The Most Common Mistakes Cat Owners Make

In recent years rapid increase in cat ownership It’s a blessing, but some cat owners aren’t experienced enough in how to care for a cat. This can cause serious health problems.

To put an end to these very common mistakes, which you will read in a moment. Maybe it will save your cat’s life. After raising awareness on this issue, you can give these advices to your relatives who have cats, and you can ensure that our little friends are healthier. Here are some common cat care mistakes:

1. Not changing the water bowl frequently, not paying attention to fluid intake.

Your cat’s water should always be clean. Stagnant water in the bowl collects bacteria and dust faster, and cats with sensitive noses understand that this water should not be drunk. That’s why usually they turn to the faucet.

The fact that the water container is plastic will increase the bad smell even more. Therefore, as in cat fountain You can take. Giving wet food 1-2 times a week will also support your cat’s fluid intake. Because cats have sensitive kidneys, they need to drink plenty of fluids. You can also put water bowls at two different points of the house.

2. Giving wet food too often

Yes, your cat must love wet food, but giving it too often is not in their best interest. Especially if you give simple market foods Your cat’s immune system weakens and its resistance to diseases such as fungi decreases. This is no different than eating fast food every day.

You also need to give dry food in a balanced way. Although their chubby makes them look cute, they are unconsciously You can shorten their lifespan.

3. Not choosing special food for your cat

There are separate foods for neutered cats and separate foods for very long-haired cats. Taking these into account specially formulated You need to give the food to your cat.

4. Changing the food he is used to suddenly

Cats are pretty much about food. they are selectiveSwitching to a different food all of a sudden can stress your cat out and cause her to eat less. Even conditions such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea may occur.

When switching to a different food, you should mix the old food with the new food for a week; your new food Increase your dose a little more each day. You can get your cat used to it.

5. Leaving alone for more than 24 hours

Cats are more independent creatures than dogs, but Needless to say, they do not like solitude very much. It is not enough to leave enough food and water at home. When they are alone, they are under stress, and if they are exposed to too much, serious illnesses can occur in the long run.

6. Closing the doors of the rooms in the house

If you lock your cat in one room, You hinder exploratory impulses. They can even learn to open doors. You need to create an environment where they can travel comfortably.

7. Not changing your litter regularly

They do not want to make a toilet in a very dirty sand. Therefore, a different point of the house may be more attractive for them. This is your cat. makes you feel depressed. An unclean toilet will also increase the risk of bacteria and parasites.

You should also pay attention to the choice of sand. Some cheap sand hall of construction sand It can enter your cat’s lungs and cause serious illness.

8. Not to keep your cat away from chemical cleaning materials at home

used to clean the house. detergents It can infect your cat’s paws and fur. Your cat could be harmed if he inhales them or comes in contact with them while licking their fur. Since they are small creatures, they will receive proportionally too many harmful substances, which can cause various health problems. natural and harmless You can choose to use cleaning agents.

9. Not to use nets on windows and balconies

Cats instinctively sense height is a danger, so you may have the misconception that they will never go down. Injury/death by falling from height unfortunately it is too much.

Getting to dangerous spots they can lose their balance or they can jump after a bird. This type of accident is very common, especially in cats in heat.

windows and balconies You can make a file. Moreover, you don’t just have to live on a high floor for this, cats can be exposed to unfamiliar hazards such as cars and stray dogs when they jump off the lower floors.

10. Petting your cat without washing your hands after petting an animal outside

Domestic cats may be more susceptible to street diseases. Besides a deadly disease such as FIP You can infect your cat. The costs of this disease, which has no definitive treatment, can reach 30 thousand liras, although the result often results in death.

11. Leaving food packages open

Foods in contact with air easily stale. Cats who are sensitive about food may therefore stop eating food, and not being able to eat fresh food may cause nutritional problems. Especially in packages over 10 kg, care should be taken that the food does not come into contact with air.

12. Immobilizing your cat, not playing games with it

How for people a sedentary life If it causes health problems, the same is true for cats. Moreover, since they are much more agile creatures than us, you need to turn the house into a more fun environment for your cat. You both prevent boredom and keep stress away, and you prevent the danger of obesity.

13. Letting them gnaw on electrical wires

Cats are creatures that love to gnaw and scratch, but when it comes to electrical cables, it is necessary to take precautions. Against the dangers of being caught in the current You can pass your cables through the cable protector. You can buy toys for your cat to gnaw at, so that he can turn to them.

14. Not combing their hair regularly

Because they like to be scanned, their stress levels decrease and they shed less. In addition, you will prevent the formation of hairballs in their stomachs, as they will swallow less hair while licking themselves.

15. Washing

You do not need to bathe your cat. Antimicrobial saliva They are always clean because they lick themselves with it. If you wash them, they will be under stress.

16. Shaving

It is a common mistake made in thinking that they will relax in hot weather. But long hair by preventing heat from reaching the skin keeps them cooler. If you want to shave for matted hair, you should only shave that area, not the entire hair.

17. Punishing by shouting, hitting

You should never use violence if you are uncomfortable with him getting on the kitchen counter or scratching your seat. by diverting his attention elsewhere You can make sure you stay away from them.

18. Allowing him to play with rubber, bags, etc.

In this type of material beef gelatin cats may want to swallow them, which causes serious problems in the digestive system. These substances, which can get knotted in the intestines, will cause your cat to suffer.

19. Exposing your cat to cigarette smoke

Cigarette smoke, which is life-threatening even for a human being, affects a cat much smaller than you, much more than you might think. passive smoker Your cat’s lungs may be damaged. In particular, it can cause allergic respiratory reactions.

20. Not knowing if plants in the house are harmful to your cat

Some plants in the house can be harmful to your cat’s health. To avoid kidney damage It is useful not to feed the following plants at home:

• Poinsettia plant (Poinsettia flower)
• Mistletoe
• Holly
• christmas cactus
• Clover
• Hedera helix (English creeper)
• easter lily

21. Not Neutering

The cat population is already huge; It is irresponsible to attempt to reproduce cats while there are neglected cats on the streets and in shelters. Cats that you haven’t neutered can run away from the house and jump from the balcony during the periods of anger due to hormonal effects. In unneutered female cats Risk of developing breast tumor and pyometra more than neutered cats.

Especially breed cat owners This behavior, which he practices too much, is one of the things that a true animal lover should never do. You can read our content on breed cats here:

22. Giving foods such as bone, milk, salami, raw fish

There is a possibility that the bones may damage your cat’s esophagus, stomach. It can cause ruptures in internal organs. After cats stop sucking their mothers, their digestive systems cannot break down lactose. For this reason, it can have consequences such as stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea. You can find other harmful nutrients in this content:

23. Not taking him to a regular veterinary checkup

Even if you think your cat looks good you can’t notice may have some problems. Thanks to regular check-ups, you can detect health problems at an early stage.

24. Over-maintaining

Yes, applying so many substances may sound like over-maintenance, but these are the basics that should be taken care of. Some may be too sensitive and miss the end of the thread. Caring enough to overwhelm your cat It will cause him to be under stress.

25. And never, ever throw him out of the house. This photo shows a house-accustomed cat pulling its own fur due to stress after it’s been introduced to the shelter.

Cats, dogs and other pets, both in the home and on the street to all animals look very well…

Sources: Veterinarian Hüseyin Çaylak, Petibom, Petlebi