You may think that you can’t have a cat because you already have a dog, or visa versa. However, cats and dogs can actually get along. In fact, in some households cats and dogs coexist in peace and harmony. This is so true, in fact, that at times you may forget that you don’t have two pets of the same breed, they have become so close.
Of course, this closeness won’t happen overnight. There’s a necessary adjustment period when you bring the cat or dog into a home with other pets. How well your pets get along with each other will depend on how you well you handle this adjustment period in your home.
Cat care is very important when you first bring the cat home. Introduce it to the house first. Put the dog outside or in a separate room that’s off-limits to the cat. Take the cat into each room and let her nose around. Show her where her food, water, and litter box are located.
Let each member of the household hold and pet the cat. She’ll likely realize fairly quickly that there’s a dog in the house. How your new cat reacts to this scent is a good indication of how much work you may have ahead of you.
Once the cat has been introduced to everyone and everything, it’s time to introduce the animal to the other four-legged members of the household. While someone is holding the cat and she seems calm, let the dog into the house. The dog will probably catch the cat’s scent immediately and run to her excitedly. If necessary, have another family member restrain the dog temporarily.
Allow the two animals to sniff each other out and make their evaluations. Don’t put the cat down until you’re certain that the dog is calm and won’t attempt to attack the cat. In most cases, the dog will remain calm and the cat will be afraid, so don’t be surprised if the cat runs away as soon as you let her go.
If the dog attempts to chase the cat, stop him immediately. Don’t let the dog meet the cat if he’s barking or trying to attack the cat repeatedly. If this happens, you’ll likely have to make the introductions at another time, in a more controlled environment. This may include putting the dog in his kennel or dog house, and holding the cat near the dog for short periods of time. Eventually, the dog will become accustomed to the fact that he won’t be allowed back into the house until he accepts this new member of the family.
After this initial introduction has occurred, you probably won’t see the cat for at least one or two hours. The cat will be staying away from what she perceives as a threat, as well as exploring her new surroundings. In time, she’ll come to trust the dog and they’ll either coexist peacefully, or become very close and protective of one another.
As a responsible pet owner, you don’t want to declaw your cat, because she’d no longer be able to defend herself if she needed to. However, as a lover of your home and furnishings, you probably already realize the importance of keeping your cat’s claws under control. But who wants to pay the high price of getting their cat’s nails clipped professionally?
There are only a few secrets to successfully overcoming the dreaded nail clipping and other cat grooming practices without breaking your budget. With proper training, patience, and care, your cat may even come to enjoy the treatment. The secret is in making your cat comfortable.
When you first get your cat – whether grown or a kitten – is the best time to train her. Pet her paws gently throughout the course of your normal interactions, as this will train her that petting her paws is normal for you, and therefore, she won’t jump up and run away when you deal with her claws later.
Make sure that your cat has become completely comfortable with you playing with her paws before you attempt a nail clipping. Purchase nail clippers that are especially made for cats, as well, as this will help you cut them in the proper manner to avoid fraying or splitting. You should also keep antiseptic powder or an antiseptic pencil on hand just in case you damage the quick. Additionally, you’ll want to purchase a treat that will be given only after nail clipping.
The best time to try your first nail clipping is when your cat is already relaxed – possibly when she’s ready to sleep. As your cat gets used to the procedure, it will be possible to clip her nails at other times as well, as long as the cat is calm. Pet your cat until she reaches this stage, and you’re ready to begin.
Gently press on the paw pad to extract the nail. Using the special clippers, clip the nail about half way between the tip and the start of the pink area, known as the quick. This way, you’ll avoid injuring her by cutting the quick.
Don’t worry if you aren’t able to clip all of your cat’s nails in one sitting. It’s very rare to do so. In most cases, one paw at a time is the most you’ll be able to accomplish. If you can only get to one or two nails each day, you’ll still manage to trim all of your cat’s nails every week.
You should also avoid trimming the back claws, as these are well maintained by cats themselves and rarely need assistance. They’re also much more difficult to handle. If your cat’s back claws do need to be trimmed, go ahead and ask the vet to do this. They shouldn’t need to be done more than a few times each year.
After you’re finished with the clipping session, give your cat a special treat for allowing the invasion. This will make them more amenable to letting you do it again in the future. The treat should be something they’ll really enjoy, but only receive after a nail clipping. This training will further reinforce the routine of nail clipping, making it a pain-free, easy process.
Keeping your cat healthy can be very expensive. In fact, one office visit to your vet will often cost as much as you pay for your own doctor. In addition, prescriptions for your pet will typically be even more expensive than your own. Throw in the cost of vaccinations and spaying or neutering, and you’re looking at quite an investment in your cat’s basic health care alone.
The best way to manage these expenses is the same way you handle your own medical care – with insurance. Pet insurance is a fairly new, but widespread, concept, and it’s about time that this product has come onto the scene. Without pet insurance, it’s nearly impossible for most people to afford the major medical expenses that may arise for your cat, such as surgeries or the setting of broken bones.
Of course, we all hope that our cats will never be ill, never need surgery, and never be injured in any way. But the fact of the matter is that no matter how carefully you take care of your cat, things happen. And when they do, you want to be able to take care of your pet without having to worry about money.
Pet insurance allows you to do this, and it really isn’t that expensive when you put it into perspective. Most cats never need any medical attention beyond their initial vaccinations and being spayed or neutered. Therefore, it’s possible to keep the costs of pet insurance down – in contrast to your own medical insurance expenses.
In fact, most insurance policies will require that your pet be kept up-to-date on vaccinations, and you’ll receive a discount if they’ve been fixed. Part of this is rooted in the fact that these cats are less likely to roam and get into trouble when they’ve been spayed or neutered. In this case, your insurance won’t have to worry about paying for this later, so your premium will be lower.
When you start looking for an insurance policy, you want to get the best value for your money. This means that you must consider the services that are covered, as well as the price of the policy. Make sure that the pet insurance you choose for your cat will cover anything that may arise. For example, cat leukemia is becoming more common, and you’ll want to be sure that the insurance policy will cover these types of illnesses without raising your premium as a result.
In many aspects, choosing pet insurance is much the same as choosing your own health insurance. Look for companies that will give you discounts based on your cat’s current health and lifestyle. Also, look for companies that offer the most insurance coverage for the lowest price possible, and for policies that come from highly rated companies.
But don’t forget the most important part of pet insurance – the vet. Make sure that reputable vets – preferably the one you already use – take the insurance you choose. Not all vets are accepting pet insurance at this time, in part because it’s still fairly new. This is an important and often forgotten factor in choosing the proper pet health insurance.
In the end, the real value you get from having pet health insurance is peace of mind. You’ll feel much better knowing that you don’t have to worry about paying full price for your cat’s necessary health care, should the need arise. The relatively low cost of pet health insurance is well worth the stress-free quality of life you get in exchange.
There are many different types of food and water dishes that you can buy for your cat. Some dishes are for large cats, some for small. There are dishes that are meant for multiple cats, as well as ones for single cats. The dishes you choose should depend on several factors.
Start off by making a list of the things you want in a cat food dish. Does it need to automatically dispense food while you’re away during the day? Will it feed one cat or two? Will you be using wet food or dry? All of these things will make a difference when you choose your cat’s food dishes.
Do the same for your water dishes. When you have your list of the features you’d like for your cat, you’re ready to hit the pet store. Don’t try to go to a bargain store for these items, because the selection won’t be great, and you may end up settling for something your cat really doesn’t like. Additionally, most pet stores allow you to bring your animal into the store with you, so you can get your cat’s opinion as well.
If you’re going with dry food, it may make sense to get the dishes that automatically dispense food and water. Try to avoid the ones that are connected, however. Cats will often utilize the water in their dish to help clean, and if water splashes into their food, they won’t eat it.
If you’re using wet cat food, there are other considerations to make. The food dish should be dishwasher safe and durable; because it will need to be washed more often than if you’re using dry food. Any designs on the food dish should be resistant to constant washing as well.
In fact, you need to be sure that any designs painted on the cat dish are completely non-toxic – some porcelain food dishes are more for show than for use. The dishes should also be shallow enough that the cat can eat and drink easily without strain and without stepping into the dishes. Be sure that the dishes you choose are both pretty and healthy for your cat.
Water dishes are another matter. It’s very tempting to buy the ones that dispense water automatically utilizing a small, upturned bottle. However, if you only have one cat, these can become problematic, as the water will often become stale before your cat can drink it. If this happens, your cat may behave as if it hasn’t gotten any water at all. If you decide to go with these convenient water dishes, make sure it has a small bottle for water that can be refilled daily without waste.
In the end, the food and water dishes you choose for your cat must be customized to your needs. Just make sure your cat likes it as well. When picking out these items, don’t forget things such as a mat to place underneath the dishes to protect your floor, or perhaps a cushion for your cat to rest on while they eat.