Cats need to eat a balanced diet with proper vitamins and minerals, just like humans do. Without these basic needs, you could have an unhappy and unhealthy cat. The following article is full of excellent dietary tips for your cat.

Ensure that you groom your cat regularly and properly. Cats require frequent brushing or combing. This will help them maintain a clean and healthy coat. It helps your cats shed much less too, which keeps them from spitting those hairballs up. If you groom your cat with care, both your pet and your home will look their best.

TIP! To help your old cat feel comfy, keep a tile that’s heated under their bed. Use a 12″ terra cotta tile and heat it by putting it in a 200ºF oven for 20 minutes.

To help your aging cat feel cozy, place a warmed tile under his bed. You can do this simply with a terra cotta tile measuring a square foot. Heated in your oven around 200 degrees, it can be ready in as little as 15 minutes. Use an old towel to wrap it up safely before placing it beneath your cat’s favorite napping spot. Change it regularly if you need to.

Make sure your cat is out of harms way by putting a little bitter apple on all the electrical cords to avoid them getting shocked. If your cat is especially intent on chewing cords, keep them covered as much as possible. You can take loose cords, bundle them up, and stick them inside the tube from an old roll of paper towels. Electronic items with tasty-looking, thin cords (video game controllers, phone chargers, and so on) should be stored securely when you’re not using them.

Keep your cat amused. Although you may believe that cats just lie around, this isn’t the case. They need their exercise. But many cat owners ignore that need. Bored cats can really be a problem. They can have health issues, OCD, and even depression. Make sure you give them lots of toys and room to play. A scratching post is a valuable toy to put in your home.

TIP! If a cat is outdoors frequently, they need a collar that has a tag. The collar and tag will make it easier to find the cat if it gets lost.

Adore your cat! Your cat will enjoy your company if you pet and play with her. Like most folks, cats have the need to socialize to feel like part of the family. They want to feel like a valuable, happy family member, too.

When your cat is riding with you in your car, ensure you keep their ears in mind. You and your cat probably have different ideas about the ideal volume for the car stereo, for instance: Remember that your cat’s hearing is more sensitive than yours. Keep your music off, and talk to your cat instead.

Make a tablecloth for your cats. Cats like to make a mess when they eat. This can result in you having to clean up food outside its bowl if you don’t use a tablecloth. A simpler way to do this is by getting a place-mat and placing it under their bowl. You can also cut some fabric to make a tablecloth that can be lifted, washed, or shaken over a trash can.

TIP! Keep your cat from having a shocking experience by spraying electrical cords with bitter apple. If this does not work, make sure you cover the cords.

Speak to other people if you’re having cat troubles. You can solve most problems by yourself, but you might benefit from the experience of others. There are also forums on the Internet which cater to cat parents.

Is your pet’s scratching post starting to look beat up? Don’t toss it out! When a post is worn, your cats may enjoy it more. If you throw it away too soon, that cat may look to your furniture for some clawing while it slowly breaks in a new scratching post.

Keeping vaccinations up-to-date is the way to make sure your cat lives longer and more healthy. Stick to regular check-ups. As with children, cats have to be immunized. Wellness checks are important to avoid diseases and health issues. You need to stay up to date with immunization and booster shots to improve the health of your cat.

Litter Box

If kitty stops using its litter box, pay attention. Lots of cat conditions will make it difficult for a cat to defecate or urinate in their litter box. If your cat is not using the litter, kidney or bladder problems and infections may be the problem. Contact your veterinarian if your pet abandons its litter box.

Has your cat stopped using its litter box? If so, consider moving the box into another location. A cat’s instinct tells him that eliminating puts him in a vulnerable state, so try putting his litter box in a safe, quiet area of the house. Basements, laundry rooms, and other low traffic locations are a great choice.

TIP! Make sure your cat is not too bored. Cats need play and exercise.

Do not use chemicals around your cat that contain phenol. This chemical is often found in cleaning products such as Pine-Sol and Lysol. The smell is something that cats don’t like, and it also can lead to liver damage if it is used around your cats for a long period of time.

Always keep your declawed cat indoors. The cat won’t be able to fight back if other animals attack it and that could get it hurt or killed. The only cats that should be declawed are indoor cats. If you must declaw a cat, only do it to the front paws. A cat’s back claws are important to his balance.

Diet is a very significant factor in the health of your cat. If your cat has a poor diet and does not eat enough good food or eats too much bad food, their life span can be decreased. Do what is best for the cat and provide good food.