The joys of owning a cat are endless. It must be remembered that owning cats requires plenty of work. With cat ownership, comes many responsibilities. Here you’ll see exactly what those are. Keep reading to find out more.

If your cat is female, then ensure you spay her as soon as you can. Even if you own an indoor cat, it might produce many kittens if it escapes during mating season. The best method of stopping this is to have your cat spayed.

TIP! Grooming is an essential part of your cat’s care. A cat’s fur must be brushed or combed on a regular basis.

Take your cat to the vet every year. Most vets recommend yearly check-ups. If the animal requires certain vaccinations, more visits are necessary. If your cat has any health issues or injuries, you should try and have them seen right away.

Flea Products

You shouldn’t ever use products designed to be used on dogs on your cat. Cats will have a reaction that’s negative towards a product made for dogs. This definitely applies to flea products. Your cat may die if you use dog flea products on it. Once you use flea prevention products on your dog, it should be kept separately from the cat for hours.

TIP! Spray electrical cords with some bitter apple to prevent cats from getting electrocuted. Cat can sometimes chew on cords, and they should be covered to prevent this.

Make sure your cat has a collar if it goes outside. Cats can range far from your home and the tag will help them find their way home. Be sure that the pet’s name and also your home number are on the tag.

Make sure your cat is not too bored. Every cat needs exercise time and play! Too frequently this need is overlooked by owners. Bored cats can develop depression and other harmful health conditions. Give them toys and things to do. If you have an indoor cat, provide a kitty gym for them to climb on or a scratching post.

Most cats are nocturnal. It is likely that they will want to play while you are sleeping. If you find that your nocturnal kitties are waking you up in the middle of the night, the solution may be as simple as closing the door to your bedroom. This way, they can’t disturb you while you sleep.

TIP! It can be hard to prevent your cat from jumping on the counter. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings.

A cat generally spends quite a bit of time grooming itself. When your cat has long hair, this can cause hairballs. If your cat has this issue, try changing his food. Some cat food out there has a special formula in it that reduces hairballs. This benefits your pet and you.

Do you own both a dog and a cat? Dogs won’t hesitate to eat food from your cat’s bowl. For this reason, you need to place your cat’s bowl in an area that is to high for a dog to reach. Doing this will also help you avoid fights over the water bowl.

Speak to your peers about your cat issues. It is possible to work out the problem yourself, but help from others can be invaluable. Your vet is a great source of advice, or you can find forums on the Internet to connect with other cat owners.

TIP! Think about having a microchip inserted in your cat. Even cats that live their lives entirely indoors can suddenly escape out a window or door.

Don’t get mad at your cat if it urinates outside the litter box. They’re doing it because the box is too dirty, or they may be sick. Punishment can make your cat fearful in your presence.

Scratching Post

A battered appearance isn’t a good reason to discard a beloved cat condo or scratching post. Cats typically like older posts compared to newer posts. By throwing away an old scratching post and replacing it with a newer one, your cat will likely look for older items to scratch, such as your furniture.

TIP! Cats are usually more active during the night. This means that they’re going to be running around more when it gets dark.

Feed your cat high-quality cat food. Read the ingredients, and make sure a source of protein, like fish or chicken, is near the top. The foods to avoid are those with a large amount of corn and low amounts of protein. Cats are carnivores and need animal protein to stay healthy.

If you have a cat who is pregnant, make sure that you give her a private spot that is closed away from other animals and has room for her to move in easily. The birth of the kittens will take approximately four hours, so use a little patience. If six hours have gone by and you think there are still more kitten inside the cat, take her to a vet immediately.

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. A couple of good places to put your cat box are your basement and laundry room.

TIP! If you are traveling with a cat in tow, be aware of the noises in your car. Cats tend to prefer gentle sounds during the day.

The potential benefits of cat ownership are, it’s worth stating again, numerous and wide-reaching. Of course, the only way to experience this is to provide everything your cat needs to be healthy and happy. If you’re ready to take the plunge and adopt a feline companion, keep this article’s information handy!