You have the opportunity to make an animal’s life better. Cats in shelters need you. Simply bring one home, make a friend for the rest of the cat’s life, and use the advice in this article.

If you plan on getting a cat for a pet, try looking into a local shelter. There are tons of loving cats there, and the fees often cover the needed vet care. Taking a cat home with you means that a life has been saved.

TIP! Move any drape cords out of a cat’s reach. The cats will start playing with the cords and they can easily wrap around their necks.

Lessen the chances of your cat becoming harmed or killed by spraying all electric cords with something to keep them from chewing it. Bitter apple is a good choice and can be found at most pet stores. Cats who love to chew need to be kept away from cords. Use paper towel or wrapping paper rolls to bundle up cords. 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.

Your house can really get torn apart by a cat’s claws. If you find your cat tearing up things around your home, buy a scratching post or cat tower. They can scratch the post instead. It may take some time, but it should eventually work.

Making sure your cat doesn’t jump on the counters is hard to do. Cats enjoy high places so they can see what is happening around them. You can control this tendency a bit by making high places in the house that you feel comfortable having your cat utilize. Sometimes strategically placing a tall cat tower near your kitchen will help.

TIP! Part of caring for your cat is taking it to regular veterinarian checkups. They should go at least once yearly for a check-up, and more often if they need any shots.

Get a microchip for your cat. Even an indoor cat can get the urge to run out of a door or leap through a window. Collars and tags can help get your cat home, however cats are experts at wiggling out of these, not to mention the risk they pose if they were to get snagged on a bush or tree branch. A microchip is tiny, similar in size to a single rice grain and capable of holding plenty of information. Nearly all veterinarians and shelters now have scanners capable of reading the information on these chips, and since they are under the skin, there is no chance of the chip getting lost.

Male cats sometimes have crystals in their urine, but this can be prevented with the right cat food. Your cat will experience considerable pain when he has to pass these crystals, and it’s not an easy (or cheap) problem for your veterinarian to fix. Look for foods that are low in magnesium for your cat. Read the label on any food you choose. Fish products are usually higher in magnesium.

You may get much better prices on medications online. Sometimes, you may need the medicine immediately though. But, if you’re having to buy pet medication regularly, you will be able to save up to half the price if you buy online.

TIP! If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. Understand that cats may travel a long distance; therefore, if it gets lost, this tag will assist you and others in finding it.

Cats can be great pets for children, but some younger children may be a bit too rough with cats. Make sure that you teach your children the proper way to handle a kitten or cat. The objective is to be as gentle as possible with your cat. Cats have weaker bones than dogs and need more gentle treatment.

Never try to teach a cat how to work a litter box. This is the sort of thing which flows naturally. A common misconception is to rub your cats paws into the kitty litter however this isn’t a good idea.

Brush your pet often. This will help spread the natural oils within their fur while stimulating their skin’s blood flow. It can also get rid of hair that is loose. This helps keep those hairballs from building up in your cat’s stomach.

TIP! It’s not easy convincing your pet that the kitchen counter is a no-cats zone. Cats naturally love heights so they can easily see everyone and everything.

Feed your cat quality cat food. Check out the ingredients, and make sure it includes protein, such as meat, as the first item in the list. Don’t choose a food which is mainly corn. Cats are carnivores and must have a lot of animal protein for proper nutrition and better health.

Keep a breakaway collar and tag on your cat. This is essential even for indoor cats. Cats can be very curious and they may escape out of a door or a window. Include your contact number along with the name of your veterinarian. This is also vital if your animal has health issues.

You should get a collar with your contact information and make sure your cat wears it all the time. Your indoor pet might even get out if you leave a window open. It is important that you provide a way that they can get back home if that should happen.

TIP! Adore your cat! Cats are looking for a response in kind in exchange for all of the friendly companionship they offer to humans. They are social creates which need reassurance.

Don’t have an outdoor cat declawed. It can’t defend itself with no claws. Indoor cats can be declawed, though. Even so, only remove the front claws when you do so. Allow your cat to retain their back claws which are less damaging to indoor surfaces.

You should never medicate a cat with something that was meant for humans. If the cat is sick, you must take it to the vet. Giving pets medicine that is intended for humans can harm them, and possibly cause death.

Sticky Tape

TIP! Cats love to be clean. When the cat’s hair is longer, this could lead to hairballs.

Put sticky tape on furniture. If you have a cat that scratches your upholstery you need to place tape on that as well. There is specific tape for this sold at pet stores. Place sticky tape on your furniture and install a scratching post in order to kick this bad habit.

You should be proud about caring for your cat. You’re making a conscious decision to love an animal and provide it with the care that it needs to survive. You’re making a friend for the duration of their life. Give your time and affection to your cat, and it is almost certain that you will receive the same in return.