Cats are a very common house pet but there is also a wide population of wild cats. A good portion of the domesticated cat population is composed of them and they can sometimes be trouble. Continue reading to learn all you can about having a pet cat.

Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. Remember to brush your cat’s fur and comb it regularly. If you do this frequently you’ll be able to help the cat have clean fur. It also helps to reduce their shedding and can cut down on how many times they are spitting up hairballs. Your cat should be kept groomed so that they look great and you’ll also make your home look good.

TIP! Keep your drape cords away from your cats. Keep the cat away from these cords as they tend to form loops when the cat is playing around, and it could accidentally go around their neck and strangle them.

Take your cat to the vet every year. They should go at least once yearly for a check-up, and more often if they need any shots. Make vet appointments immediately if your cat has a medical condition or has become injured.

It may prove quite a challenge to make your cat stay off counter tops. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings. To help prevent your cat from doing this, you can establish tall places specifically for your cat. One way to keep your cats from continuously jumping on the counter is to install a cat tower near the problem counter.

Cats will be up during the night more often than not. This means that they will be the most active at night time. Try closing the door if your cats are keeping you awake at night. This will keep them from attacking your toes.

TIP! Ensure that you groom your cat regularly and properly. Cats have to be brushed or combed on a regular basis.

The litter box for your cat needs to be in a good location. It should not be placed in a high traffic area, and it should be far away from the cat’s food. Also be sure that the cat litter area is ventilated so the smell doesn’t linger. Both your cat and you will appreciate this.

Your cat needs lots of affection and love. Think of all the friendship and comfort cats provide to us. Like many people, cats need to socialize with people so that they feel like they are an important part of their family’s lives. Make them feel at home.

Cats can spend hours keeping themselves and their fur clean. Hairballs are more common in long-haired cats. To assist your cat if it has this problem, you should get food that’s special. The are specially formulated cat foods that help reduce the instances of hairballs, which is not only good for your cat, but also good for you and your feet in the middle of the night.

TIP! When your female cat is old enough, you should have her spayed. If an indoor cat gets out, you may soon have kittens.

Feeding your male cat the proper food can help prevent crystals from forming in his urine. Passing crystals is very painful for your cat, and the vet’s bill will be painful for you. Choose foods low in magnesium for your cat. Read the labels. Products that contain fish are normally much higher in magnesium over ones containing poultry.

A tablecloth for the feeding area can be quite useful. Cats will sometimes pluck food from the bowl and enjoy it straight off the ground. This can result in a mess that needs to be cleaned up. A simpler way to do this is by getting a place-mat and placing it under their bowl. You can also cut some fabric to make a tablecloth that can be lifted, washed, or shaken over a trash can.

You should have a better idea of how you can take good care of your cat after reading this article. Cats can harm other pets, damage gardens and summon other cats. Be wary handling or trying to remove feral cats from your yard. Who knows, there could even be a feral cat out there that steals your heart!