Wouldn't it be interesting to find out exactly where your cat
went each day when you were gone? It's hard to imagine what they
get up to, and you will probably never know.
But what you can do is make their environment a safer, and more
comfortable place. Below are some cat care tips from
OPTIMUM™ that will help you do this:
On top of a newspaper on the kitchen table,
snuggled into your new lambs wool jumper or nestled into a basket
of clean washing… during the day, your cat will sleep anywhere he
or she wants. This is one of the most endearing aspects of cat care
and ownership: discovering their new favourite cat-napping spot. Of
course, it goes without saying that what's yours is theirs - and
they'll have no problem letting you know it. Cats don't just settle
into these 'soft spots' to annoy you, there's a reason why they do
this and it goes all the way back to kitten hood.
Cats are drawn to 'soft spots' in the house,
because they are perfect for 'kneading'. Nursing kittens
instinctively start kneading: pressing their front paws, one after
the other against their mother's tummy. It's a sign of affection,
which is often carried into adulthood. The basket of clean washing
represents the softness of the mother cat's tummy and that's why
you'll often find your cat kneading away in there and purring
contentedly before settling down to sleep.
Does your cat prefer to play outside?
Microchipping is a permanent way of identifying domestic cats and
is now compulsory in most states. Check with your local council.
It's a quick, pain-free procedure where the vet implants a
rice-grain sized microchip under their skin. The chip contains
information about your cat including your home address, is held on
a database at the local council animal registry and will increase
the chances of finding your cat should it go missing.
Kittens are inquisitive and mischievous
creatures and you will need to kitten-proof your home to take care
of your cat and help keep your little cat safe.
Within your house, check each room for
harmful things that might attract your investigative kitten. Items
such as string, fishing line, electrical cords, medications,
hanging curtain cords, cleaning cloths, cleaning products and sharp
objects can all be dangerous and so should be kept out of
kitten-reach.
Search for and block any small spaces or
holes in and around your home and always be sure your kitten
doesn't get shut in drawers, cupboards or your clothes dryer. If
you have a yard, check your fence for gaps and ensure any swimming
pools or fish ponds are fenced off.
If you have a yard, be sure to check your
fence for gaps and ensure any swimming pools or fish ponds are
fenced off. Also be aware of the plants you have in your garden -
some can be dangerous to cats.
Cats and Dogs...They either love each other,
or hate each other. What do you do if you want a cat and a dog? Or
simply want to factor in a new part of the family? You'll need to
consider a number of things like age, gender, temperament, breed,
size and health status.
For all family members, (including you!) to
be able to live in peace you need to consider how your other pets
will react to a new pet. A good place to start is to search through
the breed selector
for cats, and the breed selector for dogs.
Once you've bought your new pet, you will
have to start with an initial meeting. This is a tough one as you
never know how both parties will react. Make sure that you are
present at the time of meeting and watch both animals behaviour. Do
not look away, even for a second. Let the animals explore each
other but if you notice any signs or aggression separate them
immediately.
You should try having lots of short meetings
at the start to try to get them used to each other. It should get
easier with time. Try placing food down on either sides of the room
so that they will associate food (which is a good thing) with the
other pet being around. Hopefully by this stage your pets are
relaxed and able to be left alone together. If not, speak to your
veterinarian or an animal behaviorist about different ways of
coping with this situation.