Cats are the kind of pets that tend to be quite nonchalant and relaxed. In rare cases, the cat will act drastically or violently, and that, too, will be in a situation where the cat feels threatened and uncomfortable with its surroundings. Apart from that, it is very unlike the cat to become too jumpy or alarmed. They make excellent companions for people who like pets who will not bother them too much. Cats will maintain a sense of decorum within the house and maintain the peace of their surroundings.
Nature of Cats as Pets
Cats are lovely to have around, but there are a few things that you will have to take care of when it comes to cats. Their diet, for example, is something that you can not neglect. They need to have a healthy and balanced diet to make sure they are thriving, and their life span is not cut short because of poor eating decisions. You need to make sure that the food is not too fattening or hazardous for the cat’s health. You will have to do some research to rectify any mistakes that you may have made in the past.
Another thing that you will have to take care of when it comes to a cat is their sleeping habits. Cats are not only nocturnal animals, but it is also in their nature to be lethargic and lie around all day. Cats are not too active, and to an extent, that may be fine. However, you will have to find a spot for the cat where it does not feel threatened and attacked. Finding your cat, a spot in your home, which is not too noisy and prone to sudden movements, may be the ideal spot for your cat.
Eating Habits of the Cat
Whatever you do, please do not feed the cat foods that you are not sure about without researching them. It can lead to your cat getting very sick, and you have to avoid it to the best of your abilities. Cats are fragile, and their internal organs are something that you will have to take avid care of. You have to make sure that your cat is healthy. You can do this by taking your cat for a regular check-up to the vet. If there are any issues or if your cat has eaten something that it should not have, then the vet may be able to identify it and give you a viable issue that will help the cat get back to its healthy state.
Cats are lovely to have around if you take care of them in the right way, and you make sure that their needs are being met. You have to keep in mind, though, that cats are prone to eating things that they simply should not be eating. There are many reasons as to why cats will get into substances that are not exactly edible, but they do, out of pure curiosity.
can cats eat lizards
There are many reasons as to why cats will eat bugs, lizards, for starters. Now lizards are not exactly bugs, but they are creepy crawlies, and they are not exactly pleasant to have within the house. There are reasons why cats will want to interact with lizards. They might find lizards quite fascinating. The way that they move around may be alien to them, which may want the cat to get into the lizard’s business even more. The cat will likely end up putting the lizards inside its mouth just for fun.
It may also eat the lizards if it is not properly fed. There are chances that if the cat is not being fed properly, it will end up eating things around the house because it feels that hungry. It is the worst way to keep a cat if you are not feeding it. You are leaving the cat to its own devices. This may lead the cat to eat something that is not good for it. Some things may even prove to be quite hazardous for the internal system of the cat. Lizards are usually quite poisonous as well.
Why are Some Lizards Bad for Cats?
Lizards may have a parasitic liver fluke present inside their bodies, which goes by the name of platynosomum factotum. This substance is quite poisonous for any animal if they chew on the lizard, and the substance gets on to their tongues. Once the substance is on their tongues, it will pass on to the animal’s digestive system. This may cause the animal to get extremely sick. However, this substance is not present in the body of the lizard at all times. It is usually present when the lizard is infected. Serious damages can only be caused to the animal if it eats an infected lizard and digests it.
Symptoms of your cat having eaten an infected lizard may include vomiting and diarrhea. Both of which can cause the cat to get extremely weak and lethargic. It will not be as active, and the cat’s internal system may also begin to deteriorate at a faster pace. Its life span will shorten, and it may not be able to survive for as long as it is supposed to. In dire cases, the situation can also prove to be quite fatal for the cat as it will cause irreversible damage to the cat’s liver.
However, not all lizards are poisonous to the cat. Geckos that are found in the wild are fine for the cat to eat as these are usually organic proteins for the cat. However, even if the lizard is not poisonous, it remains unsafe for the cat to eat. It is better to avoid letting your cat eat any lizard because you never know what sort of infections the lizard might be prone to. Lizards can be tasty for the cat, but they are not entirely good for the cat in any given circumstance.
There are many ways in which you can prevent your cat from eating lizards at all.
Prevention of Cats Eating Lizards
Cats usually go looking for food if they feel hungry. If they are not being fed properly, they will likely eat anything that moves. You have to prevent that from happening. One way you may be able to do so is to give the cat a proper and balanced diet. This is something that has been mentioned before.
You have to find out what breed your cat is, and you will have to feed your cat accordingly.
The size of the cat matters as well. Smaller cats are more prone to be fascinated by things such as lizards. You have to make sure that once the kitten is through with the period of being fed by its mother, that you feed the cat properly. If you are unsure as to what you should be feeding the cat, you may always ask a vet. You can also do independent research, but a vet may be capable of guiding you in the best way, which is possible. You may be able to protect your cat from getting sick in this way.
You can also prevent your cat from eating lizards if you make sure that your cat stays indoors. The more it goes out, the higher the chances are of the cat eating something that it should not be eating under any circumstances. This does not mean that you never take your cat outside into the fresh air. Fresh air is important for the cat to remain active and vigilant. It needs to have some skills regarding the outside world so that it can defend itself. But, you have to remember to keep a close eye on what your act is doing.
Another way to make sure that the cat does not eat the lizard is by conditioning it. It may be much more difficult to condition a cat than it would be to condition a dog, but it is possible. Once you do so, you may be able to convince your cat to not eat the lizard by commanding it. The cat may become obedient as well, and this will make it easier for you to protect your cat to the best of your abilities. It is a difficult task, so you may have to invest a certain amount of time and effort in doing so.
If you have a pet lizard, remember to keep its tank covered and away from the reach of the cat to avoid the cat devouring the lizard.
Conclusion
Cats are capable of eating a small lizard now and then; this may be fine and not cause drastic effects to the lizard’s body. However, if you find that the cat is looking unwell or is not walking around like it usually does, the best option would be to take it to the vet and take the required measures to make sure that your cat is healthy and okay.