Is it better to have a cat in an apartment or a private house? If you have such a question, read the article.
Cats are the most popular pets around the world. Few can compare with them in grace, grace and beauty. The owners forgive their pets' pranks, being touched by their intelligence and cunning. These animals have contradictory character traits. At the same time, they are grateful and devoted to their owners. Each cat needs its own approach, because they are all individual.
Read another article on our website on the topic: “How to raise a newborn kitten without a cat?” . You will learn what to feed and how to care for a newborn kitten.
Who is better to have for your home - a male cat or a male cat? This question is often asked by many people who want to buy such a friend in their apartment or private house. Let's figure it out together. Read on.
Buy your cat a puzzle
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Cats love riddles, which is probably why these animals themselves are so mysterious. That's why it's so important for our purring friends to purchase the right toys, like the one you see in the gif above.
Simple design, but so much functionality. Throw down a ball, ball or other ringing, glowing toy - and consider that your pet is busy for the next hour. He will need a lot of ingenuity to figure out how to get all these items out of there.
Is it possible to talk about the difference in the character of females and males: pros and cons
All members of the cat family behave the same during childhood. They run, play, and explore the world around them with curiosity. Their pranks and attempts to climb onto the sofa or lap evoke a smile of tenderness. Babies accept affection with pleasure and allow themselves to be stroked. However, with age, the character of pets changes greatly - then the differences between male and female individuals become visible.
Pussycats
Affectionate creatures require increased attention from humans. They need to be close, to feel cared for and loved. Girls are able to subjugate not only people with one glance, but also other pets living in the neighborhood. Benefits of cats:
- cleanliness;
- pronounced hunting instinct;
- flexible character;
- lack of desire to mark territory.
However, against the backdrop of positive qualities, negative aspects should also be noted. For example, females love to sharpen their claws and use walls, furniture, and wallpaper for this. You can cope with this scourge using a special scratching post. It is necessary to trim nails from an early age so that the baby is completely accustomed to the procedure.
You should also remember about the rancor and touchiness of ladies. They can take sophisticated revenge on their offender, be it a family member, a guest or another four-legged friend.
On the physiological side, unsterilized females require mating, so the owner has to look for a mating partner and transport the bride to the groom’s territory. If the pregnancy occurred unplanned, then there is a need to place the grown-up babies in good hands.
Kotikov
Males are considered more independent animals compared to females. They do not climb into your hands, allowing themselves to be stroked only occasionally. Typically, friendly expressions are associated with the desire to get a treat or go for a walk.
The male loves to dominate, considering an apartment or house only his place. However, those who prefer a male to a female talk about many positive features of the mustache:
- active lifestyle;
- no problems with mating and placement of offspring;
- independence in a good way.
Experienced cat owners note their increased curiosity. They want to look and smell everything.
Boys love to sit in the kitchen and beg for a tasty piece. However, begging can be corrected through proper education from childhood.
The main problem with keeping males is the strong natural odor and odorous marks left everywhere. Careful care and castration will help solve this problem.
Get a drinking fountain for cats
Amazon
If you have noticed that your cat constantly strives to drink water straight from the tap, you are witnessing another strong natural instinct of cats. In the wild, running water is clean and safe to drink (there are exceptions, but these are just coincidences).
For this reason, to make life more comfortable for your mustachioed companion, grab a drinking fountain and see what happens.
Physiological nuances
Before deciding who is better to adopt - a cat or a cat - you need to take into account the physiological characteristics of representatives of both sexes. For some this will be the deciding factor.
Estrus and spaying in cats
Girls mature sexually by the age of six months. In large breeds, this period begins a couple of months later. From this time on, females experience sexual activity 2-3 times a year. Their ability to bear children remains throughout their lives.
The period of estrus is accompanied by loud meowing. Cats are obsessive, trying to escape from the apartment, or even make a puddle in the wrong place. If the pet lives in a country house, then regular escapes and pregnancy are added to the listed problems.
Most owners sterilize their pet. Surgical intervention is only possible for young, sexually mature individuals. The veterinarian examines the patient, finds out about the time of the first estrus and prescribes surgery. It is usually carried out between 6 and 12 months of age, depending on the breed.
Sexual hunting and castration of cats
Puberty in boys occurs on average at 8 months of age. From this time on, their secretions acquire a persistent and unpleasant odor. A matured animal becomes almost uncontrollable. The cat marks its territory, destroys furniture, and ruins wallpaper. A wandering male may disappear for several days, and upon return he will not look his best.
To get rid of these problems, veterinarians recommend resorting to castration. The operation is carried out within a short time, the pet easily tolerates it and recovers quickly. A neutered fluffy becomes more balanced and flexible, preferring to spend time within the walls of a house or apartment.
It is recommended to have a couple of trays for cats in a large apartment
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They say that there should be one main tray for a cat and one additional one, especially if there are several cats in the apartment. This is supposed to keep them from showing dominance (cats won't pee past it, showing their rival that it's their property) and vandalism from an angry animal. The upholstery and floors will thank you later.
How to carry out treatment at home?
Treating your cat at home is not a simple matter and requires detailed discussion. On the one hand, the diagnosis of most diseases, and even more so their adequate treatment, necessarily requires the participation of a veterinarian. On the other hand, timely assistance to your cat in case of accidents, as well as mandatory attention to the first manifestations of any diseases in cats, is the main concern of the owner.
So here are some useful tips.
Pay close attention to your cat's overall health. Only indirect signs can indicate that a cat is sick, for example: a change in body temperature (normally from 38 to 39 C), decreased appetite, apathy, and decreased social activity.
Burns
Try to calm your pet and carefully examine the burn area. Treat the affected area of skin with dexpanthenol spray and try to bandage it. Do not allow your cat to lick the burned area and avoid contact of the affected skin with dirty surfaces. After treating a burn, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Cuts
When you get a cut, first inspect the wound. If it is shallow and does not bleed much, treat it with an antiseptic solution (hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine), bandage it if possible and consult a veterinarian. But remember that you should not use iodine, brilliant green and other alcohol-containing solutions to treat wounds - they can cause a burn to the wound and aggravate the situation. If you find heavy bleeding, apply a tight bandage and immediately take your cat to the veterinary clinic!
Fractures
Falling from a height of one or two people's own height - the most common cause of fractures in humans - practically does not harm cats. In an apartment, it is difficult for a healthy cat to break anything. Most often, such injuries are the result of limbs being pinched by doors due to the carelessness of the owners.
If your cat is limping, do not try to apply a bandage yourself - without proper pain relief, you will only do harm. If the injury is accompanied by damage to the skin, treat the wound as indicated above. After this, you should limit the cat’s mobility as much as possible, put it in a carrier, and contact a veterinary clinic as soon as possible.
Poisoning
Often, domestic cats can accidentally swallow inedible and even life-threatening chemicals, for example, some household chemicals. Symptoms of poisoning: apathy, lethargy, decreased temperature, repeated vomiting, diarrhea. Try to give your pet some kind of sorbent drug (for example, activated carbon), and contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Never try to diagnose and treat your cat’s illnesses yourself! For any serious illness, after first aid, contact a veterinarian you trust.
Using hidden trays
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The advice is quite strange, but we’ll voice it too - maybe it will be useful to someone. So: it is advised to use “secluded trays”, hidden from prying eyes. For example, this one: a girl sits and smiles, not knowing that she is sitting, in fact, on a cat's litter box.
As an experienced cat lover, it is not clear to me how the owner combats the smell in the hallway. Even if you quickly clean everything up, the smell will still remain, and not in the restroom, but, in fact, in the living room. Not a very pleasant neighborhood...
Signs associated with the color of a cat
The color of a cat's coat is so diverse that one can talk about it endlessly. The fur coat of this charming animal has become the basis for many beliefs, which quite often come true.
Black cat
This color is traditionally associated with something mystical and otherworldly. In particular, a black cat can promise trouble and attract misfortune. This is not entirely true; in many cases, cats of this color are said to be able to bring good luck and prosperity to the house. There is a belief that a black cat can scare away thieves who want to profit from the owner's property.
Ginger cat
Signs that apply to red cats are associated with material stability and well-being. Cats of this color are considered excellent healers and can spend a huge amount of time with a sick person. Ginger cats are a symbol of family comfort and happiness, so they are worth getting for those who lack love and harmony. A red cat can be especially beneficial for an unmarried girl. Popular beliefs say that the animal is capable of attracting a lover to the house of a lonely woman.
There is another interesting sign about ginger cats and female cats. If you notice a homeless animal on the street and decide to bring it home, know that with it you brought prosperity into your home that will stay with you for a long time.
Ginger cat:
- able to drive away a person with an evil eye and bad intentions;
- cleanse the energy of its owner;
- fill a person with positive energy.
White cat
A white animal is a carrier of healing energy that can have a beneficial effect on all areas of life. According to signs, having a snow-white cat means bringing good luck to your home in all matters. He is able to cleanse the home of negativity. A pet with this color can safely be called a living amulet.
Signs of white cats in the house are also associated with reducing risk and stress for a person whose work involves dangers, so it is best for police officers, military personnel, truck drivers and representatives of similar professions to have a white cat.
The snow-white pet is also associated with a belief about human illness. If a purr falls on some part of a person’s body, there is a chance that this is a sore spot that the pet has somehow mystically felt.
Gray cat
A tailed animal of smoky or blue colors provides excellent protection against magical influences. If a person with magical abilities comes to your house, a gray cat will be able to reduce the destructive effects of negativity.
Smoky-colored cats are considered a money talisman, so if you are experiencing financial difficulties, it makes sense to get a pet with a gray color. Fluffy friends with this coat color are capable of...
:
- bring good luck in business transactions;
- attract good friends to the owner;
- attract love into the life of a married couple;
- give emotional stability and relieve depression.
Calico cat
Often a pet does not have one predominant color, but combines several colors. Such a cat can bring good luck and harmony to the house. Many superstitions attribute to tricolor cats a spiritual connection with the brownie, so the presence of such a pet can establish contact with an otherworldly inhabitant.
A cat with a colored coat, according to legend, can attract a bride to a man, especially if he has not been able to find his soul mate for a long time. If a bachelor is drinking wine, and a multi-colored cat suddenly appears under the table, this man will find his betrothed.
There are signs regarding the tortoiseshell cat. Since this is an extremely rare color of an animal, seeing it is happiness in itself. Buying such an animal means inviting good luck, financial well-being and harmony.
If your cat is curious and not afraid, take her for a walk
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This is not for every cat, but if you see that the kitten is brave and not afraid of strangers, it might be worth a try. It is clear that the cat must be on a leash (so as not to run away: the city is full of irritants that frighten animals), and not just on a leash, but on a harness - a special harness for cats that will not damage its neck or cause discomfort.
It is naturally better to walk in the park, on the grass or in the forest, if they are nearby. Before walks, it is necessary to have all vaccinations for walking cats (vaccination against panleukopenia viruses, herpesvirus (viral rhinotracheitis), calicivirus and rabies, and others, if necessary), as well as courses against the appearance of worms.
At the dacha, the cat is more at ease; there you can do without harnesses. Cats are very smart and have excellent spatial awareness. It is unlikely that your pet will get lost or disappear, even if it jumps over a fence. But it’s better to make sure that the cat walks only on its six hundred square meters. This way, risks are minimized, and all that remains is a good mood, exercise and health for the pet.
Why can't you kill?
For most people, killing animals is an unnatural and extremely cruel act.
Why cats should not be killed can be explained from several points of view:
- It has always been common for humans to kill animals: for food, for home improvement, for making clothes and accessories, and simply to demonstrate their superiority. But from a psychological point of view, killing cats is a special kind of cruelty. In our culture, they take the place of a person’s friends, sometimes they are full-fledged family members. There is an opinion that whoever raises his hand against a cat can harm a person. And this is not an unfounded assertion;
- From a scientific point of view, if you destroy cats, the population of mice and rats will certainly increase. And this threatens humanity with serious troubles. History knows many examples when rodents became the cause of famine and terrible epidemics;
- In the religion of Ancient Egypt, cats were deified. Anyone who harmed her would face the death penalty. However, in other religious movements these animals are given a special place. For example, a cat cannot be kicked out of an Orthodox church (unlike a dog), it cannot desecrate the altar with its presence;
- many signs also speak of dire consequences for the one who offended the cat. One of them claims that a person who kills a cat bears the black mark of evil, and for seven years he will be haunted by grief and misfortune.
A cat must have a shelter, and more than one
Unsplash.com
Cats consider the entire apartment to be their territory. If strangers come (your friends whom the cat has not seen before), most cats are frightened by uninvited guests, treat them with caution and try in every possible way to hide from them.
They hide anywhere in secluded places: under the bed, behind a thick curtain, under the bathroom, they crawl into any cracks and sometimes try to get into places where it is physically impossible to squeeze in. Give them this chance!
Cat tuning
Many people consider it necessary to change the structure of the cat's body in accordance with their own ideas. Not all improvements are created equal.
Sterilization is an excellent solution for apartment cats. But if your pet has to build relationships with the street community of four-legged animals, castration will definitely prevent it from taking its rightful place in the local hierarchy.
Surgical declawing. A barbaric operation that irreversibly worsens the animal’s relationship with its owner. The cat will never get used to the absence of claws and will experience stress for the rest of its life. “Anti-scratch” - silicone caps for claws - are less harmful to the limbs, but just as traumatic for the animal’s psyche.
Haircut to prevent overheating. It can help, but it can also harm. Typically, cats spontaneously shed excess fur as the warm season approaches. In addition, wool protects the animal's skin from burns resulting from contact with direct sunlight.
We have touched only on some aspects of a cat’s life with a person. In future publications we will continue to introduce readers to the features of keeping cats.
Cats are allergic
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Cats can have persistent allergies to flowers, plants and fruits. To know what your four-legged friend can sneeze on, follow the following link and, by translating the site using the translator built into your browser, read which plants can be dangerous or harmful to your cat: www.aspca.org
To detoxify, don't forget to purchase cat grass. It is also useful for removing hair and other impurities from the cat's stomach.
Skin and coat care
Short-haired cats are the least demanding when it comes to grooming and maintain almost all the hygiene of their skin and coat themselves. The coat of semi-longhaired and longhaired cats requires maximum care. It consists of regular (preferably daily) combing of the coat and combing out dead hairs. Movements should be soft and smooth so as not to cause discomfort to the animal.
If your cat has tangles, you can try to untangle them with your fingers. If it doesn’t work out, then it’s best to use a special tool – a tangle cutter. By carefully combing the wool with its metal plates, you can successfully deal with even neglected tangles.
Grooming your cat is a task for a professional groomer, especially if you want to give the animal some kind of hairstyle, and we are not talking about just a hygienic haircut, as, for example, in the summer. Long-haired and semi-long-haired cats are usually cut using special professional animal clippers. If you decide to cut your cat’s hair yourself, a lot will depend on the character and upbringing of the pet. Grooming some cats at home is almost impossible or dangerous for both the owner and the animal. And although there are animals that are calm about this procedure, you will in any case need an assistant who will hold the cat and a specialized clipper.
Some cats are terrified of clippers; such animals should only be cut at a veterinary clinic or grooming salon.
Haircut tips:
- using a machine, remove hair from the sides, back and belly of the pet. With great care and a secure hold, the cat's belly and perineum are trimmed;
- trim the fur in the armpit area. Afterwards, the croup and torso are cut from behind;
- the tail is either not cut at all, or a “tassel” is left at the end;
- carefully trim the hair on the paws;
- The head is cut last, usually simply shaped with safe scissors, rounded at the ends.
What you need to do after you get a cat
These simple recommendations will make your pet's life (and yours too!) even more comfortable and safe.
- be prepared to give him at least a little attention;
- give your cat the necessary vaccinations;
- organize a high-quality toilet with good filling;
- stock up on cat toys - mice, bows, ropes;
- buy a scratching post;
- insure the animal;
- Don’t forget about hygiene procedures - bathe the cat, comb the fur.
“Life isn’t the same without a cat,” those who have long had furry pets (and not only cats without fur) are sure. Our advice will be useful to those who are just about to check how true this saying is.
And your life - with a cat or without? Share in the comments!
The heart will thank you
Having a cat welcome you home and purr on your lap in the evening is a great way to reduce your daily stress levels. And where there is less stress, there is less stress on the heart and blood vessels.
In general, it is not surprising that the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases among owners of these tailed animals is significantly lower than among those who did not think of getting a cat.
Yes, scientists are quite categorical: they call the acquisition of a purring beast Cat ownership and the Risk of Fatal Cardiovascular Diseases. Results from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Study Mortality Follow-up Study is an excellent strategic solution for those concerned about heart health.
