Cat are definitely amazing as pets, but they are also amazingly finiky! From food preferences to vet examinations, there are many issues to overcome if you own one. This article will show you some great tips and advice about cats and what they need.

Make sure you don’t allow your cat to be around drape cords. These can cause your cat to choke if they get a hold of it. This could hurt or kill them. Be sure your drape cords are strongly secured.

TIP! Your home likely has no small spaces a curious cat won’t want to investigate. If they have a collar on, this might prove to be a safety risk if they happen to get stuck.

Good grooming is important for cats. Brush your cat’s fur often to help it be shiny and healthy. Brushing rids your cat’s coat of dirt and helps keep them clean. This will also reduce things like shedding and hairballs because it keeps them from having extra hair. Keeping your cat nicely groomed will keep him and your home looking their best.

Have your cat see a vet frequently to keep good health. Your cat should have a health check yearly, but should go in more if your cat needs shots. If your cat is having a health issue or injury, they need to be seen by their vet right away.

Litter Box

TIP! When your female cat is old enough, you should have 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.

The litter box for your cat needs to be in a good location. Try and put it in an isolated area away from the cat bowl. To help control odors place the litter box in a well ventilated area. Both you and your pet will appreciate that.

Be sure to show your cat affection as much as possible. They want warm companionship since that’s what they provide to you. They are social creates which need reassurance. They wish to be a happy and valuable family member.

Your cat can take lots of time to groom themselves to what they consider “perfect.” If the cat has longer hair, it can be the cause of hairballs. To assist your cat if it has this problem, you should get food that’s special. Some cat food brands have formulations to prevent or reduce hairballs, which will make life easier for your cat and you.

TIP! Don’t use dog portions for your cat. Some can be quite dangerous, and even deadly, when used on a cat.

A proper diet for male cats will help prevent kidney problems that cause them to pass crystals with their urine. This problem is painful for the cat and to your wallet, as well. Your cat’s food should be low in magnesium. Always read labels. Fish products can have more magnesium when compared to poultry.

Take care if you leave a kitten with youngsters. Up until your child is five, children shouldn’t be alone with your 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.

Discuss any issues you have with your pet with others. You can solve most problems by yourself, but you might benefit from the experience of others. There are many online cat forums that will help you get questions answered. You could also try asking your vet.

TIP! It can be hard to prevent your cat from jumping on the counter. Cats enjoy high places so they can see what is happening around them.

Don’t punish cats for making messes outside the 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.

Anytime you get a new pet, you must introduce them to your cat slowly to help to avoid problems and let the cat get used to it. Keep them separated for at least two weeks, but let them sniff at each other under a closed door. The cats might hiss, swat and hide from each other at first. But, eventually, they will get used to the idea, and begin to tolerate, and even enjoy, each other’s company.

Frequent or misdirected urination may warrant a trip to your vet’s office. This sort of behavior can be caused by urinary tract infections or other, more serious medical issues in your cat. Antibiotics will often do the trick if it is an infection.

TIP! You may want to have a microchip put into your car. Even an indoor cat can get the urge to run out of a door or leap through a window.

Keep your cat healthy, and ensure him a longer life, by keeping him up-to-date on his vaccinations and health check-ups. Just like kids, kittens must have wellness checks and immunizations periodically to keep health issues and diseases from coming up later. Please consider your cat as a family member, and take good care of them.

Don’t ever let your declawed cat outdoors. Without claws, your cat is essentially defenseless against other animals. This is a dangerous situation for the cat. Only declaw your cat if you are serious about keeping them indoors. Only take out the front claws. Don’t have the back claws removed, since cats don’t use them to scratch up your house.

Feed your cat a regular dose of dry food. Kittens need the wet food, however, due to their small teeth. When the adult teeth develop, dry, hard food will help make teeth stronger. A picky cat might like dry and wet food mixed together.

TIP! A cat generally spends quite a bit of time grooming itself. Long-haired cats often develop hairballs.

There are cats out there that are relatively self-sufficient, and owning one can really be a breeze. Other cats demand more from an owner, though, so you need to be ready to provide the assistance they require. Consider the tips presented here to help you become a better pet owner and feel prepared for whatever your cat has in store for you. The research will reward you both!