If you have a cat, then you’re probably familiar with how much you spend a year on it. There are many expenses associated with cats, including food and medical bills. There are steps you can take to spend less money on the things your cat needs, which you can see in the following article.
If your dog and cat are best friends, be sure to keep them separate after flea treatment. Your dog’s flea products are very hazardous for cats. Cats that come in contact with dog flea products often die. Be sure to use only cat products on your cat and only dog products on your dog.
Don’t be pushy when you are getting to know your new cat. Cats prefer to be in control and take things at their own pace. Make sure your new cat is comfortable and safe. Let your cat take its time exploring its new environment. When your cat feels at home, it will be more likely to try to make friends with you.
Get a scratching post to keep your cat from tearing up your carpet. If you can, get a post that does not have the same type of carpet that is on the floor of your home, so your cat doesn’t associate the two. Instead, get a post that is covered in cardboard, sisal, or thick rope.
Do you love your cat but suffer from allergies? If giving up your feline-friend is not something that you can do, try these things first. Get rid of as much carpeting as possible because your cats dander gets trapped in it. You can also not allow your cat in your bedroom at all. This will make living with your cat easier on your allergies.
Cats are pretty low maintenance pets. They do not need as much attention and one-on-one time as dogs do. Cleaning the litter box is one of the most dreaded chores in the house. Investing in a good self-cleaning litter box can help to reduce the amount of times you have to clean it out.
If you give your kids a kitten, provide them with firm boundaries at the same time. Make sure your kids know where the cat can be. If you’re planning on keeping your kitty inside full time, make sure your kids know their pet shouldn’t go outdoors. Your children will be able to understand the rules more easily if they know them ahead of time.
You should do regular checkups of your cat between veterinarian visits. A good time to do this is when you are petting the animal. Check the entire body for things like scabs and lesions. Also look in and around the ears for any discharge, which can be a sign of ear mites. Check the cat from head to tail.
When something seems amiss with your feline friend, speak with other cat owners. You can often get great advice from friends and family. The Internet has many cat forums where you can ask your questions, or simply speak with your vet.
Do not wait too long to scoop any waste that has accumulated in a cat litter box. When left dirty for too long, bacteria can grow and it can cause health issues for you and your kitten. It is best to do this every single day so you avoid any issues.
Never try to teach a cat to use a litter box. This comes quite naturally to them and is not something that is learned. A common misconception is to rub your cats paws into the kitty litter however this isn’t a good idea.
When the cat’s litter box starts to become rough and worn at the bottom, it is time to replace it. If you leave it this way, it will cause waste to accumulate in damaged areas. Your cat may be very offended by the odor and decide to use the bathroom somewhere else in the house.
When adopting a cat, consider adopting two. Cats are social creatures, and they prefer to be in the company of other feline friends. Having two will help to keep your kitty occupied, and it can make it easier to take care of your new pet. If owning two is not an option, make sure to spend extra time giving your cat love.
Keep kitty inside. Cats allowed outside have statistically proven shorter lifespans, and are more prone to sickness. Certain feline diseases can actually be passed to humans, so it is good for you to keep your cat inside for that reason. Let your indoor cat have a place where it can look out a window so that they can get the feeling of the outdoors from an indoor location.
Make sure your indoor cat has something to occupy him while you are gone during the day. While your furry friend will spend a lot of time sleeping, he also needs something, or someone, to play with and stimulate his mind. Leaving him without toys or the company of others can quickly turn him into a trouble maker who destroys your house.
Some cats have aversions to certain types of litter. If you find that your cat is not using their litter box, try switching the type of cat litter that you are using. Only do this if there is a problem. Cats do not like change. The cat may stop using the litter box if you change the type of litter you use.
If your cat goes outdoors and wears a collar, make sure it is a self breaking collar in the event of an emergency. A self breaking collar will come loose if it gets stuck on something, such as a fence or tree. This can keep your pet from chocking, and it might even save your pet’s life.
Cats aren’t exactly the cheapest pets on the planet. Food bills alone are expensive enough, and when you add medical bills and more, things get even more expensive. If you take this article’s contents into consideration, you won’t have to worry about emptying your wallet in order to make sure your cat has the best.