Do you have a cat that appears to be a little on the chunky side? Does your cat feel heavy and is hard to lift? There are many fat cats out there that could use a little weight loss. If you want to get your fat cat back in shape, look at the tips in this article.
Let kittens and cat-friendly pet dogs get to know each other slowly. Put up a baby gate to keep dogs in one room while your new kitten gets used to its surroundings. Supervise carefully when the kitten ventures to the gate to meet the dogs. When the kitten feels safe, it will climb the gate. If it feels threatened, it will pop right back out to safety.
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.
A heated tile can be positioned beneath the bed of a mature cat. You can heat a terracotta tile in the oven at 200 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. Wrap it tightly in a towel and place it under the cat bed. If you want, change it now and then so the warmth continues.
Your cat might not come running when you call, but most cats enjoy cuddling on their terms and time. Cats love to have their heads and backs pet. Not all cats like their tummies rubbed so be careful. Spending quality time with your cat will make lasting memories to look back on someday.
As your cat gets older, changes in behavior may signal pain. If your cat doesn’t like to jump or climb any more, it may be in pain. If your cat stops taking care of grooming or stops using its litter box, pain may be the cause. Be sure to have your older cat checked out by your vet if you notice behavior changes.
If you find you cat is harming furniture or other objects, it may be bored. Keep a few safe toys around for your cat to play with. Scratching posts can also deter your cat from scratching your furniture. Or, build a small cat house out of cardboard. Your cat will love having a place to hide, and the cardboard can also be used to scratch on!
Cats and electrical cords don’t mix. If you notice your cat has a habit of chewing on electric cords, try to bundle them up and hide them out of the cat’s reach. If that’s not possible, spray a little bit of bitter apple onto the cords. Not only is bitter apple non-toxic, cats absolutely hate the taste.
Feed your cat a proper diet. Cats are carnivores and have specific dietary needs. Feed them quality cat food that has been approved by AAFCO or the Association of American Feed Control Officials. If you wish to make your cat’s food yourself, make sure you speak with a vet about necessary supplements or specific recipes that your cat needs to eat.
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.
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.
Do you have more than one cat? If so, then you should have more than one litter box as well. Having one for each of your cats will give them multiple spots to go. If the odor gets too much you can add a little baking soda to the litter to freshen it up.
Make sure that you do not instruct your cat on using the litter box. This is not something that needs to be taught. In fact, it comes naturally for them. Some thing that rubbing a cats paws in litter is smart, but it can actually cause them mental trauma.
Purchase good quality food for your cat. Read the ingredients, and make sure a source of protein, like fish or chicken, is near the top. Try avoiding foods that have non-protein elements like corn. The main part of a cat’s diet should be meat protein, so his cat food should be mostly real meat.
If you notice your cat urinating more frequently or outside his litter box, then it might be time to see the vet. This behavior may be indicative of an infection of the urinary tract or some other issue. Most of the time, these conditions can be resolved with relatively affordable antibiotic treatments.
Understand the difference between cat play and real aggression. Both activities can look the same to an untrained eye, but there are differences. When two cats are playing, they will bat each other around with claws retracted. They will “bite” with their jaws loose. Real aggression will involve hisses, squeals and hard biting.
Get your cat all the necessary vaccinations. There are a number of them and you should talk to your veterinarian about the proper schedule. Many are given at the early stages of a kitten’s development, then given annually thereafter. These vaccinations prevent such problems as feline leukemia, rabies and respiratory problems.
Your cat may be fat, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Just like humans, cats can pack on a few pounds under certain conditions. Help you cat out and make sure it loses those extra pounds with the tips from the article. Your cat will have more energy and will be able to move around more freely.