Cats are great pets to have around and they need to be taken care of. Grooming a cat is quite different than grooming a dog, however. You must take additional care to ensure they remain clean and well groomed. Keep reading for some useful cat grooming tips.
Make a free toy for your cat by placing a little dry rice or a few dry beans inside an empty pill bottle. Close the lid and roll the rattly toy across the floor. Most cats can’t resist the sound and motion. You can also tie a length of twine around the neck of the bottle to make a pull toy or a dangly toy.
Use petting to check on your cat’s health. Petting isn’t just a way for you and your cat to spend time together, but it’s a great way to find anything abnormal on their body. You can pet them to feel for bumps, lumps, or sores. This is also a great time for you to check their ears.
Give your cat lots of attention and love. Think of all the friendship and comfort cats provide to us. Cats need a social life with people just like you do with other people. They want to feel like a contented and satisfied member of the family.
Get your cat sprayed and neutered to prevent diseases and infections that form in the reproductive system. This can also help reduce the chance for overpopulation in the country, as just one male who is not neutered can produce up to half a million offspring over the course of his life.
Be careful as small kids may treat kittens too roughly. Make sure your child knows how to pet a cat. Children need to know how to hold a cat and what sorts of play a cat likes. A cat’s bones can be quite fragile and they need to be treated gently.
Who says only dogs can do tricks? Cats are very intelligent and have the ability to learn as well, especially as young kittens. Some people train their cats to play fetch just like dogs do. There are even people who have successfully trained their cat to use a regular toilet, instead of a litter box.
Make sure your cat has identification and a collar all the time. This is very important for indoor cats. Cats are curious creatures, and you never know when they might wander off to explore. Include your contact number along with the name of your veterinarian. This is particularly important if you have a cat with medical needs.
When getting a small kitten to eat dry kitten food, be patient. At first they usually just play with food. It may take a little while, but they’ll eventually learn that they are supposed to eat it rather than toy with it. If the food is moistened first with milk, a kitten may take to it faster.
If adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a couple of weeks to get comfortable with each other. They may be leery of each other at first and fight. Cats usually learn to enjoy having a companion or at least put up with another one in their home.
Understand your cat’s sounds. Meowing is a form of communication, often for food or to get your attention. There are other sounds, though. Hissing usually indicates fear or anger, so you should stay away. Cats also make certain sounds when they see prey. This often sounds like a chirp. Purring may indicate contentment, but sometimes it means nervousness.
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.
Place a collar on your cat that has your name, phone number and address. Your indoor pet might even get out if you leave a window open. Should this occur, your cat can be returned to you or someone can contact you with his whereabouts.
If your cat is nursing a litter of kittens, it is vital that she have plenty of food and water near her nesting area. Mother cats are very protective, and do not want to leave their kittens for long lengths of time. Your cat can become dehydrated or malnourished just because she does not want to leave her kittens to eat and drink.
Any difference in the environment of your home is easily detected by the keen sense of smell that your cat possesses. Sometimes this causes problems if you introduce a new food dish, bed, or scratching post. Your cat will probably not like these items immediately; therefore, be patient. As the item takes assimilates the smell of his home, it will become acceptable to your cat.
Brushing your cat more frequently is the most common way to combat hairballs. If it doesn’t work, though, you have other options. You can try blending a spoon of pumpkin into her food. In addition to the pumpkin, try one teaspoon of water from a can of tuna. Some cat foods have components, such as fiber, that prevent hairballs.
A well groomed cat will look and feel wonderful. You control how healthy your cat looks and feels. Your cat will be happier and healthier if you take good care of it. Use this article to help take care of your cat efficiently.
