Proper Care Tips for House Cats
Cats are playful animals by their very nature. If you are planning to get a cat to live in your home, you should know the basics about house cat care.
Starting the moment the cat is brought into your home, you should give it his or her own separate room for the time being with food, water and a bed. If your new cat or kitten has not yet been toilet trained, you should start teaching it immediately so there are no stains in the carpet.
Teaching your new cat how to use the litter box can initially be done by carrying him/her to the box when makes a nature call. When you see your cat is able to do it, praise and reward him/her so they know that this is the right to do.
The exact dimension of the litter box really depends on the size of the cat. The litter box must be cleaned frequently using soap and water not disinfectant or other harsh chemicals.
When your cat does something wrong, like climb up on the table or scratch on the furniture, you must never scold or yell at them as they are really very sensitive animals. You can best enforce discipline with your cat without causing any harm by simply squirting water on their face.
There must be food and water at all times for your cat. The feeding dish and bowl should be made either of plastic or aluminum and easily cleaned. Any unfinished food should be disposed of properly and promptly.
Your cat's diet must come from high quality cat food and although better food may be more expensive than the other discount brands, you know that it has the right vitamins and minerals to keep your cat healthy. Aside from food, you can also give your cat supplements. One example is Omega 3 fatty acids which are excellent for your cat's nutrition.
If have other pets in the home, you should give some additional time for the two pets to be acquainted with each other. If you have a dog, make sure it is kept on its leash first to reduce the stress and avoid a ruckus. If you have another cat, defiantly be ready to break off a cat fight since this is a normally occurring happening for cats.
House rules must be set to let your cat know what he/she can and cannot do in your home. For example, you can decide whether or not your cat will be allowed out of the house even if the experts/vets have said that they must always be confined indoors.
You are also advised to provide a scratching pad or post so your cat can play around and sharpen nails without causing any damage to your furniture and home. A proper scratching post should be about 3 feet in height and placed either near the furniture or their bed so you have a quick alternative to scratching your couch for example. When your cat's nails get too sharp, carefully trim them so they don’t hurt you or themselves.
One of the most important things about house cat care is proper grooming. You can bathe your cat with cat/kitten shampoo, but never lather your cat's ears or eyes and dry them using a clean towel. Brush your cat's hair lightly with a soft bristled brush and apply combing powder or detangler so your cat never gets tangled and matted.
Lastly, take your cat to the vet regularly and whenever you notice something new in their behavior as this quick thinking and acting could prevent a possible sickness from getting worse and causing your cat discomfort. If you don’t know of any vets, get a recommendation from one of your neighbors or friends as word of mouth is the best kind of referral.
House cat care can be challenging but truly rewarding. Make the commitment to put in the time and effort in to care and training when you decide to bring a cat into your home and you will have a very dedicated friend.
