If you own a cat, then you realize that this animal is a part of your family. You have to keep them from becoming infested with bugs. Make sure your cat gets the right food, enough exercise and has no parasites. Keep reading to find out how to keep those critters away from your cat.

Check out your local shelter if you are thinking about getting a cat. Shelters have tons of great cats and their adoption fee will generally cover necessary vet care. Rescuing a cat can end up making a big difference in both of your lives.

TIP! Shop at your local pet shelter for your next cat. They have tons of amazing cats who desperately need a home.

Take your cat to the vet every year. Most vets recommend yearly check-ups. If the animal requires certain vaccinations, more visits are necessary. Make vet appointments immediately if your cat has a medical condition or has become injured.

If your cat goes outside, it is important to have a collar with a tag. Cats can travel a long way and this will help you get them back easier if they’re lost. Even if the tag just has your phone number, it can be the difference between your pet coming home and being lost forever.

Cats can really scratch up your home. If you want to prevent or stop your cat from scratching up your furniture, the best thing to do is buy a scratching post or kitty tower for them to climb in. Put cat nip on it to attract them to it. It may take some time, but will be worth the effort and expense.

TIP! You can make your old cat feel better thanks to a hot tile placed under its bed. A terra cotta tile heated in your oven on about 200 degrees and for 15 minutes will do.

Cats will be up during the night more often than not. This means that they will be the most active at night time. If you have trouble sleeping because of cats, you may want to close the door to your bedroom. You can keep them from bothering you at night and getting your feet while you’re under covers.

It’s often cheaper to buy medicine for your cat on the Internet instead of through your vet. In an emergency, this won’t be much help, of course. If you are buying cat medicine often, you can usually save up to 50% online.

When traveling on the road with your cat, understand that they are sensitive to sounds. While you may like some good tunes, your cat is going to appreciate other things. This means that you should keep your music turned down or off so the cat can relax.

TIP! Spay your female cat. 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.

A tablecloth for the feeding area can be quite useful. Certain cats prefer removing their food from their bowl and putting it on the side to eat it. If this occurs, you will have a mess on your hands. Put a placemat under the bowl, or even some fabric so cleaning up is a snap.

Do you happen to own both a dog and a cat? Dogs will generally try to eat the cat’s food whenever the opportunity comes along. That’s why you should place your cat’s food in a place which is hard for your dog to reach. This will help you to be sure that the animals won’t fight over the water either after they’ve eaten all their food.

Do not discipline your cat if it makes a mess outside its litter box. When this occurs, it tends to be because the box is not being maintained properly. Punishments given to the cat will just make him or her less willing to be around its owner going forward.

TIP! You might find that your cat sleeps all day and wants to be active at night. Because of this, night time is when they are most active.

Feed canned food to your cat. Although dry food is usually less expensive, canned food is better for your cat. Canned food is rich in protein and fat and also has a higher water content. Aging cats find it makes it much easier to chew. Speak with your vet, however generally speaking, canned cat food is better for your cat.

Take a cat who pees all over the house to the vet. Many cats develop these behaviors in response to a health problem, such as urinary tract infections. Antibiotics will often do the trick if it is an infection.

All cats are vulnerable to a number of different parasites. When this happen, you should help your cat get rid of the pests. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to eliminate parasites, or to keep them away from your cat completely. Take good care of your pet, and it will appreciate it.