A new cat is very similar to a new child. One of the hardest parts of raising a new kitten is keeping them entertained whenever they want to play. A young kitten isn’t afraid to wake you up while tangling themselves in your hair. Still, there are better ways to keep these little felines entertained.
Get a pet water fountain. Cats can be prone to dehydration, and running water entices them to drink. It is an evolutionary habit that developed because in the wild, running water is less likely to be contaminated than a stagnant pool. Your pet will enjoy the water more, and will drink more often.
As your cat gets older, changes in behavior may signal pain. If your cat doesn’t like to jump or climb any more, it may be in pain. If your cat stops taking care of grooming or stops using its litter box, pain may be the cause. Be sure to have your older cat checked out by your vet if you notice behavior changes.
Protect your cat from choking. Be sure to dispose of poultry and fish bones safely. Wrap them in a paper or plastic bag and put them in your outdoor garbage can with the lid tightly secured. Alternately, place them in a plastic bag and freeze them until garbage pick up day.
Feed your cats proper food. Remember that cats must eat meat. Only give your cats cat food to eat. Do not feed them or let them eat dog food. Dogs and cats have different nutritional needs and some of the ingredients in dog food could harm your cat. Feeding your cat dog food for food could also lead to malnourishment, among other issues.
Make sure to keep chemicals and dangerous substances away from your cat. Chemicals like antifreeze have a sweet taste. This encourages the cat to drink it, most often resulting in fatal consequences. Keeping your chemicals locked up in a cabinet will help to ensure that your curious cat does not end up ingesting poison.
If your cat takes all the ornaments off the Christmas tree, don’t fight it. Begin collecting attractive cat toys and unbreakable ornaments to decorate the tree next year. Be sure not to decorate with potentially dangerous items like tinsel and garlands. Tinsel is a choking hazard for cats and garlands can cause strangulation.
Keep the litter box clean. Cats are naturally very clean animals, and a dirty litter box will have your cat looking for alternative places to relieve himself. Cats also value their privacy, so try to locate the box in an area that does not get a lot of foot traffic.
Sometimes children get too excited when playing with a new cat and may mishandle them. Teach your children how to handle a cat. The objective is to be as gentle as possible with your cat. A cat’s bones are not as strong as a dogs, and they should be treated more gently.
Do you have both a cat and dog? Dogs will eat cat food right up. You should create a feeding space for the cat that is much too high for a dog to get to. This also ensures that there are no squabbles over the water between the two, when the food is gone.
Find a litter that your cat enjoys. Different litters have different smells and textures, so help your cat to find a litter that he is generally comfortable with using. Cats generally like to keep things the same though, so don’t experiment too often or your cat may avoid the litter box.
If you notice that your cat is not using the litter box as much as usual, you should go and take them to a vet right away. There are several health problems that can cause the cat to stop using the box. These issues include bladder problems, constipation and diarrhea.
Feed a kitten proper food. A developing kitten survives exclusively on their mother’s milk for the first four weeks, a commercial formula if the mother isn’t around. When moving to regular food, feed them specially formulated kitten food until they reach maturity at the age of one. Kittens need plenty of protein while they are developing.
Frequent or misdirected urination may warrant a trip to your vet’s office. Cats sometimes exhibit this type of behavior when they have a urinary tract infection or other health concern. Some cheap antibiotics can resolve potential risks for your cat.
If you have a female cat that is in the process of giving birth, make sure you provide her a spacious area. Delivery can take between three and four hours. If it’s been over 6 hours and you think there are more kittens inside, they need to see a vet immediately.
Cats have a keen sense of smell, which makes it simple for them to feel out changes in their environment. Sometimes this causes problems if you introduce a new food dish, bed, or scratching post. You shouldn’t be disappointed if your cat avoids new items at first. As the item takes assimilates the smell of his home, it will become acceptable to your cat.
Be aware of holes around your home that your cat can get into. Cats can fit into very tight spaces. Kittens are even smaller! Beware of this as you bring a new kitty into your home. When you find a hole that may be dangerous, make the necessary repairs right away.
The key to entertaining kittens is simplicity. Most cats love some of the same little games and gestures, while other cats are incredibly unique with their own ideas for fun. If you don’t want your kitty to grow into a grumpy, old furball, then let it have fun and play around like a kitten should.
