So you are finally ready to adopt a cat, but it is your first time and you are still nervous about your choice? Choosing the right cat can be an extremely challenging process. There are certain variables that you should keep in mind to help select a cat that works well in your environment.
If your kitty is a female, make sure to plan a spaying once she is of age to breed. Even though your cat stays indoors all the time, there might be that one time she slips through the door when she goes into heat, which results in a litter of unexpected kittens. If you want to prevent this, spay your cat.
If you have an outdoor cat, be sure he or she has a tagged collar. Cats can go far from home and without a tag they could become lost forever. The tag should contain your phone number as well as your cat’s name.
If you absolutely must bathe a cat, set everything up in advance. Set up two tubs large enough to dunk a cat. Fill them with comfortably warm water. Set your open bottle of cat shampoo, a heavy towel, and a secure pet carrier close by. Wear heavy rubber gloves. Grasp your cat by the scruff of the neck. Dunk, shampoo and scrub quickly in one tub. Dunk to rinse in the second tub. Wrap the cat securely in the towel and place in the carrier to dry.
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.
When you get a kitten for kids, you have to set up a few rules first. Make sure your children know where in the house the cat is permitted to be. If your have an indoor-only cat, be sure the kids understand that the cat is not to go outside. Clearly explaining the rules will limit future mishaps.
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.
If your cat has to have a surgery such as being spayed or neutered, they will need rest when they come home. It is hard to keep a cat from jumping up on furniture, but necessary to avoid pulling out stitches. Designate an area in your house for your cat to recuperate where they will be less likely to injure themselves, until they are healed enough to roam free.
You should brush your cat on a regular basis. Brushing can help to spread the natural oils and stimulate the skin’s blood flow. Also, it helps manage loose hair. Doing so reduces the occurrence of hairballs, which are a choking risk. It also benefits the cat’s stomach by reducing the animal’s need to clean itself.
Your cat should be given food from a can. Dry food can be less costly, but there are quite a few benefits to canned food. Canned food provides more water content for your cat as well as more fat and protein. For older feline’s, it’s also quite a lot easier to chew. Speak with the vet, but food in cans tends to be better.
There are things you can eat that your cat cannot. Never allow your cat to nibble on garlic, onions or green tomatoes. Grapes, which seem harmless enough, are also a no-no. Ingesting these foods can end up making your cat really sick or worse. Milk is another food to stay away from.
Scoop your cat box several times a day. Cats prefer a very clean environment when they use the restroom, and they will often choose not to use the litter box if it is not clean. Try to scoop it every time they use it for best results, especially if your cats are picky.
Keep your cat on a diet of dry food if at all possible. Kittens need wet food due to having small teeth. However, as their teeth grow, the hardness of dry food allows their teeth to get stronger. If your kitty is especially finicky, you can try feeding him a mix of dry and wet food.
If you have a long haired cat, regular grooming is an essential tool. Grooming helps to keep your kitty clean and well cared for. It can help to prevent shedding and skin disease too. While bathing your cat is not required more than every so often, make sure to brush him daily and tend to any mats in his coat.
Do not let cats stay outside in bad weather. Bad weather can include times of unusual cold and heat, as well as constant rain and windy periods. A cat will instinctively seek a place of refuge during extreme weather, including dangerous places such as under a vehicle’s hood. If you do not bring safely indoors, you could end up never finding them again once the weather has subsided.
The way to take good care of your cat is to groom them often. Use a brush to remove any excess hair. Cats usually enjoy being brushed and will come running to you when they see the brush in your hand. Keep their nails trimmed so they do not grow back and injure their paws.
Your cat should fit in right along side your friends, and this requires some thorough searching with certain attributes in mind. Take the time to follow these tips and pick a kitten that stands out from the rest. Before long, you will have a new addition to the family that everyone loves!
