20 Common Mistakes Cat Owners Make

In this video, we'll talk about 20 common mistakes cat
owners make.Show more

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
themselves because there can be pollen or seeds
stuck in their fur. Among the most toxic plants are
daffodils, English lvy, 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. Its 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
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
to work
be smothered with affection and they need some
personal space every now and then.
Just like dogs, felines need regular exercise
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.
lgnore 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.