There’s nothing quite like the company of a cat, but only if you are a responsible pet owner. Between vet bills, cat food and litter and cat toys, you may need to reconsider if you can afford a cat. The following article details how you can own a cat without breaking the bank.
Create a warm bed for an outdoor or feral cat by lining a banana box with a thick layer of newspaper. Cut a piece of Mylar to fit the bottom of the box. Put another layer of newspaper on top. Add a warm blanket. Place the whole box inside a dog house or under a porch where it can’t get wet.
Keep your cat groomed. A cat’s fur must be brushed or combed on a regular basis. Such practices help keep cats’ coats clean. It also helps to reduce their shedding and can cut down on how many times they are spitting up hairballs. Keeping your cat nicely groomed will keep him and your home looking their best.
Cats really enjoy squeezing into any and all small spaces. There are ways to make sure that their collar does not get stuck. A breakaway collar is a good option since it will break if your cat pulls on it. This could save your cat’s life if the collar gets caught in some branches.
Check your cat for ticks and fleas every week. If your cat does have fleas, there is a good chance that you also have fleas in your home. You might need some flea bombs or premise-control sprays, along with treating the cat, to get rid of the issue. If you don’t know what products to use for controlling ticks and fleas, talk to your vet for some safe options.
Clip your cats nails regularly. Cats do have to scratch. However, when cats scratch, their nail sheaths come off and their sharp, pointy claws are exposed. Clipping your cat’s claws every two to three weeks keeps them blunt and helps keep harm to furniture, humans, and other pets to a minimum.
A great toy for your cat is a laser pointer. Cats love to chase the laser around and try to catch it. This will help you give your cat some exercise, while your cat is having fun at the same time. It will also help to fine-tune their hunting skills.
An inexpensive rubber welcome mat helps keep cat food off your floor. This is also a great tool to keep your cat from tracking litter out of the box. Black rubber mats cost about three dollars at dollar stores. Put your cat food dish on one and your litter box on another.
If your cat is overweight, there are two things you need to do. First, you have to adjust the amount of food you give them, and the other is that you need to get them exercising. Get them cat toys, or play with them yourself, to make sure they are getting the activity they need to slim down.
Use quality food to prevent crystals from forming in a cat’s urine. Passing crystals is very painful for your cat, and the vet’s bill will be painful for you. Keep your cat’s diet low in levels of magnesium. Consult the ingredient list. Cat food with lots of fish tends to have more magnesium, while products with lots of poultry tend to have less.
Consider those expensive cat litter boxes. There are cat litter boxes now that allow you to have minimal interaction with them. This can be great for anyone who is tired of cleaning a litter box. But be careful, as they may not work as easily as they claim to. If you can, make sure there is a return policy and don’t lose the receipt. You may find you prefer the old-fashioned style!
Cats love heights. To make your cat really happy, give it a place to safely survey its area. If a cat tower is not ideal, a simple shelf that does not have any breakable items can work. Install a small bed for your cat or a comfortable blanket.
If you live in an area that is populated by wild animals, such as coyote and fox, you may need to make you cat an indoor cat. Wild animals pose a real threat to cats, and to avoid the loss of a beloved pet, it is sometimes best to keep them indoors for the course of their lives.
A kitty door is a great way to allow your cat to go in and out, without any help from you. You can also use kitty doors on doors inside your home. This can be great if you have a dog or small children, to keep them out of the room with the litter box.
It might seem like a little much for an animal, but you should comb your cat’s hair as often as possible. Combing the hair helps prevent the cat from licking loose fur and building a furball to spit up later. Different cats shed at different rates and some require a lot more maintenance than others.
Is your cat really sweet and lovable? If so, they might make a good therapy pet. Pet therapy uses animals to go into places like nursing homes, and bring some joy to the people there. Your cat will be happy with all the attention, and you can feel good about doing something positive for others.
Never assume that a fence will keep your cat from leaving your yard. Unless the fence is specially designed to keep cats from escaping, it’s safe to say that your cat will find a way out. Also, remember that your fence must be able to keep other animals from entering your backyard and harming your pet.
Cats can be a very expensive animal to take care of. There’s so much that you have to do for them that it’s almost like taking care of a child. Now that you read this article, you know what it takes to properly care for your feline.
