7 Tips for Becoming an Awesome Cat Owner

Cats get a reputation for being one of the easier pets to care for, but taking good care of them is often far more difficult than expected. And since the holidays is often a time for gifting animals, our resident cat expert is offering up some tips to give potential cat-owners insight as far as what to expect, whether owning a cat is right for you, and if so, how to be a great cat-owner.

Cat Ownership at a Glance

• Place multiple litterboxes

• Don’t cover the litterbox

• Trim your kitty’s nails

• Brush your kitty’s teeth

• Blink at your cat

• Place interactive toys

• Buy a cat tower

1. Use Multiple Litterboxes

Litterboxes help cats mark territory in your home, and this territory marking allows cats to feel safe. Give your kitty more than one litterbox to do its business in, and we promise your pet will love you for it.

2. Don’t Cover the Litterbox

We know, we know —litterboxes are smelly, and those boxes with lids are easily available. People even make furniture to house litterboxes and keep them out of sight. Unfortunately, some cat behavior experts say that covering your cat’s litterbox is a no-no and can lead to inappropriate urination.

3. Trim Your Cat’s Nails

Cats need their claws trimmed, just like people trim their nails. Excessively long nails aren’t comfortable for your cat, and they break more easily. We like to use top-down claw clippers to trim cat claws when they get too long. Your kitty will appreciate you doing the same!

4. Brush Kitty’s Teeth

There are a lot of misconceptions about pet dental hygiene. In fact, many people don’t care about their pet’s teeth at all. Unfortunately, most cats will get a painful gum disease called gingivitis if their owners neglect their teeth. Regularly brush your cat’s teeth with fish or chicken-flavored toothpaste.

5. Blink at Your Cat

Have you ever wondered how cats say “I love you”? You may be surprised to learn that they do it by blinking. Slowly blinking is a way of showing non-aggression. It’s like saying, “Hey, I feel totally safe around you.” Blink at your kitty and watch her blink back at you!

6. Leave Out Interactive Toys

Many cat owners are guilty of not playing with their cats often enough. Cats who don’t get much activity can get depressed and turn to eating as a coping mechanism. Leave out a few interactive toys that turn on when your cat walks by so that they can engage in independent play.

7. Get a Cat Tower

Cats are curious creatures, and they like to see what’s going on in their territory. These felines also love to climb. We always have a cat tower for our cats to climb on. Kitties will award their owners bonus points if the tower has toys and scratching posts attached.

We hope these seven tips for becoming an awesome cat owner are helpful. We promise your cat will appreciate the extra effort!