If your favorite furry friends have whiskers and talk to you in meows, then you’re not alone. Cats are one of the most popular indoor animals for people to have. If you’re currently a cat owner or are considering becoming one, here are a few things that you should know about cats and providing them with a home environment where they can flourish.
IMAGE: PEXELS
Your Cat May Need Multiple Litter Boxes
Many people believe that each cat needs one litter box. This isn’t always the case, especially when you have a large home. If you notice that your cat is prone to having accidents around your home, they may just need another litter box. Pay attention to where these accidents occur and strategically place another litter box in these areas. As a general rule of thumb, you should have at least two litter boxes per cat that you have in your home or apartment.
Don’t Free-Feed Your Cat
Free-feeding is a term given when a pet owner simply refills their pet’s dish with more food when it’s empty. You should have a regular schedule for feeding your cat. They should be given a specific amount of food every time you feed them. If you need to, use a measuring cup to ensure that your food amounts remain consistent each and every time.
You should never just leave your cat’s bowl out there all day for them to graze. If they don’t eat the food within 30 minutes of placing the bowl, simply remove it. If you have difficulty getting home on time to keep a consistent feeding schedule, then consider investing your money in an automatic feeder. These will allow you to pre-program the time that the feeder allows food out of the bin for your cat to get.
Hairballs Aren’t Natural
Contrary to every cartoon show out there, hairballs are not a natural part of living for your cat. If you notice that your cat is chucking up hairballs, then it’s a signal that something is not correct. Either they’re over-grooming which causes them to ingest too much hair or their digestive system is unable to process the hair that they are ingesting.
You should be brushing your cat daily to get rid of excess hair that could lead to unwanted hairballs. If you’re still having a problem with your cat chucking up these hairballs, then consider giving them a diet or supplement that allows for treating of their digestive system.
Maintaining A Healthy Weight
As you learned above, having a feeding schedule for your cat is an important part of their overall health. Feeding too often can allow your cat to be overweight. If this all seems to be a bit too overwhelming for you as a first-time cat parent, then maybe reading these detailed reviews on various wet and dry foods will be perfect for you.
The site even suggests three key factors in determining which cat food to purchase – Quality of ingredients, customer reviews, and brand reputation. As a pet owner, your cat’s food is a vital component of their health and happiness.
Indoor Cats Can Get Fleas
Just because your cat doesn’t go outside doesn’t mean that it can’t get fleas. These pesky creatures can be tracked through several different sources. For example, if you have other pets that go outdoors, they can be carrier animals for fleas. If you visit a friend’s house or your kid goes over to their schoolmate’s home, you both can trackback fleas from the other home’s cats. For this reason, you should have your cat on flea medication to ensure that any fleas which are brought into your home don’t affect your cat’s health.
Cats Tend To Have Oral Health Problems
Cats are more prone to oral health problems like gingivitis than other household pets. For this reason, it’s vital that you provide regular dental care for your cat. There are specially designed toothbrushes and toothpaste for cats that you should be using regularly. By brushing your cat’s teeth, you can help to prevent unwanted oral health problems.
You should never use human toothpaste when brushing your cat’s teeth as they can contain toxic elements that are harmful to animals, such as artificial sweeteners.
Cat Perches Can Save Your Curtains
When it comes to your furry friend, they like to climb. That’s no real surprise for anyone who has brought a cat home. When it comes to your windows, cats like to be able to survey the outdoors. By installing a cat perch, you can provide a safe place for your cat to enjoy watching the outdoors. This will prevent them from climbing up your curtains and other vertical surfaces to get to the window sill.
As a cat owner, there are some key things that you should know. The above are just a few of these things as they can help you to get to know your pet better and create an ideal environment for them to flourish. Just as getting to know others is the key to a lasting relationship. You should take the time to get to know your pet so that you both can live happily with one another around.
If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
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