What Having A Cat Really Means

Cats – Ownership & Care

If you have a furry friend that you love with all your heart, you want him or her to be as happy as possible. This means you will need to do your part to be a good pet owner. There is no question that owning a pet is a large responsibility. You are responsible for the life of another living creature. This is something that you need to take very seriously. You owe it to your pet to give this animal the best life that you can. Make them feel as comfortable as possible and they will give you years of unconditional love. Here are some helpful tips for caring for your cats.

1. Control odors

As you might expect, the odors that can be produced by your cat’s litter box are not a pleasant aroma that you want to have wafting throughout your home. Therefore, you need to take steps to minimize this odor in the best way that you can. However, it is very important to realize that the vast majority of felines do not like the smell that is created by scented litters that are popularly sold in many different stores. While the smell may be pleasing to you, you need to consider your cat as well. Even though the scented kitty litter may indeed do a good job at masking the foul odors emanating from their litter box, do not use them because it will upset your cat. You should also avoid using any room deodorizers or air fresheners. Citrus fragrances will most likely bother your cat tremendously. As an alternative way of reducing kitty litter odor, you should scoop the litter two times each day. It would also help to apply some baking soda to the floor of the litter box. If you do both of these things, you will notice that the odors will not be as pronounced.

2. Take time to play with your cat

If you make the decision to get a cat for a pet, you need to make time in your schedule to play with the animal. This should not be a chore for you. It should be something that you truly enjoy. In many ways, a cat is like a person. People feel sad when they are ignored. If you neglect your cat for many days in a row, he or she will not be in a good mood. You want your cat to be at its happiest and healthiest. In order for that to happen, you should play with him or her as much as your schedule permits. You should also buy an assortment of cat toys to keep your pet occupied during the time that you are not around. For more information about the benefits of playing with your cat, you can visit http://petcarefacts.com/cats.

3. Your cat needs to scratch

Every cat has the desire to scratch embedded in their DNA. Because of this fact, you need to make sure that you have adequate places for your cat to scratch throughout your home. Otherwise, you will end up with a lot of your best furniture being destroyed. You are most likely familiar with scratching posts. These are effective tools to give your cat something to scratch so he or she will not use your furniture or drapes instead. You can also buy scratching pads at your local pet store. If you decide to buy a vertical scratching post, make sure that it is a minimum of three feet high. Burlap is the ideal material for a scratching post. It should be placed close to where your cat usually sleeps. It should also be in close proximity to items you do not want to be scratched by your cat.

4. Keep your cat indoors

Felines that are allowed to go outside usually live for less than three years. However, if you keep your cat indoors, you will lengthen his or her life significantly. Felines that are forced to stay indoors usually live anywhere from 16 to 19 years. Therefore, keep your cat safe by preventing it from going outside. There are a wide variety of dangers outdoors that could harm or kill your cat. It could get hit be a car. This is a very unfortunate fate for many outdoor kitties. It is also common for them to get into fights with wild animals, particularly nocturnal ones like raccoons and skunks. Nothing good can happen as a result of allowing your cat to roam around outside. There are no positives and only negatives.

Toxic Food For Pets

Mommy found this information on facebook and after letting us know I told her to post it here for every PawParent to refer to..

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The Time to Visit the Veterinarian Clinic

Many families in this country have pets. Pets become part of the family. However, one aspect that many new pet owners do not think about is the cost of a pet. There is a cost that needs to be budgeted to maintain a pet. It can be hard to decide to take your pet to a veterinarian clinic when you are uncertain if they need it or not. However, like any child, you need to error on the side of caution when it comes to your pet and taking them to see the vet.
Watch for Abnormal Behavior

Sometimes there are no obvious, visible signs that there is anything wrong with the family dog, cat, or other pet. However, usually something will signal to you that something is wrong. For example, you may see some abnormal behavior, such as your normally active pet being more lethargic and lazy. You may also notice a pet that does not want to do things they used to do all the time, such as playing fetch or playing with their toys. This may be a sign that something is wrong and they should see a vet.
Not Eating or Eating Very Little

If a pet is not eating as well as they used to eat, it is a sure sign that something is wrong. Of course, you will want to make sure that no one else is feeding them, thereby causing you to think they are not eating well when you try to feed them. Presuming that is not the case, take them in to the vet to find out what is wrong.
The Obvious Injury

Lastly, if your pet has obvious injuries, then don’t hesitate to take them to the veterinarian clinic. An open wound should be treated quickly to avoid infection issues in the future. It is not easy to swallow the bill on a pet injury, but they are part of the family and need their injuries taken care of like any other member of the family. These examples should give you some idea of when to take the pet to the vet. The general rule should be, if you are wondering, take them in.

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