Cats are quickly overtaking dogs as mans best friend. Cats are incredibly intelligent and built for agile maneuvering along any unusual environment you can imagine. Having such an awesome pet means that they are that much harder to keep entertained during their day. This article will provide only the most awesome techniques for entertaining the most awesome cats.
If you find you cat is harming furniture or other objects, it may be bored. Keep a few safe toys around for your cat to play with. Scratching posts can also deter your cat from scratching your furniture. Or, build a small cat house out of cardboard. Your cat will love having a place to hide, and the cardboard can also be used to scratch on!
Keep your cat indoors. Unlike dogs, it is nearly impossible to confine a cat to a yard. This can lead to many dangers for your cat, from cars, dogs, diseases from feral cats, and simply disappearing to parts unknown. Loose cats also be a nuisance to others, often killing songbirds and leaving unwelcome “deposits” in neighbor’s gardens. If your cat really enjoys the outdoors, they can be trained to wear a harness and leash or you can invest in a specialty cat fence or screened-in porch.
Get a scratching post to keep your cat from tearing up your carpet. If you can, get a post that does not have the same type of carpet that is on the floor of your home, so your cat doesn’t associate the two. Instead, get a post that is covered in cardboard, sisal, or thick rope.
Make sure your cat is not too bored. Cats require plenty of exercise. Sometimes, cat owners don’t realize this. Cats who become bored often have issues that can affect them in a big way. Some of these issues are obesity due to eating out of boredom, OCD issues, fighting with other pets and depression. Spend time playing with them, and go through a variety of toys to find ones they like and will play with while you’re busy, too. An indoor cat needs a good scratching post.
If your cat takes all the ornaments off the Christmas tree, don’t fight it. Begin collecting attractive cat toys and unbreakable ornaments to decorate the tree next year. Be sure not to decorate with potentially dangerous items like tinsel and garlands. Tinsel is a choking hazard for cats and garlands can cause strangulation.
Help your cat get accustomed to the carrier. Cats just don’t respond like dogs do when it comes to punishment. Encouragement is more likely to get them to respond. Put a favorite blanket and toy in the carrier and leave it open somewhere the cat frequents. This will teach your cat that the carrier is a good thing. Once the cat is comfortable with the carrier, you can transport it easily.
If you are adding a kitten to a household that already contains a dog, it is important to socialize the kitten to the dog at an early age. At first, constant supervision is essential. Let the kitten and dog spend time together while you hold the kitten, letting them explore and get used to each other’s smells. When socialized early, cats and dogs can live happily and peacefully together.
Provide safe and engaging entertainment for your cat at all times. Even if you cannot be in the house with your pet, you should ensure that it has access to toys and other diversions. Sometimes we perceive that cats are lazy animals, but that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy playing to pass the time. This is especially important if your cat is alone in your house for long periods of time.
Help keep your cat’s fur soft and healthy with regular cleaning. While your pet might object violently to a dunk in the bathtub, there are other options. Many pet stores sell feline cleaning wipes. These convenient disposable wipes reduce allergens and remove oils and dirt. Some are scented with chamomile, which helps to calm your cat. These are especially useful if you have an older or injured pet that cannot groom itself properly.
When your cat first gives birth to her kittens, resist the urge to pick them up. This is a crucial time for kittens to bond with their mother and learn some basics, so leave them alone. You should be able to have more interaction with the kittens after about a week.
When a dog wags it’s tail, it’s telling you that it is excited or happy. When a cat wags its tail, it means something very different. Tail-wagging in cats tends to suggest conflict or anxiety. If you hold your cat and it starts wagging its tail, you should put your cat down right away.
If you own a declawed cat, do not let it outdoors. The cat will be unable to defend itself against other cats or animals, risking injury or even death. Declaw your cat if you plan on always having it inside. Even so, you will only want to get the claws up front removed. There is no need to remove the back claws since the cat does not use them when clawing furniture or fabric.
Sometimes cats can have problems with arthritis when they get older. This makes it harder for them to get around. You can buy them a heated bed to lay in to help ease the discomfort. It is also a good idea to talk to the vet about any medications that might help out.
At least one of the above ideas should keep your cat entertained on those rainy nights. Try to work it as an activity the both of you can partake in. Playing games with your cat teaches it that the two of you can have an exciting time together while keeping it active and healthy.
