Cats are curious by nature. Cats prefer to be near you most of the time. It is so calm and peaceful to have your cat sitting calmly on your lap. Use these tips to understand your feline friend.

You should make sure your cat stays groomed properly. A cat’s fur must be brushed or combed on a regular basis. If yu do this quite often, it will help them stay clean. This will also reduce things like shedding and hairballs because it keeps them from having extra hair. Cat grooming will not only keep kitty looking great, but it will also help to reduce the effort spent picking up cat hair around the home.

TIP! Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. Cats should have regular combings.

Make sure your cat has a collar and tag if outside. Tags can save you a lot of trouble if your cat gets lost. You have to be sure you have your pet’s name and number written on the tag.

Use quality food to prevent crystals from forming in a cat’s urine. Just like kidney stones, these crystals are painful and vet bills are pricey. Let your cat have food that doesn’t have a lot of magnesium in it. Consult the ingredient list. Products that contain fish are normally much higher in magnesium over ones containing poultry.

When your cat accompanies you on a trip, remember to consider the health of their ears. You may prefer loud music as you drive down the freeway, blasting your stereo, but your feline friend likes softer sounds better. So, keep your volume down, or turn it off to give your cat a better travel experience.

TIP! Don’t use dog products on your cats ever. Cats often have negative reactions to dog products.

Create a little tablecloth for your cat. Some cats prefer removing their food from the bowl and eating it on the side. Sometimes this will make the area around the bowl messy, and you’ll have to clean it. The best thing for you to do is to have a place mat underneath the cat’s bowl.

When you buy a small kitty for your children, set the boundaries ahead of time. Let your children know what rooms you will allow the cat to go into. It’s also important to let them know that outside doors must be kept closed so that the cat doesn’t escape. Creating rules and boundaries will help the children learn what is allowed.

Cats enjoy being in high places. A happy cat is one that has a safe living environment. You can use a cleared shelf if you’d rather not have a cat tree. Make it extra comfortable by adding a blanket or cushion.

TIP! The cat’s litter box should be placed in the right spot. Try and put it in an isolated area away from the cat bowl.

Feed your cat a few different varieties of food. This can help him not get too finicky. Cats who eat the same food day after day either grow tired of it, or it becomes the only food that they will eat.

Every cat loves to have lots of play time. In fact, play is a common activity for all mammals, including people and cats, no matter their age. While a senior cat probably won’t be very rambunctious, the right type of toy will get them interested. Have as much fun time with your cat as possible.

When your cat is nearly ready to have her kittens, prepare a spacious, but protected area for your cat to give birth. Delivery can take between three and four hours. If it’s been over 6 hours and you think there are more kittens inside, they need to see a vet immediately.

TIP! Cats sometimes will spend hours grooming themselves to perfection. Long-haired cats often develop hairballs.

Put a collar on the cat that lists your name, address, and phone number on it. Cats who stay indoors could still get out. Fitting your cat with a tag and collar greatly increases the chance that your cat will make it home safely.

Keep an eye out for panting. Dogs love to pant. Panting can indicate anxiety or overheating, but it can also mean something quite serious. Make sure you contact a vet, especially if your cat has had respiratory problems in the past.

Brushing your cat more frequently is the most common way to combat hairballs. If it doesn’t work, though, you have other options. Mix one teaspoon of pumpkin into your cat’s regular food. You may also use some tuna packing water to mix with your pumpkin. Find a cat food with some extra fibers or another anti-hairball ingredient to get rid of this problem.

TIP! When your cat accompanies you on a trip, remember to consider the health of their ears. Although you might enjoy jamming to your music, understand that cats prefer peace and quiet.

If you are planning to go back to work after being home with your cat all the time, it’s possible he may get quite lonely there without you. It can be a good idea to get a companion cat to keep yours company when you are at work.

Give your cat varieties of dry food whenever possible. Kittens need wet food due to the size of their teeth. As the adult teeth grow in, hard food can help to clean and strengthen the teeth. Try combining both dry and wet food together should you have a finicky feline.

Use sticky tape to protect your furniture. This will prevent your cat from scratching the material. You can find this specific material at your local pet store. If you provide a scratching post along with tape-trapping your furniture, you’ll soon have your cat scratching only where you want it to.

TIP! Make a tablecloth that your cat can use. Cats will sometimes pluck food from the bowl and enjoy it straight off the ground.

Cats often require a visit to your veterinarian, but that can get very expensive. Save a bit of money and time by purchasing medication for your cat online. Many places will deliver the goods to your doorstep. Buying frequently-used medicine this way can save you a lot of money.

Equip your cat with a collar and tag as soon as possible. Your cat could get out of your house even if you don’t think they will. With the tags on the collar, it will be that much easier for someone to bring the cat back home if it does happen to escape one day.

Cats can be difficult to learn about, but after a while they will become your best friends. Use the advice you have just read to give your cat the care it deserves. Owning a cat is a wonderful experience but you need to make sure that your friends is happy and healthy.