Solved: Some Helpful Cat Tips
April 9, 2013 by admin
Filed under Common Cat Problems Solved
Some cat tips.
First and most important, never hit your cat no matter what it is doing wrong in your opinion. All hitting a cat will do is make it afraid of you and that will make it much harder to train your cat.
There are some purchases that justify spending the extra dollar and what your cat eats is definitely one of them. The difference between the “good food” and the “cheap food” is phenomenal. Just stick with buying the natural, healthy food from the beginning and you won’t ever have to worry about a picky kitten.
If you are introducing a new cat into a home that already has a cat or dog, it is best to try to socialize the animals gradually. Both dogs and cats are territorial. If you introduce a newcomer too quickly, the animals may never adjust. Keep the animals separate for a majority of the time and introduce them gradually over a few weeks. Leave the new cat in the carrier and allow the other cats to sniff and greet the new family member for a short period of time before moving to a private room with litter pan.
For tips and advice on living with a lot of cats far beyond the usual two to four (how many makes a herd of cats?) visit A House Full Of Cats for first hand expierence in making it work.
If you have allergies, there are many things you can do to make owning a cat more comfortable. Establish certain rooms, such as the bedroom or study, as allergen free rooms where you can spend time away from you pet and breath more freely. House air filters and frequent vacuuming can also help.
Provide plenty of scratching material for your cat, from the moment he arrives in your home. Although it’s not done out of malice, cats are almost guaranteed to ruin furniture with their claws if they don’t have a scratching post and scratching board with a slight rise of about an inch and a half. Provide them in each room and place within easy access.
Cats love to munch on grass and plants such as catnip. There are plants however that are poisonous to cats. Chrysanthemums, poinsetta and holly are beautiful and common around the Holidays, but can be very toxic to cats. Other plants that are toxic or lethal include lilies, rhubarb and daffodils.
Never Let Your Cat Eat: Onions in any form, garlic, cheese for people, chives, cool whip type products, milk, half and half, heavy cream, whipped cream with sugar (a teaspoon of fresh light whipping cream is ok now and then as a treat if well tolerated) alcohol in any form, grapes, rasins, caffiene, chocolate, candy, gum, xylitol sweetener, table scraps, fat and bones, raw dough, eggs, liver, meat and fish, dog food, human medicine of any kind, live or found dead prey, bird, bug, fish, lizard, mouse, rat (they will give your cat parasites/worms).
Learn what your cat’s food should look and smell like. Do not serve food that is stale or does not look or smell normal. If your cat appears to ignore it after a sniff, take a second look. Tossing out a dollar’s worth of wonky food can save hundreds in vet bills.
Be very careful if you have electrical cords and wiring hanging out all over your home. This is very attractive to a kitten and they may try playing with it. Not only can this damage the cords, but it can out your cat at risk for receiving an electrical shock.
Take your new kitten to see the vet as soon as possible. There are many issues that can plague a kitten, and you want to make sure that you are on the safe side. If you are worried about the cost of care, you should look for volunteer pet clinics in your area.
Cats can be prone to different illnesses, one of them being diabetes. Luckily, diabetes can be treated by the vet. With regular insulin injections your cat’s diabetes can be regulated. This means that your cat will end up living a long and healthy life. Eventually, your cat will get accustomed to the injections to make things easier on you.
Your kittens don’t want dirty mouths either, so take a toothbrush and clean those gums everyday before breakfast. Without proper brushing, cats can catch diseases, infections, and suffer serious side effects. A few minutes daily keeps these teeth healthy, strong, and sparkling. You should ask a veterinarian how to properly brush your cat’s teeth. If you don’t start this when very young, good luck trying this later.
It is best if your cats can be allowed to graze dry food all day unless one or more can not control their own weight. 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.
Try to be consistent within the type of cat litter and foods you buy your cat without making them addicted to one flavor. You do not want to create a people tuna cat, schedule it as a regular treat not a daily meal. If you mix foods up, it may cause some issues unless you start the cats off with multiple flavors within a brand so they are used to variety. Cats are creatures of habit, and they do not adapt well to change. If you must make some changes, it would be a good idea to do them gradually.
Consider adopting multiple cats, especially it will be spending a significant amount of time alone. One cat can do fine alone, however two are not much more work or expense than one, and can keep each other company and entertain each other. This will stave off boredom, especially if you work long hours.
Cats are all unique and some cats prefer different kinds of food than others and nothing is harder to please than a picky feline. As you get to know your pet, experiment with different foods and treats until you learn what they do and don’t like to eat. You will likely find that you both enjoy some of the same foods.
