Cats are very fascinating, and they also are great pets. Cat owners need to learn proper cat care and learn all that they can so that their companion can live a fulfilling and healthy life. Read here about some ways to achieve your goals as a good cat owner.

If you want to add a cat to your family, go to the shelter first to see what is available. Shelters usually have many cats who need a home, and the fees typically include their shots and spaying or neutering. Rescuing a cat can end up making a big difference in both of your lives.

TIP! Contact local shelters if you want to adopt a cat. Shelters usually have many cats who need a home, and the fees typically include their shots and spaying or neutering.

Make frequent checkups with your vet to keep your cat healthy. Cats need yearly shots and overall health assessments. When you find a vet you like, stick with them. This ensures that your vet will have an excellent understanding of your pet’s medical history.

If you want a cat to feel like it’s more comfortable, a heated tile may be able to help. Bake a one-foot tile made from terra cotta in the oven at 200 degrees F for around 15 to 20 minutes. Then, wrap this up into a towel and place it underneath your cat’s bed. If necessary, change this out every few hours.

You may want to have a microchip implanted in your cat. Your pet may be an indoor cat, but that doesn’t mean it’ll never dash through your door or slide outside via an open window. Cat collars are a great thing to have in case your cat gets lost, but they also pose a risk if they get caught on something. Microchips are very small, approximately as large as a single grain of rice. Although they are small, they can hold your entire contact information. Every shelter and most veterinarian offices have microchip scanners that can read the chips, and best of all, they chips can’t be lost.

TIP! Avoid letting your cat get bored. Cats should have a lot of exercise and playtime.

Most cats are very nocturnal. This means that they will usually be quite active at night. 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 will ensure you sleep much better, without cats jumping into bed with you.

Give your cat lots of attention and love. Cats are looking for a response in kind in exchange for all of the friendly companionship they offer to humans. Like people, cats like to socialize and need to feel like they’re an essential part of your life. They want to feel like a valuable, happy family member, too.

Your cat most likely spends quite a bit of time grooming. If your cat is long haired, this may cause hairballs. One way to alleviate this condition in your cat is by feeding him special food. They help the hair pass through by breaking it down.

TIP! You should be sure to place your pet’s litter box in a good location. Don’t put it where the cat can’t reach it or near their food.

A proper diet for male cats will help prevent kidney problems that cause them to pass crystals with their urine. These are very painful and expensive to treat. To stop this from happening, make sure your cat’s food doesn’t have much magnesium in it. Be sure that you read the label. Poultry-based foods are generally lower in magnesium than fish.

Cats are great pets, but little ones may not understand that they are fragile. Teach your children how to handle a cat. The objective is to be as gentle as possible with your cat. Because cats are more delicate than dogs, they need to be handled more carefully.

Don’t get rid of an old scratching post. Your cat will enjoy the post most when it has been well used. When you bring in a new post, the cat may ignore it.

Drinking Fountain

Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat to get water from. Cats that live in the wild like drinking from running water, and they have the same desires in a home. Your cat, if its like most, will really respond to this running water. Many cats prefer running water over their water dish. A drinking fountain designed for your cat is the ideal solution to keep the cat happy.

Cats are awesome pets, as previously described. Keeping your cat happy and healthy means learning as much as you can about cat care. Read this article several times to make sure that you glean all of the information you can from it. Your cat will love that you did.