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Cat Care
Having a cat or kitten is indeed wonderful. Cats provide you with lots of love and companionship. At the same time, your cat depends upon you for his or her food, care and safety. Indeed, your cat needs a safe home, a healthy diet, quality time, and of course, lots of love. This section provides you with information on cat care, safety issues and other useful tips. You'll find information about:
Cat Care: Tips for a cat proof homeAn essential element of cat care is safety. Here’s a list of measures to help you prevent accidents in your home.Windows If you live in a multi-story building or a high-rise and your apartment is located in the higher floors, make sure your cat does not have access to open windows. This precaution will prevent your cat from jumping and falling, which can cause injury and even death. Always ensure that your windows have a strong screen, which must be firmly secured at all times. This is important - even when you don't live in high-risers - to prevent your kitty from slipping out, even when you open the window. Enclosed spaces Cats love enclosed spaces and enjoy hiding out! One of my cats loves getting into my closet. Always be alert: check your closet, drawers, chests, pantries, and other potential hiding places before you close or lock the door. Unfortunately, if your cat gets trapped, he might get injured or even asphyxiate. Dryers and washing machines Cats love quiet and, as previously mentioned, enclosed spaces, so it is not uncommon for cats to hide inside dryers and washing machines. Check the interior of these machines before locking and/or operating them. Electrical cords Unplug or cover electrical cords as cats love chewing or playing with electrical cords. Cats can get seriously injured by an electrical shock. Ribbons, yarn, and string Keep ribbons and yarn in a safe place. Cats love playing with strings, ribbons and dangling cords. Make sure cords (i.e. the cords of your blinds and drapes) are kept secured to prevent your cat from getting entangled. Garbage disposals How many stories have you heard about cats being trapped inside garbage disposals? Protect garbage disposals and especially keep switches covered to prevent serious accidents. Hazardous plants Some plants can be deadly if consumed by your kitty. Here's a list of a few poisonous plants. If ingested, they can cause toxic reactions, and even death, in cats and other animals:
Keep toxic substances out of the reach of your cat Hazardous substances, such as cleaning fluids, insecticides, laundry detergents, and antifreeze, among others, should be kept out of the reach of your pet. Also, keep medications in a safe place. Plastic bags Cats love bags. They love plastic as well as paper bags. However, plastic bags can be dangerous for your cat. Your cat can rip them apart and ingest the shreds. Cats can also get easily entangled, so keep them out of your cat's reach. Valuable and breakable objects Be careful with valuable objects your cat might topple. Cats love jumping onto your furniture and might cause an object (even heavy objects!) to tip over and fall. To prevent this, remove any breakable and/or valuable object from your kitty's path. Kitchen hazards Always keep your cat away from the stove, especially when you are cooking. Keep pantries and cabinet doors closed.
Doors Whenever I open my apartment door to go out, my kitties are right behind me. I have to be extra careful so that they don't follow me outside. Cats are curious by nature and want to know what's beyond the door. Never leave your house door open and ensure your cats are safe inside. In addition, ensure that your cat is not left inside a locked room. This happened to one of my friends. She accidentally locked her cat inside of her bedroom and she didn't know until she came back from work.
Cat Care: GroomingGrooming is another important aspect of cat care. Even though cats take good care of themselves when it comes to grooming, they still need our help. Below you'll find several grooming tips.Brushing
However, cats ingest a lot of fur when grooming themselves and most cats vomit hairballs. To help reduce or alleviate this problem, it is a good idea to brush your cat two or three times per week. Personally, I like to brush my kitty every other day. You can also bathe your cat! If you decide to bathe your cat, make sure that you use a cat-safe shampoo. Clip your cat’s nails on a regular basis Trimming your cat’s nails is also an important part of your cat’s grooming. You can find inexpensive nail-clippers especially made for pets. You can even find kits, which come with nail files, trimmers, and storage case. Dental hygiene Dental health is an important element of your cat’s general well-being. You can help kitty stay healthy by brushing his or her teeth on a regular basis. Yes, there are toothbrushes designed for kitties, which you can easily find online. Never use human toothpaste. You can find toothpaste especially made for cats at many pet stores. For more cat grooming tips click here. The Litter Box Very important: Be sure to remove stools from your cat’s litter box every day! Cats can be very fussy when dealing with a dirty litter box. Litter needs to be replaced when wet, smelly and/or dirty. For more information about litter boxes click here. A balanced dietA balanced diet is essential to your cat’s well being; therefore, make sure to provide your cat with the necessary nutrients. A cat diet must include protein, vitamins, and minerals. Fresh water is also an important component of your cat’s daily diet. So it is very important to provide your cat with fresh water every day.Do not give your cat alcohol, soda, chocolate, coffee, tea, yeast dough, avocado, or any other human food for that matter. Human food can be dangerous to your cat. Some of these foods, like avocados, can even be poisonous to your cat. And never give your cat bones because he can easily choke. Consult your veterinarian to obtain more on information on what is the best diet (and feeding schedule) for your cat. For additional information on a balanced cat diet, click here. Cat HealthVet's visitKeeping your cat healthy is an important aspect of cat care. Have your cat examined at least once a year. Your cat needs a thorough check up to detect any abnormalities or signs of disease. Your cat also needs to have his/her vaccinations updated on a regular basis. Keep in mind that preventive medicine is the best medicine. It's important to mention that cats should be vaccinated against rabies. Cats should also be tested and vaccinated for both the feline leukemia virus and the feline immunodeficiency virus. In addition to vaccination, keeping your cat indoors will help prevent these and other feline diseases. To learn more about your cat’s health consult your cat's veterinarian. Neutering Neutering is highly recommended. Neutering refers to the surgical removal of a cat’s reproductive organs (females are spayed and males are castrated). Neutering your cat will not only prevent annoying behavior, but also it will prevent serious medical problems for your cat. Neutering your cat will also help to reduce overpopulation. Many cats (and dogs) are put to sleep every year due to this serious problem. Cat Care: A few essential itemsEvery cat household needs a few essentials:
Give the best cat care to your feline companions! For additional information about cat care and pets in general visit:
Humane Society of the United States
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Knowing the basics of cat care will help you take excellent care of your cat.
Cats are clean by nature and they will indeed groom themselves every day. 