There is nothing quite as relaxing as the sound of a cat purring. This can calm both your and your feline companion. This is a good example of why you must take responsibility to take care of your cat well so that they can be happy. To make that purr an every day occurrence, follow these important tips.
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.
Realize that cats do not normally pant. Dogs pant to keep cool. If a cat pants, it’s a sign of trouble. Your cat could be very anxious or in pain. Likewise, rapid breathing is a sign of pain or anxiety. Be sure to contact your vet right away if your cat starts panting.
An inexpensive rubber welcome mat helps keep cat food off your floor. This is also a great tool to keep your cat from tracking litter out of the box. Black rubber mats cost about three dollars at dollar stores. Put your cat food dish on one and your litter box on another.
You should never allow your cat to be bored all the time. Just like dogs, cats need playtime and physical exercise, too. Unfortunately, lots of people who own cats neglect this. A bored cat may fall victim to depression, compulsive disorders or issued that can be harmful to their health. Make sure your cats have a wide variety of toys and plenty of room for active play. If your cats are kept inside, set up a carpet lined scratching pad or post. There are many climbing structures that can be purchased or made for cats who enjoy heights.
Most cats tend towards nocturnal behavior. This means their behavior is quite active during the night. Close your bedroom door if your cat is driving you nuts at night. Your cat will not bother you in the middle of the night if this area is off limit.
Place a “tablecloth” under your cat’s food bowl. Cats often take food from their bowls to eat on the side. This creates extra work since you must then clean up the leftover loose food. The best thing for you to do is to have a place mat underneath the cat’s bowl.
When bringing a new kitten home, take it slow. It is tempting for children to want to play with the new addition to your home immediately. But the young cat will likely be scared. Give the cat time to acclimate itself to your home and to get comfortable with everyone.
Sometimes you need to give your cat a pill. Some cats are harder than others, but you should trim their nails first. Then hold the head, open the mouth, and put the pill in. Then blow on the cats face. This will likely make the cat lick its nose, and the pill will go down naturally.
To make sure your kitten is properly socialized to humans, begin early in his life, about ten to twelve weeks of age. Be sure that he is handled and petted by humans in his family and by others as well. When he is older, he will be a calmer, friendlier cat.
If you want a cat to come your way, it may be a good idea for you to refrain from looking at them. Cats do not like it when people look them directly in the eye, so they tend to go the other way. This is why it seems as if cats always gravitate toward people who are not really fond of animals.
Dogs will show a lot of enthusiasm through their tail when their owner comes back home. Cats wag their tail for a different reason. Tail-wagging in cats tends to suggest conflict or anxiety. It’s especially important to keep an eye on your cat’s tail when you’re holding it. If you see it start to move, it’s time to put your pet down before you wind up getting scratched!
If possible, clip your cat’s toenails once weekly. If the nails grow too long, your pet cannot retract the claws. This causes your pet to experience discomfort. Regular trimmings also prevent the claws from snagging carpet fibers, clothing, and other fabrics. If you cannot do this, you should at least provide scratching toys and posts for your cat.
Pet cats should not be allowed to spend time outdoors or away from its home for long periods of time. It is shown that cats trained inside that then spend the majority of their lives inside tend to live longer than cats free to roam the neighborhood. Outdoor cats face numerous predators and are at a higher risk of disease.
Sometimes cats can have problems with arthritis when they get older. This makes it harder for them to get around. You can buy them a heated bed to lay in to help ease the discomfort. It is also a good idea to talk to the vet about any medications that might help out.
You want to be watchful regarding panting. Dogs pant as a way to release heat from their bodies. Panting could mean the cat is hot or scared, or something much worse. You should be speaking with a vet in case there is a respiratory issue.
A purring cat is a happy one, so make sure you take good care of him. You can keep your cat happy and healthy with the techniques in the following article. Try these tips if you want your kitty to purr a bit more.