Living Happily With Cats 101:

7 Simple Tips to Keep you Both Happy

  Always get your cats spayed or neutered. Neutered kitties will not produce litters of kittens for whom there are no good homes. In addition, neutered cats rarely mark their territory by "spraying" urine in your home like an un-neutered male cat may. Spayed females are also better protected from certain health conditons as they age than un-spayed females.

  Don't skimp on foods & litter. Some bargain brand cat foods can be very unhealthy, so do your research and select a healthy cat food with real meat, not just by-products. Purchasing premium clumping litters will also keep your home smelling fresh and clean and will reduce dust buildup from non-clumping clay litters.

  Entertain Your Cat. Even cats that have a buddy can get bored, especially if they are indoors-only. Buying a window seat or cat house/tree to place near a window and placing a bird-feeder outside it will provide most cats with endless hours of fun!

 Make your Home Safe. Take extra precaution with kittens or indoor cats that are full of curiosity. Safeguard your home by placing poisonous items like chocolates and houseplants out of reach, protecting cords and keeping plastic bags and similar materials that pose choking hazards where your cat can't get to them. This will keep your cat happy and healthy, plus prevent the need for costly vet care.

  Spend a few dollars on a good scratching post or other cat furniture item. It is far more humane, and much cheaper than de-clawing, and will help cats satisfy their natural need to scratch so they will not damage your furniture.

  Get a collar, tag & microchip. Especially if your cat goes outside; protect them from being lost or mistaken for a stray with a safe break-away collar & tag with your telephone numbers. A microchip can also help locate a lost pet. Just be sure to take any bells off the collar as it will annoy your kitty. It's a good idea to get your cat used to wearing a collar when they're young so it doesn't bother them later.

  Get your cat a buddy. Cats are social, playful animals and if you only have one kitty, he may get lonely and bored all by himself. A lone cat is more likely to get into mischief around the house in an attempt to keep himself occupied. Consider adopting a 2nd cat so your friend has a playmate and companion. For a cat that is old and has been alone a long time, however, ensure the change won't be too stressful on them before adopting your new cat.

       

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