Top Cat Care Tips From Straight From The Veterinary Experts.

Cats make wonderful companions. As an owner of a pet cat, it is important that you educate yourself on all of the best cat pet care tips and advice. This article is filled with great pet care information designed to ensure that your kitty-cat enjoys a wonderful life and stays healthy well into old age.

If you have an outdoor cat, be sure he or she has a tagged collar. Cats enjoy traveling far away, so a tag can help your cat get back home when lost. You have to be sure you have your pet’s name and number written on the tag.

Keep your cat healthy and non-finicky by introducing a varied diet. Always purchase several different brands of food and rotate them. In this way, your cat will be used to trying and accepting new tastes. If one food brand goes out of business, you will always have lots of other acceptable choices to offer.

If you absolutely must bathe a cat, set everything up in advance. Set up two tubs large enough to dunk a cat. Fill them with comfortably warm water. Set your open bottle of cat shampoo, a heavy towel, and a secure pet carrier close by. Wear heavy rubber gloves. Grasp your cat by the scruff of the neck. Dunk, shampoo and scrub quickly in one tub. Dunk to rinse in the second tub. Wrap the cat securely in the towel and place it in the carrier to dry.

Whenever you take your cat anywhere, use a cat carrier. No matter how gentle your cat is, it could become frightened. If this happens, it could bolt off and be quickly lost, injured, or killed. At the vet’s office, your cat will be safe from unpredictable animals if you use a pet carrier.

It is important to only feed your kitten food specifically made for kittens. Kitten food contains more fat and protein to help keep your growing cat’s body healthy. Adult cat food is leaner and is not specially formulated the same way as kitten food. Your kitten will grow really fast in a short time frame, so it is important that they eat right.

If you going to be gone for more than a day, you should have someone look in on your cat. Leave out plenty of food, but have someone come to make sure it doesn’t run out. If you do not have a neighbor or family to look in on your cat, you can usually find a cat sitter for a few dollars each day.

If your cat has recently given birth, be sure she has a safe, private area to take care of them. Mother cats can become frightened by strangers or loud noise, sometimes leading to decreased milk production. They may also hide the kittens in places where you cannot find them, such as closets, or under beds.

As soon as you adopt your cat, fit him with identification tags attached to a collar. Even a cat you plan on always staying indoors should have identification. Cats are curious by nature, and an open window or door invites exploration. They should wear a tag with your vet’s info as well as your telephone number. Include your cat’s special diet or medical needs on his identification.

Cats’ curiosity often puts them in risky situations. Something as simple as a necklace, window pull, or phone cords can cause your pet to become injured or even killed. These items should be bound securely so that they are not a source of temptation for your inquisitive pet. Many childproofing aids work just as well for your kitten.

If your cat is bitten by another cat, try to get him to the vet within 24 hours. The vet can put him on antibiotics that will protect him from infection setting in, and causing serious health problems. Cat bites can trap bacteria under your cat’s skin, forming an abscess, or other dangerous infection that can cost you hundreds of dollars to treat later.

Don’t buy a closed litter box without first considering the disadvantages. True, it’s nice that you don’t have to see the contents of the litter box. However, odors tend to build up in closed boxes, making it necessary to clean them more frequently. Covered litter boxes also constrict your cat’s movement, which is a problem for larger pets.

While there is nothing wrong with using clumping cat litter for older felines, you should stick with sandy litter when dealing with kittens. The clumping litters are usually treated with all types of chemicals that may not be safe for smaller cats. Once they are older, you should be able to make the switch with no issue.

If your cat is nursing a litter of kittens, it is vital that she have plenty of food and water near her nesting area. Mother cats are very protective and do not want to leave their kittens for long lengths of time. Your cat can become dehydrated or malnourished just because she does not want to leave her kittens to eat and drink.

You schedule your doctor’s appointments on a regular basis and you should do the same with your new cat. Cats need regular checkups to make sure they haven’t caught any bugs or infections in the wild. Many cats actually deal with obesity as well and a vet will be able to point this out.

Buy a fountain for your cat. Cats have a tendency to not drink enough water. This can leave them dehydrated. They often prefer running water to water sitting out in a bowl. If you suspect your kitty isn’t drinking enough, consider investing in a cat fountain to avoid health problems.

As was discussed in the opening of this article, cats make perfect pets. As great as cats are, however, it is necessary for you as a cat owner to educate yourself on cat care and learn all of the ins and outs. Take advantage of the info in this article to ensure that your beloved kitty stays healthy and happy.