Felines are mysterious and even magical animals. They’re smart, but also independent, which makes them a great pet. Taking care of a cat can be a challenge, however. Read this article to educate yourself on several helpful cat care tips, and apply what you learn to ensure that your cat stays happy and healthy.

Look a local animal shelters for cats. Shelters around the country are overflowing, and the cats there need more humans to help. Adoption fees often include things like spaying or neutering them, shots or other vet care. When adopting a shelter cat, you’re saving a life and aiding in controlling the cat population.

TIP! Make sure your cat has a collar if it goes outside. Cats can roam far, so a tag will ensure you find them quickly when they’re lost.

Good grooming is important for cats. Cats require frequent brushing or combing. If yu do this quite often, it will help them stay clean. Having a clean fur coat helps reduce the amount of hairballs that get spit up around the house. Keeping a cat well groomed basically helps keep them looking their best, along with your home.

Regular veterinary checkups are important for the health of your cat. Your cat requires a variety of vaccines and shots to prevent illness, and it is also important to identify health problems before they become too severe. Try to stay with the same veterinarian throughout your pet’s life. Your veterinarian needs to know about your pet’s history, and your cat will feel more comfortable if you always take her to the same vet.

If your cat is a female, it needs to be spayed when it reaches the appropriate age. Even though your cat stays indoors all the time, there might be that one time she slips through the door when she goes into heat, which results in a litter of unexpected kittens. Having your cat spayed helps to control the pet population and will save you time and trouble.

TIP! Do not allow your cat to get an electrical shock. Spray them with bitter apple, and they will stay away.

If your cat goes outside, it is important to have a collar with a tag. Cats enjoy traveling far away, so a tag can help your cat get back home when lost. The tag should contain your name and number for contact purposes.

A cat can do a lot of damage to your furniture with its claws. A kitty tower can really save your furniture. Give them some encouragement and let them know it is okay to scratch that. This will take some time but will be a valuable investment.

Litter Box

TIP! Just because your family did it when you were a child, does not mean allowing your cat to go outside is a wise decision. The outside world is very dangerous for cats.

Put the litter box in an ideal location. A cat’s litter box should be in a quiet spot in the house, away from where your cat eats. You should also make sure there is ample ventilation to avoid odors. Not only will your cat appreciate it but you will too.

Cat medications can be bought affordable online. You can’t always get it online. If you regularly need to buy pet medication, you can get a savings of up to 50 percent online.

Place a “tablecloth” under your cat’s food bowl. Sometimes cats like to take food out of the bowl and eat it to the side of the bowl. This creates extra work since you must then clean up the leftover loose food. Something as simple as a place mat can help make cleanup easier.

TIP! Don’t teach the basics of using a litter box. This will be something that the cat does on its own and it usually is not learned fro another.

Be careful if you leave a kitten with a young child. A child less than five years old should not be left alone with a small pet. Younger children cannot fully understand how to properly handle a small pet. When children are over the age of five, then you should decide whether or not they are mature enough to handle a kitten.

The unique and intelligent cat makes a great pet if you educate yourself about how to care for it. Learn all you can from this article. Take what you have learned, and use it to create a home that gives your cat a happy and healthy life.