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uss Edit Article How to Take Care of a Cat Edited by JirachiQueen, SilverSparkz, General Jackson, Harri and 29 others Cats are ideal pets for many people. This may be due to their playful personalit ies, affectionate behavior or adorable appearance. However, aside from being cut e, cats do require proper care in order to stay healthy and content. Here are so me general cat care tips that will help you learn how to make your cat happy and healthy. EditSteps 1 If you do not have a cat and want to invest time and money in one, find a part icular breed of cat that suits your lifestyle and your home. Do your research- h ow much does this breed cost? Does it require special care?

2 House-train your new cat as soon as possible. Do not wait for your cat to get used to committing bad habits around the home. This should be the first thing th at you have to keep in mind if you want them to be good members of the family. I n house training your cats, there are a lot of techniques and strategies that yo u can follow, but of course, do not punish your pets when they sometimes cannot follow your instructions. You have to be patient with them. 3 Feed your cats cat food that is low in added preserves. Avoid feeding cats cho colate. Chocolate can cause gastrointestinal problems in pets. It is OK to give your cat natural treats like apples, pears, bananas only if they are cut down in to tiny pieces. 4 Cats will groom themselves frequently, but you will still need to brush long-h air cats daily and short-hair cats weekly. You have to also make sure that your pet is free from fleas and other parasites to make them happy and healthy as wel l as make your home free from such parasites as well. To make this not a hassle when your cat gets older, try starting young with brushing. For cats that tend t o shed (long haired ones especially), use a comb that has fine strands of metal. This gets deep into the undercoat and eliminates shedding. Be careful not to do it too many times during the week, especially in the beginning of fall and wint er. Cats tend to build up their undercoats to prepare for the winter months. As soon as it starts getting warm out in the spring, start brushing your cat x3 wee kly. This will help by not having a bunch of fur tumbleweeds all over your floor s! Cats may not like it, but it is best to take them to the vet regularly to preven t or address any health problems. 5 Take your cat(s) to the vet every year for a checkup. You should also have the m wormed, neutered or spayed, and be vaccinated when necessary. Brush the cat's teeth! 6 If you want to brush your cats' teeth, you will need a soft-bristled toothbrus h and veterinary toothpaste. Start by offering her a taste of the veterinary too

thpaste. The next time, let her taste the toothpaste, then run your finger along the gums of the upper teeth. Repeat the process with the tooth brush. Get the b ristles of the brush along the gum line of the upper back teeth and angle slight ly up, so the bristles get under the gum line. Work from back to front, making s mall circles along the gum lines. It should take you less than 30 seconds to bru sh your pet's teeth. Do not try to brush the entire mouth at first. If all that your pet lets you brush is the outside of the upper teeth, you are still address ing the most important area of periodontal disease - prevention. If your pet eve ntually allows you to brush most of her teeth, so much the better. Even with the best tooth brushing, some cats may still need an occasional professional cleani ng, just like humans. By brushing your pet's teeth daily and curtailing the amou nt of periodontal disease, you may reduce the frequency and involvement of denta l cleanings and provide your pet with a healthier mouth. EditWarnings Do not abuse cats. If you were a cat, would you like to be mistreated? Be careful with new cats. They might bite you. EditRelated wikiHows How to Care for a Cat with Feline Leukaemia How to Take Care of a Baby Cat How to Take Care of Your Cat's Basic Needs How to Take Care of Kittens How to Take Care of Your Pet Article Info Categories: Cat Training | Managing Cat Behavior Recent edits by: Cam Hovell, Adelaide, Lutherus In other languages: Espaol: Cmo cuidar un gato DiscussPrintEmailEditSend fan mail to authors Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 41,194 times. Was this article accurate? YesNo Random Article Write An Article Related Articles

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