Taking care of a cat is complex. They are beautiful but mysterious creatures. With the right techniques, you can improve your abilities as an owner. The advice below will help you give your pet what it needs.

Though things may appear to be fine, you should always schedule regular medical checkups for your feline pet. Your vet can give you an idea of your cat’s overall health, in addition to administering any shots it may need. Do your best to keep the same vet for your pet’s entire life. This is because this person will know your cat and the history of the animal.

TIP! Get your cat to a vet on a regular basis for the best health possible. A routine check-up should happen annually, and more often if necessary shots are due.

Your home likely has no small spaces a curious cat won’t want to investigate. They can get caught or stuck if they happen to be wearing a collar. A breakaway collar has the ability to release its hold if the cat pulls tightly on it. This could save your cat’s life if the collar gets caught in some branches.

Keep your older cat comfortable by placing a heated tile underneath its bed. Simply heat a terra-cotta tile in a 200 degree oven for 20 minutes. Wrap it tightly in a towel and place it under the cat bed. If necessary, change this out every few hours.

Cats will often devote most of their time to grooming. Your cat can get hairballs in the event that their hair is too long. To help prevent this from occurring, buy your cat special food. Certain kinds of cat food are made to decrease hairballs. As a result, you and your cat will be happier.

TIP! Prevent your cat from getting zapped by coating exposed wires with bitter apple. 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 sometimes find better prices for cat medication online than getting it from your veterinarian. When an emergency strikes, however, you may not have the option of buying medications on the Internet. But if you have to regularly buy pet medicine, you can save 50% or more on some medicines by buying online.

There needs to be set boundaries with your children and a new kitty. Let your children know which rooms their cat can be in. If you’re raising an indoor cat, inform your kids that the cat can’t go outside. Setting the rules in advance will ensure your children understand.

Discuss any issues you have with your pet with others. It can really help to get advice from fellow cat owners. There are many online cat forums that you can visit and ask some questions. If necessary, you may need to call your veterinarian.

TIP! Your house can really get torn apart by a cat’s claws. If your beloved feline friend is shredding and damaging parts of your home, try investing in a cat tower or a scratching post.

Train your cat to tolerate a pet carrier. The same response to punishment that you would expect from a dog does not apply to a cat. Encouragement is a much better strategy. Put a nice blanket inside the carrier then leave it where the cat is most often. The cat will be drawn to the carrier, where it will feel safe and comfy. It will then be easier to transport the cat in the carrier.

Make sure that you play with your cat as often as possible. In fact, play is a common activity for all mammals, including people and cats, no matter their age. Older cats may not have much energy, but they still like to play. Enjoy your cat every day.

Litter Box

TIP! It’s not easy to keep cats off counters. Cats instinctively want to be at a high vantage point so they can survey their surroundings.

Your cat’s choice to potty outside the litter box could signal something more worrisome than misbehavior. There are a number of health issues that can lead a well-trained cat to urinate in places other than their litter box. A potential bladder or kidney infection may be the reason for this. You should take your cat to the vet if you think there is something wrong with your pet.

If a cat is about to give birth, provide them an area that’s spacious. The birth of the kittens will take approximately four hours, so use a little patience. Should the time run to six hours, and you think more kittens are due, get the cat to the vet immedietely

There are some thing that you eat that may not be good for your cat. Common foods that are poisonous to cats include: garlic, grapes, onions and tomatoes. If your cat eats these things then it can become ill or even die. Dairy, including milk, is also not a good thing to give your cat.

Indoor Cats

Don’t ever let your declawed cat outdoors. They won’t be able to protect themselves against other animals, and they run the risk of getting seriously injured. Indoor cats are the only ones that may be declawed. Even in the case of indoor cats, you should only declaw the front claws. The back claws should remain as they will not scratch furniture or floors.

You may not always know what your cat wants, but you can still care for him properly using the information in this article. Make sure you use these tips to make your cat healthy and happy. Your cat just might start playing nice! Maybe not.