TOP 10 TIPS FOR NEW CAT OWNERS
Be sure to avoid human foods that are toxic to cats, and only keep house plants that are safe for your kitty. Cats are really good at getting into everything, so lock up anything that might harm your fur baby, like cleaning products.
6. Get Creative with Food and Water Bowls
If you have dogs, you need to know that they sometimes like to get into the cat's food. Consider using a food bowl for your cat that attaches to a window. You can keep it up high, where your dog can't reach.
Cats tend to drink less water than they actually need. Set up water bowls in different places in your home and consider using filtered bowls. You might also want to try a water fountain bowl since some cats prefer to drink running water. It's more oxygenated, so it tastes better to them, and they can hear it running which lets them know it's fresher.2
7. Create an Enticing Indoor Environment
Although cats tend to be safer when they're indoors, they can also get bored. Create an enticing indoor environment for your new cat. Set up condos and cat trees so your kitty can climb. Open the shades and set up window perches to give your cat a little "cat TV" to watch outside. Put a bird feeder outside the window for extra fun. Get lots of toys (some with catnip) for your kitty to play with, including interactive toys for when you're not around.
Cats need to scratch to remove the dead outer layers of their claws, to stretch their bodies, and to help mark their territory.3 Scratching can also be a way of showing happiness or easing stress. If you don't provide scratchers, your cat will turn to your carpet or your furniture.
It's better to provide too many cat scratchers than not enough.
