5 Tips for Your Cat’s Care

A cat is a great pet and companion. We are tasked with the responsibility of keeping this pet healthy, happy and in great shape. This article provides you with some tips of how to take care of your cat.

• Invest in a good litter box

Your cat must have a litter box. Place the litter box in a silent and private area. Litter boxes with covers allow the cat to have more privacy. Maintain the cleanliness of this litter box. Consider investing in a automatic litter box. This litter box is designed to clean itself with a patented shifting system. It also requires less maintenance.

• Groom your cat

A cat should be brushed regularly to get rid of dirt, dead hair and prevent tangles. Brush on the direction that the hair lays naturally. Be gentle during this process especially around the belly and chest. Trim your cat’s nails using nail scissors or a sharp clipper that is designed for cats.

• Provide entertainment

Provide your cat with different kinds of toys that he/she can play with. Your cat will have fun stalking, chasing, and pouncing on the toys. Adding catnip to the toys will make them more indulging. Consider making use of Interactive toys. Invest in toys such as laser pointers, mice toys and balls. You can also play with your cat. This will keep her/him happy and entertained.

Scratching is natural and vital to keep your cat healthy. Install various scratching surfaces for your cat. Scratching surfaces can be posts, cat trees and boxes made of cardboard. Cat tracks are also great. Let these surfaces vary, both horizontal and vertical. These posts can also be made of carpet material, sisal, wood or upholstery. Scratching enables the cat to remove ruined claws and to stretch the muscles. It also distracts them from scratching your furniture.

Climbing is very fun for cats. Design the scratching surfaces in a way that they can serve as climbing surfaces as well. Make them as high as possible. This will fulfill the cat’s natural interest for heights. Make sure that these climbing surfaces are sturdy and firm.

Cats love sights that are pleasing. Position your climbing and scratching surfaces next to the window for a view of the outside. Consider placing a bird feeder near the window. The birds will capture the cat’s interest and keep them entertained.

• Keep your cat safe

The safety of your cat is vital. You can take some initiatives to keep her/him safe. For instance, keep the cat fitted with a collar and visible identification. This identification should include your name, address and telephone number.

Or keep your cat indoors because they are safer there than outdoors. You can also provide a screened porch which allows them to experience the outdoors in a safe way.

You might decide to let your cat play outside. In this case, get rid of anything that would pose a threat to them such as poisonous plants, chemicals and objects. This will ensure that your cat is safe when playing outside. If you want to secure your garden you can install cat fencing from companies such as ProtectaPet.

Make use of a cat carrier. This is a safety measure that keeps your cat safe in case you decide to take her/him along.

It is also important to secure all the windows, doors and any other places that the cat can use to escape. Get pet insurance just in case of any accidents.

• Keep your cat healthy

Your cat should be fed with a nutritious and balanced diet to stay healthy. How you feed your cat is determined by a number of factors such as body weight, age, size and how active they are. Get veterinarian recommendations on how to feed your cat. Overfeeding can lead to obesity which results in diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, heart and liver diseases in cats. Make sure clean and fresh water is always available for your cat. Take the feline for medical checkups and immunizations regularly.

Ensure that your cat exercises regularly to keep them healthy. Taking your cat for walks, playing and running up and down the stairs is enough to keep the feline active and healthy.