Cat Care Tips
by
- Feed your cat in a quiet
area of the house, where she is unlikely to be disturbed. Cats feel
vulnerable while they're eating and appreciate the peace and quiet.
- Sudden loss of
appetite, sudden aggression, excessive thirst or urination, excessive
licking, and sudden refusal to use the litter box can all be signs of
illness. If you observe these symptoms, take your cat to the
veterinarian.
- Never put your
cat's food near his litter box. In the wild, a cat eliminates far from
where he eats. In your home, he'll likely choose to eat his food from
his dish and eliminate elsewhere, far from the litter box.
- Always check your washer and dryer before you turn them on, because your cat may have hopped in for a nap.
- Don't give your
cat his hairball remedy around mealtimes. Many hairball remedies and
treats contain mineral oil or petroleum jelly -- both of which will
leach out the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K from the intestines.
- Never let your
cat drink from the toilet bowl. Even if you don't use "drop-in"
cleaners (which are toxic), residue from toilet cleaning products can
still make your cat sick. Just keep the lid down.
- If your cat
suddenly starts urinating or defecating outside the litter box, call
your veterinarian. Inappropriate elimination is often caused by a
health problem.
- How many litter
boxes do you need? If you have one cat and an average size house, one
will do. But if you have a bog house with many levels, a box on each
story is best. More than one cat? The best plan is one box for each
cat, because some cats refuse to share a litter box.
- A cat with worms
needs to see a veterinarian. Don't rely on over-the-counter worming
medications, because they are not always effective, and may not even be
intended for the specific parasites that are plaguing your cat.
- Cats naturally
compete for food, and are uncomfortable eating in very close proximity
to one another. Give each of your cats their own separate food bowl,
and space them well apart at meal times.
- There is
absolutely no medical or behavioral reason for a cat to have a litter
of kittens before she is spayed. It offers no benefits of any kind, and
increases her risk of developing mammary cancer.
- Cats are tough
and will often hide the signs of an illness. When your cat suddenly
looks ill, she may have been sick for awhile. Take her to the
veterinarian.
- The aroma of
catnip loses potency over time. To keep kitty's catnip toys fresh,
store them in a plastic container and take them out for a special play
session two or three times a week.
- Cats are
naturally nocturnal, and will want to party all night. Help your cat
keep quiet when you want to sleep by having a lively, interactive play
session right before you go to bed.
- The plastic ring from the top of a milk or juice container is a favorite toy for many cats.
- Feline fasting
can be dangerous, and can even lead to serious liver problems. If your
cat refuses to eat for more than two days, consult your veterinarian.
- This tip comes
from our reader Renata: I have three cats. I solved the scratching
problems by sticking double-sided tape on the corners of sofa and
chairs. Instant results. I have no frills hanging off my furniture.
- Stray cats never
know when they will be able to find another meal, so they usually eat
voraciously. If you take in a stray, it's OK to let her have all she
can, but just for a while. As she gains weight, you'll need to start
measuring out her meals.
- Kittens who grow up in a more complex, stimulating environment tend to be bolder, more confident adults.
- If a cat cannot
hunt, she may indulge her hunting instincts by stalking, pouncing on
and biting you. Redirect this hunting instinct by playing with kitty
using interactive toys.
- Clipping your
cat's nails regularly is not only good for your furniture; it's also
good for your cat. Excessively long nails can cause the cat pain, make
it difficult to walk properly, and even grow back into the paw pads.
- If your cat has
fleas, your house and yard also have fleas and must be treated. If you
take your flea-infested cat anywhere in the car, your car has fleas,
too.
- Cats need as much love an attention as dogs do. They just prefer it on their own terms.
- If your cat gets
something toxic on her fur, such as a gardening or cleaning product, it
will end up in her system as she grooms. Wash all poisons immediately
and thoroughly from your cat's coat.
- Place a sheet of
aluminum foil on the kitchen counter or any place you don't want your
cat to go. Cats hate walking on foil, and your cat will soon learn what
places are off limits.
- Putting a bell
on a cat does not protect neighborhood birds, and can drive a cat
crazy. Studies show that belled cats simply learn how to hunt more
quietly and efficiently. But meanwhile, the tinkling sound of the bell
is annoying and disorienting to the cat, who relies heavily on her
sense of hearing to get around.
- Once you have
set up a litter box that your cats are using, don't change anything:
not the litter, not the location, and not the box. Cats are creatures
of habit and dislike change.
- A healthy cat should see the veterinarian once a year for as check-up.
- Many flea
control products are not formulated specifically for cats or kittens.
Read the label carefully, because products that are safe for dogs may
be toxic to cats.
- If you live
alone, make a plan concerning who will care for your cat if something
happens to you. Give a neighbor a key to your home, and carry a card
with you that says you have a cat at home who must be taken care of,
and whom to contact.
- If your cat
likes to nibble your houseplants, try growing a pot of kitty grass
instead. Seed mixtures just for cats are available at many pet supply
stores. Your cat might also appreciate a little snack of chopped
lettuce.
- Be consistent
with your house rules right from the start. It's not fair to let a
kitten jump up on the dining room table, then suddenly expect her to
keep off when she grows up.
- Cats lose weight the same way we do: by eating less and exercising more. Try to spend more time playing with your tubby tabby.
- A simple way to
control hairballs is to brush your cat more often. The more cat hair on
the brush, the less your cat will swallow while grooming -- and the
less on your couch, too.
- Make sure to
change the water in your cat's water dish several times each day. You
don't like to drink water with hair and dust in it, and neither does
your cat.
- If your cat is
ignoring her scratching post, it may be too short. Cats like to be able
to reach up above their heads and anchor their claws for a good stretch
along with a scratch.
- Strings, ribbon
and yarn may be fun for kitty to play with, but they can be hazardous
if swallowed. Your cat can get dangerously tangled up, as well. If you
and your cat like to play string games, make sure the string is safely
put away after every game.
- If your cat has
surgery, talk to your veterinarian about post-operative pain control.
Studies have shown that cats who get pain killers after surgery heal
faster.
- Cats can also
get acne. If you see little pimples on your cat's chin, they may be a
reaction to plastic dishes. Switch to stainless steel or ceramic bowls,
and dab the acne daily with a cotton ball soaked with a little peroxide
until it disappears.
- Never use a
human toothpaste on your cat's teeth. Our toothpaste is made to be
rinsed out of our mouths, and cats can't rinse or spit.
- No matter what
type of litter box you buy for your cat, make sure she can easily get
into and out of it. Be especially careful when you're buying a box for
a small kitten, because high sides, a cover, or a flap over the
entrance may make the box too hard
- Never pet a cat on her tummy near the back legs. Cats have a kicking reflex that will cause them to kick out and scratch you.
- Never feed dog
food to your cat. It simply doesn't have enough protein and essential
amino acids to meet a cat's nutritional needs.
- Cats can get
upper respiratory bacterial and viral infections--in other words,
colds. But we can't catch our cats' colds and they can't catch ours. If
your cat is coughing or wheezing, or has persistent discharge from her
eyes or nose, she needs to see a veterinarian.
- Always support a
cat's hindquarters when you pick her up. A comfortable way to hold her
is to rest her against your body with her front paws on your shoulder
and your arm under her rump.
- A timid cat will
feel better if he has a safe hiding place in every room. A covered cat
bed or a little kitty tent placed in a quiet corner of each room will
help him spend less time under the bed and more time with you.
- Daily Cat
reader Phyllis Hyde offers this tip for a safe Christmas tree: Use an
artificial tree with a steel pole and VERY prickly branches on the
inside of the tree. They can't get their claws into the steel pole to
climb it, and the prickly branches on the inside of the tree. They
can't get their claws into the steel pole to climb it, and the prickly
branches deter them from using the branches as perches.
- If your cat
likes to chew houseplants, grow a pot of grass for her instead. "Cat
grass" kits are available at most pet supply stores.
- Many cats like
to be picked up and held, but only for a short time. The instant your
cat begins to fuss or struggle, put her down.
- The time to read a cat care book is before you bring your cat home. This way, you'll know just what to do when kitty arrives.
- A cat in a car needs to be in a carrier. Letting your cat wander free in your car be dangerous for her and for you.
- If you keep your
cat's litter box in the bathroom, the steam from your showers may make
the litter damp. Keep the box uncovered so the litter can dry out
quickly.
Tags: cat-care-tips, cats, cat,
See Other Cat Articles Articles...
|
|
