Cats are extraordinary animals and while you may think that you know everything that you need to know about them, there may be a few things that you are missing when it comes to cat knowledge. After all, these purring animals may look all cute and cuddly and easy to care for, but in reality, they can be just as much work as a dog or other animal.
Here are 10 amazing general cat care tips that every cat lover needs to know:
1. Ways to Encourage Your Cat to Drink More Water
Cats are very picky when it comes to the water that they drink, so make sure that you are giving them clean and fresh water at least once a day. If your cat still doesn’t want to drink, in your favorite cat tips and tricks consider purchasing a cat fountain, as the sound of running water encourages them to investigate and drink.
2. Where to Place the Litter Box and How Often to Clean it out
Litter boxes can go almost anywhere, but bathrooms or basements seem to be the best options. You are basically safe with the placement of yours if it is not near any food, your cat can easily find it, and it is not getting in your way. As for cleaning your cat’s litter box, you should scoop it out at least once a day and more often if you deem it necessary. Remember, cats will not use their box if it is really dirty!
3. Use Scratching Posts to Ensure Other Furniture is Not Destroyed
Scratching posts are an excellent way to help your cat stretch and keep their claws in optimal condition. However, they are also the best way to keep your cat from scratching up the rest of your house. As part of cat tips for new owners it is recommended that you keep one in your living room or family room, as well as other rooms that your cat spends a lot of time in.
Related: How to Help a Cat and a Dog Get Along
4. Use Catnip for Training and to Keep Your Cat Healthy
When you are trying to train your cat to use certain areas of your home for scratching or you want to make them do something else, you are going to want to use catnip. Among the top cat tips for new owners is that cats love catnip and they will do anything to stay near it. One of the things that you will want to do is fill your cat’s toys with catnip, so that they use them more. You can also place the catnip in your cat’s bed, so that they sleep better at night. Another helpful place for catnip is in your cat’s water, as it will act as a supplement for their nutrition.
5. Choose These Toys to Keep Your Cat Entertained
Cats are quite playful, so you will need to keep a few toys on hand to keep them entertained. If you ignore this tip, you may return home to find toilet paper or other items shredded beyond recognition. While most cat toys are harmless, you are going to want to keep a watchful eye on your cat if they are playing with anything that contains ribbon and yarn. Those two things can be harmful to your cat if they get tangled up in it or digest it. Therefore, you can keep those toys around, just make sure that you only take them out for playtime when you are there to take it away if necessary. A couple of the toys recommended the most include balls and fishing poles that have a fake bird or mouse at the end.
6. What to Do if You Have Multiple Cats
If you choose to have more than one cat, you will need to make some adjustments so they all get along. It is important that each one of your cats has a space of their own. That means that they should each have their own bed, litter box, scratching post, and even their own food and water bowls. Your cats still might squabble a little, but it goes with the territory.
Related: 8 Tips to Cheer up Depressed Pets
7. Prevent Having a Night Owl Cat
There are times when cats are up all night long and then sleep all day. If you want to get some sleep at night, then you need to make sure that your cat is getting enough activity during the daytime hours. Make sure that you are playing with your cat throughout the day and give them different things that they can do to stay entertained on their own. Of course, there are times when you can do all that and your cat will still be awake at night on occasion. Those times may include when your cat is sick or hungry. If you know that your cat is just looking for attention, simply pet them for a minute and then roll over to go back to sleep. Hopefully, they will eventually do the same.
8. How to Groom Your Cat
Generally, cats take the time to groom themselves, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t help them out regularly. This is another thing to remember to do in your list of cat tips and tricks. Simply take a brush or a comb and run it through their fur to remove dead hair. This will ensure that your cat will not get as many hair balls from grooming themselves. This is also an excellent time to see if your cat has any irregularities, like lumps or sores, that need to be addressed by a vet.
9. Purchase Pet Insurance
No one ever thinks that something will go wrong with their pet, but when it does, trying to get them back to a healthy state is quite expensive. Pet insurance can give you the peace of mind that you need, because you will know that any expensive tests or surgeries will be more affordable if your cat needs to have them done. A cat will quickly become part of your family and it will not be easy to let them go when they get sick or injured, so pet insurance is the only way that you can ensure that you will not go broke getting them the help that they need.
There are so many different pet insurance policies available, so you will need to make sure that you are purchasing one that is worthy of the money you are spending. It is recommended that you begin my comparing different companies and their plans. That will allow you to see the different deductibles, copays, premiums, what is excluded, and much more. Once you have a couple different pet insurance policies in mind, you should always check their reviews and track record. If you enroll your pet when they are longer, you will pay much less in premiums and will not be affected by pre-existing conditions. You may also want to check to see if any discounts are available on your premiums if you have multiple pets.
Related: What to Know Before Introducing a Pet to the Condo Life
10. When to Visit the Vet
Most cat owners seem to think that they only need to take their cat to the vet when something is wrong, but in reality, as part of your general cat care, they should go for well visits each year just like humans do. During those well visits, the vet can check for issues that may still be minor, brush your cat’s teeth, check your cat’s weight, and also give your cat the vaccines that they are scheduled for. This is also an excellent time for you to ask any questions about what your cat has been doing and whether or not it is normal.
These ten general cat care tips will make your days as a cat owner easier and your cat will be much happier too! Start with one tip and then work your way through the list until you have done as many as you wish, and you will start to see how much better your cat acts and sleeps when you are around.
