Surely, you must’ve come across the popular saying, “Cats have a mind of their own.” As far as their personal hygiene is concerned, felines are cleaner than most pet animals. They enjoy grooming themselves more than anything, so you won’t have to. However, it doesn’t mean that being a cat parent is easy.
While cats do make our lives easier than other pets in many cases, there are some areas where they’d appreciate your help, too. In this post, we’ll talk about 4 top tips that will help in keeping both your cat and home clean and hygienic.
Cats And Their Litter Boxes
While you can potty-train your dogs to go out and do their business, the same is not possible for the cats. When it comes to felines, they prefer a cat litter box to go out. Assuming your cat uses a litter box already, here are some pointers you can use to keep their it clean and hygienic:
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Scoop the litter out at the end of the day, every day.
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If you use clay litter, dump it out twice a week. Alternatively, clumping litter lasts longer and needs to be changed every two weeks.
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If the litter box emits a strong odor, adding baking soda to the bottom of the box can help control it.
Cats prefer to do their business in privacy. So, it’s best to place their litter box in your bathroom or any other secluded corner of the house.
Do Cats Shed Hair, Too? (Getting The Right Vacuum Cleaner For Cats)
As a general rule, dogs are quite infamous for being the most hair-shedding pet animal. However, this doesn’t mean that cats don’t shed at all. Because cats’ fur is finer in comparison, the hair they shed isn’t easily noticeable. But it will be present everywhere.
If you don’t want to find their hair on every piece of furniture you own, you’ll need to use a vacuum cleaner because no amount of sweeping and brushing can get rid of it. There are many vacuum cleaners out there that are designed specifically to collect pet hair, with cordless robotic vacuum cleaners being the most thorough ones.
Clipping Your Cat’s Claws
Cats have small, retractable claws that are sharp as knives. That, coupled with a tendency to scratch, can be a pretty lethal combination for both you and your furniture. Not to mention how these claws can grow into your pet’s paw pads, causing them pain and discomfort if not tended to.
If you want to tend to your pet feline’s claws but have no clue how to do that, here are some tricks that can help:
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Purchase a scratching post for them. It will both wear down their claws and prevent them from scratching random things around your home.
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It’s ideal to clip their claws once a week. If you’ve never done it before and are nervous about it, it’s best to let your vet demonstrate the process for you.
Getting their claws clipped can be an uncomfortable experience for cats. So, make sure you treat them generously right before clipping their claw.
Do Cats Really Need Grooming?
Cats are animals that take a lot of pride in how they look, just like their larger relatives. Therefore, you’ll always find them licking their paws or rubbing the back of their ears. However, just because they enjoy grooming themselves doesn’t mean that they’re a pro at it and can do it all by themselves.
A little help from your side can keep ticks and fleas away from their fur, regulate their temperature to prevent heat stress, and reduce the chances of irritation in their skin and paws.
Brushing is a great way to groom your cat. It not only removes the loose hair tangled in their fur coat but also helps in the even distribution of healthy oils throughout their coat. Here are some combing and brushing tips for your little pets:
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Keep both a metal comb and a rubber/bristle brush handy. Metal combs can loosen their dead fur, while rubber brushes can remove all these dead hairs.
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If your cat is short-haired, brushing them twice a week is okay. However, in the case of a long-haired breed, you must brush them every day.
Always brush gently and carefully around their sensitive areas (chest, belly, and face).
Cats may not display affection like dogs, but they’re certainly easier to maintain. Keep these pointers in mind and be the perfect cat parent you always wanted to be!
