Caring For Your Cat: What You Should Know

Would you save a pets life if you could? There are literally millions of cats who are stuck in shelters through no fault of their own, and they need a loving forever home. The first step is adopting, and the second is learning to care for it.

If your cat is pregnant, set up a comfortable, safe place for her to have her kittens. A big cardboard box equipped with a pillow and blanket is good. Place it in the back of a closet or other out of the way place. Keep food and water dishes nearby.

If you cat is pregnant is with babies, you can expect to have a lot of kittens on your hands. Create a comfortable place for the cat to deliver her babies somewhere in your home. Make sure the spot is big enough for the kittens to move around as they grow.

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.

Exercise

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.

Try to avoid your cat from becoming bored each day. Your cat needs plenty of exercise. Too frequently this need is overlooked by owners. Cats that are frequently bored may develop OCD, depression or other harmful conditions. Make sure your cats have a wide variety of toys and plenty of room for active play. If you have an indoor cat, offer him a variety of toys, scratching post or objects he can climb on.

Let your cat exercise their hunting instinct. Cats are natural born hunters; however, this does not mean you need to allow mice to invade your home. Hide treats and toys throughout your home, and your cat will have a blast hunting down their treats. You can also find feather and laser toys that your cat can chase and pounce on.

Nutrition

Choose a high quality food. The key to a healthy cat starts with nutrition. Take a look at the ingredients label. If you look at most "popular" commercial cat foods, you may be surprised to see the top ingredient listed is corn. Cats are carnivores, so look for a food with a real meat as the top ingredient. You may pay more up front, but these foods are often more nutritionally dense, meaning your cat eats less and the bag lasts longer.

Although depicted in countless movies and cartoons, milk is not the best source of nutrition for your cat. Once cats have grown, they do not need milk as a regular part of their diet. Milk can cause stomach distress and bloating. Instead of giving your cat milk, always have fresh, clean water available to them instead.

Plan on spending the money for good cat food that contains the nutrients that your cat needs. Your cat needs a lot of protein from meat, so read the labels before you choose a food. Dont give your cat foods that have corn or other elements that have no protein. Cats are carnivores and must have a lot of animal protein for proper nutrition and better health.

Successfully caring for a cat is a difficult but rewarding thing. You are giving your love and care to someone who needs it very much. Your cat and you will having a lifelong bond. If you care for your cat, it will return the favour.