Having a cat in your home can be a wonderful experience. Being a cat owner is an enjoyable venture in life. Keep reading to learn more about cat care.

If a cat is outdoors frequently, they need a collar that has a tag. Cats love to roam, so you need to give someone who finds your cat a way to contact you. At least put your phone number and pets name on the tag.

TIP! Local rescue organizations are a great place to look for a new pet cat. Shelters have a lot of cats in them and you can get one adopted for a small fee.

Put bitter apple on all electrical cords. Keep your cords covered if you feel like your cat is hellbent on chewing them. The tube from a used-up roll of paper towels makes an excellent shield for loose cords. If you have electrical cords laying out that are not being used, put them away as cats can play with them and then move on to live electrical cords.

It may prove quite a challenge to make your cat stay off counter tops. They love to be able to look around from up high. It helps to provide your cat with certain high spaces where it is allowed. A cat tower near the kitchen will ensure that cats won’t lay on your counter.

Litter Box

TIP! Regular veterinary checkups are important for the health of your cat. The vet will be able to provide your cat with needed vaccinations and any medications it requires.

The litter box for your cat needs to be positioned in the right place. Try to keep it away from areas of household traffic and away from your cat’s eating areas. To help control odors place the litter box in a well ventilated area. Your cat will be more comfortable and you will too.

Make sure that you have a good tablecloth for your kitten. Often, a cat will remove food from his bowl to eat on the side. This makes quite a mess. To simplify your clean up duties, place a ready made placemat under the dish or purchase some inexpensive fabric and use it like a tablecloth.

Be very careful about allowing children to be alone with a kitten. If children are younger than five years old, pets ought not be left with them. Younger children cannot fully understand how to properly handle a small pet. Once the child grows up a little, he might be more able to handle the kitten.

Drinking Fountain

Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat. This will make things more comfortable and homey for your cat. Cats prefer to drink water that is streaming. Cats will often drink from a running sink and actually prefer it over the water in their bowl. A drinking fountain provides a more natural and environmentally friendly way for your cat to drink.

Your kitty’s litter box should be strategically placed. It might be tempting to have it in a hidden area where you can’t see it or smell it. The cat has to be able to easily access the box. Felines can be finicky. This means you must give them the right location and make sure it is inviting. Put a rug under it for cleanliness, too.

TIP! Be cautious about using canine products on your feline friend. Cats will have a reaction that’s negative towards a product made for dogs.

If your cat stops using the litter box suddenly, take note. Health problems may be causing your cat to urinate in places other than their litter box. Kidney, bladder and infection issues can make this occur. Call your veterinarian right away if your cat doesn’t use the litter box.

If you have a female cat that is in the process of giving birth, make sure you provide her a spacious area. The kittens will arrive within three or four hours, so try to be patient. You should take your cat to the vet if deliveries lasts for more than five or six hours.

Don’t give a cat human medications. The vet is the only one who should do the prescribing – not you. You could unintentionally kill your beloved pet if you use medications designed for humans.

TIP! It can be hard to stop your cat from coming on your counters. Cats enjoy going into high places so that they can see what’s going on around the house.

There are some options for a cat with hairballs. Adding in just 1 teaspoon of pumpkin mixed in with their food bowl can help with prevention. You may also use some tuna packing water to mix with your pumpkin. Another solution may be to use a cat food that has anti-hairball properties added.

Try to feed your cat dry food as much as possible. Kittens need some wet food because they have very small teeth. When they get older, their teeth benefit from harder dry foods. If your pet cat is finicky, you might consider combining dry and wet food.

Apply sticky tape to your furniture. This will prevent your cat from scratching the material. Some pet stores sell tape especially for this. Using this tape, along with a scratching post is a great way to keep your cat from scratching up your furniture.

TIP! Think about getting a microchip for your feline friend. Even an indoor cat can get the urge to run out of a door or leap through a window.

Cats get some illnesses that we do. Your cat is part of your family, and you know if your cat isn’t quite feeling that great. You should take your cat to the vet for an examination. It can be dangerous to avoid taking your cat to the vet when it is sick because there may be serious conditions that need checking. A vet can check for these.

Cats can make wonderful pets. However, in order to enjoy your cat, you need to educate yourself on how to best care for it. Read this article again if need be. Your cat will be grateful!