Mary Allen
Again and again, carelessness occurs in everyday life with cats, which endangers the health of the animals. You should absolutely avoid these things.
New cats in particular tend to make a few mistakes when dealing with their new ball of fur out of ignorance. But even with long-term cat owners, he occasionally becomes negligent, which can endanger the beloved velvet paw.
7 things you should never do to your cat:
They don’t prevent fleas or heartworms
Even if your cat only lives indoors and has no contact with other animals, you should protect it against fleas and heartworms. Because flies and other insects that are able to carry fleas or other parasites can easily get into your home and can therefore endanger your pet.
It is enough if you come into contact with a dog infested with fleas and bring the little pests into your home on your skin or clothing. There are numerous products you can use to protect your cat from fleas and heartworm. Use this! Because once the cat has been infected with heartworms, they are a life-threatening danger for your furry sweetheart.
You leave your indoor cat outside unsupervised
It is in the nature of the cat to roam around in nature for a long time, hunt, and enjoy freedom. This is no different with tame house cats. However, if you let your indoor cat out into nature unsupervised overnight, the many impressions there can frighten, overwhelm and even panic you. In the worst case, this can lead to an accident or to your sweetheart running away in complete disarray.
If you want to give your indoor cat a new bit of freedom, slowly get used to it. Short, and then longer, walks on the leash can be a good start.
They leave windows open
Unfortunately, this everyday hazard results in serious injuries, if not fatalities, time and time again. An open window is a huge risk for your cat and is one of the top ten dangers for cats in the home.
If a bird flies by and awakens the hunting instinct in your velvet paw, this can quickly lead to a window fall, which often leads to serious injuries. If the accident happens in your absence, it can also take hours before your animal is helped.
Tilted windows are also enormous danger. Cats can get caught here and sustain serious injuries to their spinal cord. Therefore, secure all windows so that nothing can happen to Miezi.
They “skip” the vet visit
Even if your cat appears sprightly, is eating well, has a shiny coat, and is behaving as usual, you should visit a veterinarian at least once a year to have your sweetheart checked up and down.
Cats are masters at hiding illnesses. You would therefore not notice all suffering. Only the veterinarian can identify, prevent, and, if necessary, treat diseases at an early stage.
You hold your cat on your lap while driving
Hardly any cat loves car rides. The vast majority of them also do not like the transport box at all. (You can read about how to get your cat used to the transport box here.) Many people vent their displeasure during the journey and gasp and meow heartrendingly.
These sounds are difficult for cat owners to take, but don’t give up! Your darling is safest on the road in the transport box secured in the car. Under no circumstances should you take your cat out of the box and soothe it on your lap. Especially not if you drive yourself!
A cat jumping around in the car uncontrollably is a danger to you and other road users. And if there is an accident, your cat sitting free in the car can run away in shock as soon as a door opens, a window is broken or, or…
As much as your sweetheart’s whining hurts you in the soul: Make sure you leave the cat in the box.
You push your cat off the counter
You would take it for granted not to do this, but you see it again and again in everyday life: people who roughly push their cats off the kitchen worktop.
Admittedly, a cat that sticks its little nose curiously into the freshly prepared food is not necessarily desirable. Nevertheless, this is no reason to disrespect your darling. You can not only hurt the animal physically but also psychologically. Instead, set boundaries gently but firmly, using the same word over and over (e.g., “no”). At the same time, reinforce positive behavior. So your cat will soon understand what you want and don’t want.
They ignore the hairballs
If your cat chokes up another hairball, you can either roll your eyes in annoyance and assume that’s just how cats are. Or you can choose the far better alternative and help your cat with this hairy problem.
Even if it’s a natural process, no cat likes to regurgitate its own hair. Therefore, reduce the amount of hair swallowed by brushing your mini tiger’s fur regularly. This not only ensures less frequent hair vomiting but also automatically strengthens the bond with you.
Please note: This list does not claim to be complete. Rather, it should point to everyday things that tend to be forgotten in life with cats. Aside from the points mentioned, make sure that your cat is safe both indoors and outdoors and that it receives appropriate medical care. Thanks!