Pets Smile Plus

Cats are pretty self-sufficient pets but they need tender loving care just like you do! Here are some ways to improve the life of your clever companion.

Grooming – Cats are basically clean animals and have their own bathing routine, licking their fur and paws, with the wet paws reaching wherever the tongue can’t reach on their body. This eliminates the need for bathing your cat, barring some kind of extreme situation. Brushing your cat will help keep its coat shiny and clean. A daily brushing will decrease the incidence of hairballs and cut down on the amount of shedding.

Handling - We have all seen the tigress picking up her cub by the scruff of her neck. Do not do this at home!! Cats should never be picked up by their front legs or scruff. Instead, support the hindquarters with one hand and gently hold your cat with the other hand against the chest, under the front legs. Some cats love to be held and others don’t, so watch out for scratching and wriggling escape movements!

Housing - It is important for your cat to have its own sleeping and resting place. When it’s not sleeping with you, that is! Cats like to have a soft, warm towel or blanket in a cozy basket or other appropriate cat bed. Wash the bedding often.

Litter Box - Indoor cats need a litter box. You can place your cat’s litter box in a quiet location that is easily accessible for your cat. Good places to keep your cat’s box are bathrooms, utility rooms, laundry rooms or basements. If you live in a duplex apartment or multi-level home, it is advisable to add an additional box on each floor. If you need to move your cat’s box, please do so gradually, a little bit each day. Your cat becomes habituated to it’s litter box site and you don’t want it getting confused and eliminating on the floor in the box’s wake! Cats are sensitive to the condition of their litter box, preferring it clean and smelling good. The best way to ensure your cat has a fresh litter box (and will use it) is to scoop out solid wastes every day and, once a week, dump the stinky contents out, wash the box with mild soap, refill and your cat should be happy.

Playing - What you’ve heard is true, cats love to chase mice! To thrill and delight your cat, provide your cat with toys that resemble live prey. The best toys are those that jump around and dance and look alive, this way, your can will act out its natural predatory instincts on the toys rather than your wrists or ankles. Small laser beam toys are also great to play with, just don’t shine it in the cat’s eyes. This makes for hours of fun. Your cat will jump on walls, furniture or wherever you shine it, running after the moving spot of light all around the house. Another stimulant for a cat is the well known catnip plant which is sold at all pet stores stuffed inside toys and on its own. Catnip causes cats to be in a state of ecstasy, rolling around on the toy or leaves for ten minutes or so. 50-60% of cats react this way and they love it. Catnip causes no harmful or permanent effects and can be administered to kittens three months and older.

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A healthy animal makes for a happy pet. If you are a cat owner and you want to make your pet happy, you need to make sure that your cat is groomed properly, fed on time and is given enough love and attention.

Here are some tips on how you can have a healthy and happy cat:

1. Take care of your cat’s health.

As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that your cat is healthy and free from diseases that may even be transmitted to humans.

Visit the veterinarian if you notice that your cat has become lethargic or less active than usual.

If you see them ’shedding’ excessively or has something unusual on their coat, immediately consult a professional.

Your cat might have a skin disease, or this could be a symptom of a sickness that you do not know about.

2. Groom your cat properly.

Cats are in the habit of grooming themselves. You will often see them using their tongue to clean their coat.

In spite of this, you should still do your part in grooming your cat if you want to keep them really clean.

Brush your cat’s fur regularly. There are several short-haired cats that need minimal brushing. For this, you can use a comb with soft bristles.

There are also cat breeds which have long, silky furs and this variety needs a much longer grooming time.

Use a wide-toothed comb initially then brush up with a fine toothed one afterwards. You can also use talcum powder in order to separate the hair strands.

Make sure that you brush with gentle strokes so that their skin will not be hurt or scratched.

Cats are also not that fond of taking a bath. But there are times when your cat would need bathing.

This is when they have accumulated a lot of dirt on the skin and coat. Bathing will help eliminate ticks and lice.

Also, there might be substances that could cling on the fur which can be poisonous and it is important for them to bathe.

When bathing your pet, use a shampoo that is specially made for cats. Prepare the following before bathing:

-a small tub or sink

-slip-proof mat

-water spray attachment

-clean, dry towels

-shampoo

-comb

Adjust the water temperature, then place your cat in the small tub or sink before filling it up with water. It is better to attach a sprayer in the faucet rather than pouring water directly onto its body. Apply a liberal amount of shampoo on the cat’s body, and try to avoid the face, especially the eyes and ears.

After rinsing, towel them dry and comb the coat. Bathing time should build trust and create some quality time between you and your pet cat.

This should prevent your cat from making much of a fuss the next time it needs a bath.

Another part of grooming is keeping the eyes, teeth and ears clean. Also remember to keep the paws clean and the nails trimmed.

Go to a pet store and you are sure to find products specially made to clean these parts. You can also look for a nail trimmer specifically designed to use on your pet cat.

Ask a professional groomer or a veterinarian so that you can learn how to properly clean your cat’s eyes, ears, teeth and nails.

3. Feed them on time.

Another aspect of keeping your cat happy and healthy is by feeding them well and on time.

Your feline friends can learn how to “stick” to a schedule with your guidance and training.

Make time in your busy day to feed them. You can learn which variety of cat food they prefer by serving different brands and variants.

Along with cat food, you should give them plenty of clean water to drink.

If you have a lot of pet cats, give them individual feeding plates.

If there is just one dish, other cats might not be fed well because dominant felines will take the most part of the food that you serve.

3. Shower them with love and attention.

By giving your cats your undivided attention while grooming and feeding them, you are already showering them with love and attention.

In addition to this, make their play time a lot more fun by appreciating the things that they do.

By following these tips, you are sure to have a healthy cat and be a contented owner.

Anita Hampton cat-health-tips.com cat-health-tips.com