Famous poet T.S Elliot. He said that cats were designed in a way that a home depends on them, and that is a true statement in a way. A home can benefit from a healthy, good cat. Sadly, cats can be temperamental. Here’s some great tips to help you get along better with your cat.

Move any drape cords out of a cat’s reach. It is easy for the cat to get his head caught among the cords when playing with them. This can definitely hurt them, and it could even kill them. Be sure your drape cords are strongly secured.

TIP! When your female cat is old enough, it’s vital to get her spayed. Even if you have an indoor female cat, if it escapes when it’s in heat it could get you a bunch of kittens you weren’t planning on having.

If you have an old cat, you can help make its bed more comfortable by placing heated tiles underneath it. A terra cotta tile heated in your oven on about 200 degrees and for 15 minutes will do. Wrap it up in a towel and place it under where your cat sleeps. Change every few hours if you like.

Put a collar on any cats which go outside. Cats can range far from your home and the tag will help them find their way home. The tag needs your phone number and cat’s name at the minimum.

Spray bitter apple on electrical cords to keep cats away from them. If your cat plays with cords, put them up and out of the way, or you can hide them in old paper towel rolls. You can hide away any cords inside the rolls that come inside paper towels. Personal electronic devices should be stored when not needed to keep their cords out of reach.

TIP! Cats love to play on kitchen counters, and it can be hard to break them of the habit. A cat will naturally want to be high enough to view everything around them.

Your house can really get torn apart by a cat’s claws. Buy your cat a scratching posts to focus its attention off your furniture. Give them some encouragement and let them know it is okay to scratch that. It may take some time and some corrections, but it can usually eliminate the problem.

Most cats are very nocturnal. Your cat will probably be very active during the night. If your kittens are keeping you awake into the middle of the night, close the door to your bedroom. This should help them from waking you during the night, pouncing on your feet under the covers.

If you’re traveling with your cat, take care to remember their ears. They don’t want to hear you singing at the top of your lungs. Therefore, try lowering your music or turning it off in order for your cat to enjoy the trip more.

TIP! Do not allow your cat to stay bored all of the time. Play and exercise are both important for cats’ well-being.

Children usually take well to cats, but if you have a small child, you may need to provide some instruction. Make sure your child knows how to pet a cat. Demonstrate how to pick up the animal and how to play with it as well. Cats should be handled more gently since their bones are more fragile than those of dogs.

Create a little tablecloth for your cat. Some cats prefer to remove their food from the dish and eat it off to the side. This habit means you will end up with cat food on the floor to clean up. It’s easier to clean up this food by purchasing a placement and inserting it under your cat’s food bowl, or you could simply cut some fabric and make it into a tablecloth so you can easily pick up the food and throw it away.

Never make the mistake of leaving a kitten in a room alone with small children. Children under five years old should always be supervised when interacting with a pet. Little children do not have the necessary skills yet to handle a pet by themselves. As your children get older, you can decide when to teach them about handling a pet.

TIP! Chances are, your feline spends many hours grooming himself. Hairballs are very common for long-haired cats.

Carriers are great devices for you to have as a cat owner. Introducing your cat to a carrier as a kitten can really help to make this easier. They need positive reinforcement. Give your cat a treat every time it does something well. The cat will feel safe when it enters this carrier after a while. Transporting the carrier with your cat inside makes your next trip out much easier.

Litter Box

Make sure you consider where you are going to place the cat’s litter box. You may believe that the litter box should be kept in a small place so that you won’t smell it. You have to accept the fact that easy access for your cat is the first priority in choosing a spot for the litter box. Cats can be finicky; that’s why you should give them space for their litter box that is familiar and does not put them off. Put a rug under it for cleanliness, too.

TIP! Male cats sometimes have crystals in their urine, but this can be prevented with the right cat food. These are very painful and expensive to treat.

Do your best to keep your cat as healthy as possible and take it to the vet regularly. Similar to kids, cats need shots and check-ups to prevent health problems. Your cat is a family member, so treat them like anyone else you love in your home.

Pay attention to your cat’s litter box habits. If it stops using the box, medical problems could be to blame. When cats are suffering from something, they may end up going to the restroom randomly outside of their box. For example, the behavior may be caused by an infection of the kidneys or bladder. If this happens, you are advised to take your cat to the vet.

Some food you eat isn’t good to feed your cat. Grapes, onions and garlic are a few of the food items. Your cat can get sick after eating these foods. Milk can also upset your cats’ stomach.

TIP! A tablecloth for the feeding area can be quite useful. Cats will sometimes pluck food from the bowl and enjoy it straight off the ground.

Caring for a cat can be a lot of work, but it’s absolutely worth it. No matter what personality your cat has, lazy or feisty, this article is sure to provide some helpful information to you. Before long, your cat will spend more time purring and less time complaining.