20 Common Mistakes Cat Owners Make

20 Common Mistakes Cat Owners Make

In this video, we’ll talk about 20 common mistakes cat owners make.

Washing their water bowl.
A cat’s sense of smell is 14 times better than that of humans.
If you wash their water or food bowl, make sure not to use scented dishwashing liquids. Cats hate strong odors and these scents can discourage your pet from drinking water from their bowl.
Toxic houseplants
Some plants are toxic to cats.
Cats may ingest toxic plant substances while they lick themselves because there can be pollen or seeds stuck in their fur. Among the most toxic plants are daffodils, English Ivy, azaleas, Calla lilies, aloe, begonias, and ficus.
Giving bones to them
Cooked bones are a serious danger to felines because they can splinter and get stuck in a cat’s throat or stomach
Essential oils and diffusers
Essential oils can be toxic to cats whether ingested orally, applied to the skin, or simply inhaled. It’s because cats lack the enzymes that are needed to metabolize essential oils properly. ​
Ingredients matter
Improper feeding can lead to obesity, malnutrition and many health issues. Always monitor the calories in your chosen pet food and adhere to the suggested serving sizes. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over 50% of dogs and cats in the US are obese or overweight.
Litter Box Mistakes
As the rule of thumb, it’s best to have at least 1.5 litter boxes per cat. So, if you have one cat, you need two litter boxes; two cats, three litter boxes. it is important to invest in a good, fragrance-free cat litter box and place it in a quiet room that’s free of frequent activity. If your cat is litter trained but urinates on the floor, it’s usually either a sign of urinary tract infections, or a dirty litter box.
Sudden change of diet.
Sudden changes in a cat’s diet may result in vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite and a sick feline. Your cat should be transitioned slowly from one food to another. Plan on taking at least a week to transition your kitty from one food to another.
Not training them
Just like dogs, cats can be trained. Training your cat will improve your life and theirs, and enhance the bond between you.
For example, you can train them to get off the counter, or not to scratch your furniture!
Forcing them to interact with you
Cats are very independent creatures. They don’t like to be smothered with affection and they need some personal space every now and then.
Storing food in packaging it didn’t originally come in
The food’s original packaging keeps it from going stale and drying out. it’s important to properly store and seal the cat food in an air-tight container so it doesn’t go rancid or lose its useful substances.
Exercise for Cats
Just like dogs, felines need regular exercise to work off extra energy and stay healthy!
The best way to exercise a cat is by making them chase their favorite toys around the house. Interactive toys, like a wand toy with feathers, strings, or other prey-like attachments that evoke a cat’s predatory behavior are an excellent way to keep them fit.
Feeding them milk
Cats are lactose intolerant. In fact, cats will have a stomach problem within ten to twelve hours after consuming it.
Not enough water
Many cats don’t like water so they don’t drink enough of it. Because of this, they are more prone to developing urinary crystals and even kidney problems. More often than not, this can be prevented simply by adding wet food to your cat’s diet. You can even add a little water to your cat’s food. And be sure to keep several water bowls in your home, and move their water bowl to somewhere that isn’t alongside their food or litter box.
Ignore their vomiting
Some people think it’s ok for a cat to vomit once a week, but it’s not. While vomiting a few times a year or an occasional hairball is normal, vomiting once a week means there is a problem, and a vet visit is necessary.
Neglecting Their Dental Hygiene
Like humans, cats need regular dental care. Their teeth are often home to hundreds of bacteria and need to be brushed just like yours do.
Rarely Visiting a Vet
The only way to ensure that your pet is as healthy as they can be is by taking them to the vet for a checkup.
An occasional checkup makes it easy to catch potential problems . You also want to make sure that your pet gets all of their vaccinations.
Expecting a Cat to Not Harm a Smaller Pet
A cat is very likely to kill smaller pets like rabbits, guinea pigs or hamsters because of their natural prey drive.
Bathing Them
Cats are excellent at grooming themselves and they rarely need to be washed. If you decide to wash them, once or twice a year is enough.
Not avoiding hairballs
To avoid the hairballs, you can brush your cat once a day and add more fiber to their diet. High-fiber diet improves the health of a cat’s coat and minimizes shedding.
Declawing them
Declawing is torturous to cats. It would be akin to cutting off our fingers at the last knuckle, leading to pain and mobility issues.


21 thoughts on “20 Common Mistakes Cat Owners Make

  1. RE: Catproofing a home
    In regards to cats loving to jump and explore, you don't always have to make sure every little thing is perfectly away. You should make sure any space they can climb on is safe for them to be, but if you give your cats plenty of appropriate places to climb and jump on, they are less likely to go where they are not allowed. Cats should be given at least one five foot cat tree, especially in a home where there are kids or dogs. Being high up (safely) is a comfort for a lot of cats because it gives them a birds eye view of their living space. It helps them continue to feel in control of their environment. Source: I have cats xD (in fact, my cats literally have their own room dedicated to them. It is their sanctuary and kingdom.)

    Edit to add that while you should not declaw your cat, you should clip their nails twice a month or so. It's keeps their quick from growing out too far, and by getting them used to regular nail clippings, it gives you a chance to look at their claws and make sure they aren't splintering or that shed isn't getting stuck.

  2. i absolutely hate that so many americans (maybe other countries too, but I think the US is definitely the worst) think cats are a zero-maintenance pet. people will get a cat for their kids only to never take them to the vet, feed them poor-quality food, probably de-claw them or otherwise punish them for climbing, clawing and scratching, and then when the cat prematurely dies or gets sick, they do it all over again with another cat. it's sad. please, people, educate yourselves. it's literally the least you can do.

  3. My cat actually doesn't like to eat the same food. I have to buy different ones every once in a while, bc if I don't he doesn't eat. And the funny thing is that, if I give him a food that he hasn't eat in a while, he likes it again.

  4. i knew about the food and water not being together, and the water fountain is good advice, i seen my neigbours cat drinking from a over flow, told him no and he listen for a change ha,, but now he has a water fountain at home and in my place,, because he likes to hang out here and sum times i have to look after him

  5. I wish that respecting their privacy when they use the litter box went both ways: my cat insists om coming to the toilet with me and stays there even after I have finished and left.

  6. no more cat for me here. my ex cat had this kidney infection problem. Was costly, and sad….too sad for me to see. I am thinking may b even dogs should be out of my list too, merely coz they wake u up at 5 am to walk them. I cannot cater to their basic needs.

  7. I use Mrs Meyers which is a natural based cleanser that has a scent and wash my cat's water bowl at least every other day I use hot water and rinse well so far my cat is accepting (the cat water bowl can also grow slime and bacteria it has to be washed)

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