Pets World

	IRIS Hooded Cat Litter Box w/ Litter Reserve Tank, Large, Almond List Price: $29.99 Sale Price: $20.00 You save: $9.99 (33%)
	Description Covered Cat Pan With Reserve Tank & Scoop

	LitterMaid Air Cleaner for Cat Litter Box List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $6.50
	Description Keep your litter box clean with this air cleaner. Pulls odors away from your litter box. Keeps the house fresh.

	"ABC Products" Kitty Catnip Sock 6" L X 2-1/2" W (2 Socks to an Offer) Sale Price: $2.97
	Description Small sock filled with catnip with bell and feathers at the top. Overall size is 6" long 2 1/2" wide 1 1/4" thick. 2 Socks to an Offer.

Caring For Your Cats

These days, cats are among the most popular pet you can own. There are several breeds available, with the most popular being Persian and Siamese. Cats are a domesticated animal, with origins dating back some 8,000 years and beyond. Like any other pet that you may own, including dogs, cats cost money to take care of properly.

When you get a cat, you'll need to think about the costs. You'll obviously need food, and you'll also need to plan ahead for vet costs. You'll also need litter, which can tend to get quite expensive as the years go by. Your cat will need a litter box, food dish, and water dish. You should also invest in some toys as well, such as a scratching post, cat toys, a pet carrier, and a bed. You should also look into getting an ID collar as well, just in case your cat ever gets lost.

Feeding your pet will depend a great deal on his age. Older cats require two small meals or one large meal for the day. Kittens on the other hand, require several feedings a day until they get around the age of 12 weeks. Cats that are between three and six months of age need to be fed three times a day. Canned food can be fed to cats, although any food that has been left out longer than 30 minutes need to be disposed of. Canned food can get expensive fast, and you should always keep in mind that some may need to be thrown away when you buy it. Cats loved canned food, although it doesn't have any benefits to their dental health like dry food does.

As an alternative plan, you can always leave a supply of dry food out for your pet. When you give your cat dry food, you should always make sure that he has enough water. Dry food costs less than canned food, and it can also help to prevent the buildup of tartar on your cat's teeth. When you buy dry food, you should always look in terms of health and benefits, and stay away from generic food. Even though generic food may be cheaper, it may not offer the nutrients your pet needs.

If you own a kitten, you should only give you kitten food designed for him. You'll also need to clean and refill his water dish every day. Even though kittens and adult cats like cow's milk, you should avoid giving it to them as it can cause diarrhea. Treats are fine on occasion, although too many of them can cause your pet to get fat. Feeding your kitten human food is good on occasion, although you may have to mix it in with his cat food.

By themselves, cats stay fairly clean. Although you don't have to bathe them that often, you'll need to give them a brushing at least once a day. Brushing will reduce the risk of hairballs and keep your cat's coat nice and clean. If you are keeping your cat indoors, you'll need to have a litter box in an area that is easy for your cat to access. You should always scoop it on a daily basis, and clean it out once a week. Cats don't like to use dirty litter boxes, they prefer for it to be nice and clean.

Although cats do require some work, they are great pets that will provide you with years and years of companionship. As long as you take care of your cat and take him to the vet for his checkups, he should remain healthy. Even though cats can get sick from time to time - knowing how to care for him will make a world of difference.

About the Author

To learn about chicken facts and monkey facts, visit the About Animals website.

Traveling litter boxes for cats?

I'm taking a 3-4 hour car ride with my cat, does anyone know of any good travel litter boxes that I can put in her carrier or some other good ideas for the trip?

I used to have a cat that traveled with me alot. I did not put her in a carrier, though. I set a small regular litter pan on the floorboard of the back seat, and she was fine with that. She rode on the back deck behind the seats, and loved to look out the back window. I put a towel up there for her.

She was a really good cat, though, and would come when called, always, so I did not worry about letting her out of the car when I stopped. I would not advise that unless you know your cat extremely well, and trust her to come to you in any situation.

You could try letting her out of the carrier while you are driving, and putting her back in BEFORE you open any doors when you stop. That way she could use the box on the floor. Unless of course, she's one of those cats that hates car travel, and would be under your gas pedal screaming.....

Good luck, and have a nice trip!

Cat Care : Health Effects of Cat Litter Box