Cat Training Tips For Beginners

Cats in the wild can take care of themselves, that’s not the case with household pets.  House cats become completely dependent on humans for their care, feeding, and other attention.  Responsible cat ownership and the proper care of your cat is important. Check local bookstores or the humane society for educational material to help you learn to care for your cat.  Here are some tips for how to care for a cat.

You may not know it, but cats can be trained.  Like other animal training programs gentle, positive training will work best.  Offer your cat a treat when they behave correctly or as you have taught them.  When they misbehave just ignore them.

Cats are very clean animals and like to spruce themselves up every day.  It is still a good idea to bath your cat about once every three weeks. You can use a specialty cat product, but mild soap will work fine.  Remember to keep the soap away from your cat’s eyes.  Some cats are difficult to bathe, and you may find it takes a lot of effort and a little first aid.  Train your cat to enjoy baths from the time they are a kitten and reward them after a bath with a treat.  As they say, start out like you can hold out.  You don’t want every bath to be a battle.

Don’t yell, hit, or otherwise punish your cat during the bath process.  You should keep bath time as easy and comforting for your cat as possible.  Tension will only make your cat apprehensive about the bath.

Use a q-tip to gently clean and dry your cat’s ears and nails after bathing.   Do not use a hair dryer because your cat’s skin is much too sensitive and can easily be burned.  Not only that, but the noise and strong, hot air will probably cause your cat to freak out and try to run away.  Towel dry your cat and finish with a good, gentle brushing.

Most cats like to sleep with their owner or at least nearby. It’s a bad habit to allow your cat to sleep in your bed.  You’ll constantly have cat hair on the bed and your clothes.  Get the cat its own bed.

Keep the litter box where any odor will not disturb your family.  No one wants to smell the litter box, so clean it often.  The less you clean the litter box the worse it will be when you do clean it. Keep some of these tips in mind when it comes to choosing a pet for kids as well.

How To Take Care Of A Cat During Summer

During hot summer months, it can get pretty hot. Learning how to take care of a cat during this season is important. Be precautious of your cat’s health during hot weather in order to keep it from becoming dehydrated.  Cats can’t communicate as well as dogs.  That is why it is important for you to observe your cat and watch for any behavior related to heat discomfort or dehydration.  Try your best to help keep your cat cool during warm seasons.

Bring your cat indoors when you notice the temperature is rising.  Stray cats learn where to keep cool, but your cat is a pet and may not have the instincts to find a cool place to rest.  If it does find a cool place, you may not even know where your cat is all day because it will stay there until the sun sets.

If your cat travels in your car with you, never leave your cat in a parked car in the heat.  The temperature in a closed car rises extremely rapidly in the heat.  It can be harmful or even deadly to your cat. 

Don’t leave your cat in the car even if you are parked in the shade.  As the sun moves your car may end up in the sun, or it can  get too hot from the sun heated air.  A dog barking or panting is a signal to you or passers-by that it is in distress.  A cat can’t communicate like that, so get your cat out of the car whenever you get out.  A cat can pass out and die in as short as fifteen minutes in a stuffy, hot car. 

Keeping your cat’s fur needs to be kept short and well groomed to help it stay cool.  Frequent combing will allow you to remove shed fur that may still be on your cat.  Cat’s which have natural long fur often give you no option but providing a cool environment.  This includes cats like the Persian and Siberian.

Make sure your cat always has access to a bowl of clean water, regardless of the season.  You must always help guard against dehydration.   Change the water often during the summer to keep it cool.  The important thing is to help your cat maintain a healthy body temperature. Keep some of these tips when you are also choosing a pet for kids.