Make Life Better For You And Your Cat

Cats are extremely clean animals that immediately want to remove any filth that they encounter during their day. Naturally, cats will lick themselves and wipe the dirt away with their tiny paws. However, you can do a much more efficient job with the right shampoos and moisturizers inside your own bathroom.

If you have multiple cats, save money on cat dishes by checking your local dollar store for salsa dishes. You can usually get a package of three for a dollar. These are sturdy and come in pretty colors. They look nice in your kitchen, and they are just the right size for cat food.

Give your new cat some space. Moving to a new home can be stressful on a cat, especially one who is no longer a kitten. To help them adjust, give them a quiet place that they can call their own, such as a spare bathroom or laundry room. This gives them a safe space they can retreat to until they have become comfortable with exploring the whole house. Depending on the cat, this process may take a few days up to a month or more.

Never have your cat declawed. Many people misunderstand declawing, thinking it is the simple removal of a cat's nail. This is not true. In fact, the veterinarian must remove the top knuckle along with the claw during the procedure. This can result in arthritis pain later in life and many behavior problems, such as biting. There are many alternatives from scratching posts to glue-on claw caps that can protect your belongings from a cat's claws without resorting to such a harsh surgical solution.

When you move your cat from one house to another, be sure to move the cat last. Set up a quiet room with familiar items for the cat. Keep your cat in the room and quiet for a day or two. Visit and feed the cat in the room. After a couple of days, the cat can explore the rest of the house.

Never let a cat become bored. Although you may believe that cats just lie around, this isn't the case. They need their exercise. Sadly, many cat owners do not understand the importance of this. A bored cat runs the risk of developing depression and obsessive compulsive disorders that may harm them or something in your home. You need to give it new toys regularly and make sure your cat has plenty of space to run and play. If you have an indoor cat, offer him a variety of toys, scratching post or objects he can climb on.

Your cat most likely spends quite a bit of time grooming. However, if it has a lot of hair, hairballs can occur. To assist your cat if it has this problem, you should get food that's special. Some foods have special formula for hairball reduction, which will benefit you and your cat.

Do not use medicine meant for a dog on a cat. This is especially important for topical medicines. Cats do their own cleaning, and if a dog medicine is used on a cat, your pet can ingest it. There are some medicines that work for both cats and dogs, but only use them if the vet says it is okay.

If your cat seems to want to avoid his food bowl, try getting a different kind of bowl. Plastic can sometimes turn a cat off if it isn't cleaned constantly, and can hold on to certain scents. Try glass or a metal bowl for best results, so your cat will keep eating.

Consider getting your cat a scratching post. Scratching is something that comes extremely easy to cats; it is part of their nature. Don't force your cat to play with it. Rather, interest him in it by spraying catnip spray on it, or by dangling a string from the top. Soon he'll get the idea that it's there for a reason!

When training a cat, take the proper approach. Encouragement works better than anger. If you are trying to teach a kitten to use a litterbox, for instance, yelling will only frighten a small cat. When the cat starts to go outside the box, gently place them in the box so they learn.

Do not try to hold a cat when they are clearly trying to get away. This will not make the cat feel any closer to you and it may prompt them to start avoiding you in the future. Pick the cat up gently and lay him across your lap. If you feel him wiggling to get away, let him go.

If you suspect your cat has sprayed in your home but can not find the area, there is hope. Purchasing an inexpensive black light can save you from having to rip up your carpets. Your cats urine will glow under the black light, showing you exactly where to clean.

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.

Make sure you consider where you are going to place the cat's litter box. Do not hide the box simply to reduce the smell. Make sure that your cat can get to its litter box very easily. Understand that cats are extremely picky. If its litter box is not in a convenient location, then your cat might not use it. If you keep the litter box on a cold cement floor, put a mat or rug down underneath it.

Most cats do not like water at all and will go crazy if their owner tries placing them in a bath. This is why you have to get the cat accustom to water and teach them that it's not a bad thing. Once your cat gets a look at its clean, shampooed fur, it'll never be afraid of water again!

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