Cat Tips: Keep Your Kitty Safe and Healthy.

     Furniture just for cats can help increase your cat's living space,

 without taking up too much room in a small house or apartment.

     Don't give cow's milk to kittens or adult cats because it may

 cause gas and diarrhea.

     Keep all yarn, string, thread and needles in a secure cabinet. Yarn and string can become caught on a cat's barbed tongue and may be swallowed.

     Always use a carrier when transporting your cat. Even if your cat loves car rides, it may get underfoot or escape if startled.

     Certain foods and medications are extremely harmful to cats. Do not leave chocolate, onions or medications ( aspirin, ibuprofen, cold medications, vitamins and diet pills.) out on counters.

     Never hit your cat. Use spray bottles with water if discipline is necessary. Physical punishment doesn't teach your cat appropriate behavior.

      Antifreeze is sweet but deadly. Keep it out of reach because even one teaspoon is fatal. Antifreeze has the highest fatality rate of all poisons, especially for cats. Signs of ethylene glycol toxicity are vomiting, tremors and frequent urination, leading to kidney failure within 12 to 24 hours.

      Many health problems in cats are directly related to cleanliness cleaniness of environment enviroment. Always make sure that your cat's environment enviroment, food and water dish are clean.

     Each cat in a cat-owning household should have its own food dish, water dish and litter box.

     Head-butting is a friendly cat greeting, equivalent to a feline handshake or a peck on the cheek.

     When it comes to cat toys, toys are not optional. Every cat needs appropriate toys to keeps its mind and body exercised. Provide solitary and interactive toys for your cat.

     Cat's scratching and clawing is a normal feline behavior used to remove the outer sheath of their nails and to communicate to other cats. Always provide your cat with a scratching post to help prevent your cat from destroying your furniture.

     Indoor cats typically live three times longer than an outdoor cat. Give your indoor cat a taste of the outdoors--safely by putting a cat tree near a window or add a window perch. Your cat will enjoy hours of natural stimulation through watching birds, squirrels and rodents from a window, without the dangers.

     Stimulate your cat's hunting and chasing instincts with lots of play and toys that simulate natural prey. Always use wands, feather toys and/or a laser mouse,-- never use your hands. Adding a little catnip can add new life to an old toy.

     Cats commonly sleep up to 16 hours per day. Try to provide a warm, quiet spot for your cat's bed, to provide uninterrupted beauty sleep and quiet time.

     Cats are naturally attracted to plants and will not refrain from chewing or eating on them. Be sure to keep all plant out of your cat's reach.

     Your cat's diet changes as he/she matures from kitten hood to adulthood. A kitten requires more mineral for strong bones, more protein for proper growth and more calories for energy than an adult. Check with your vet to make sure your cat is getting his/her required nutrients.