It is hard to please a cat. Their moods and actions can be quite a mystery. Use the tips in this article to better take care of your cat. Read on for ideas and insights for caring for your feline friend.

Cats enjoy getting into small spaces. Cats that wear collars are at risk should they become stuck somewhere cramped. Breakaway collars are made to come off if tugged on vigorously. This can keep your cat alive.

TIP! Check out your local shelter if you are thinking about getting a cat. Sometimes, you may find the cat of your dreams at a shelter.

If you own a female cat, make sure the cat is spade when she’s old enough. Even if she spends her time indoors, it is possible for her to escape while in heat, causing an unwanted pregnancy. Spray your cat so that this does not occur.

Take your cat to the vet every year. They need a check-up and possibly vaccinations. Cats must see their vet right away if they start having health issues, injuries or other problems.

If your cat is an outdoor cat, then you should ensure it wears a tag collar. Cats enjoy traveling far away, so a tag can help your cat get back home when lost. The tag needs your phone number and cat’s name at the minimum.

TIP! It’s important that you don’t forget your cat and allow them to become bored too easily. Every cat needs exercise time and play! Sometimes, cat owners don’t realize this.

A cat’s claws can cause lots of damage to your home. If you want to prevent or stop your cat from scratching up your furniture, the best thing to do is buy a scratching post or kitty tower for them to climb in. Put cat nip on it to attract them to it. Eventually it will cause you less of a headache.

A microchip for your cat is something that you should really consider. Even an indoor cat can get the urge to run out of a door or leap through a 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. A microchip about as big as a grain of rice and holds all the contact information your cat needs. These days, pretty much all shelters and vet offices have scanners that can read these chips, and because they’re beneath your pet’s skin, they won’t ever get lost.

Litter Box

TIP! Cats can tend to be more nocturnal than not. The result is that cats prefer to be more active during the night.

You should be sure to place your pet’s litter box in a good location. A cat’s litter box should be in a quiet spot in the house, away from where your cat eats. The area should also be well ventilated so that it doesn’t smell too badly. Your cat will certainly appreciate your efforts, and you will too!

Cats sometimes will spend hours grooming themselves to perfection. When your cat has long hair, this can cause hairballs. To fix this problem, you can try buying a new food. They help the hair pass through by breaking it down.

A tablecloth for the feeding area can be quite useful. Often cats prefer moving food from a bowl onto the floor to eat. This means food spillage that you will have to clean later. An easier way to do that is to either buy a placemat and put it underneath the cat bowl, or to cut a bit of fabric to use as a tablecloth that you can pick up and wash or shake over the garbage can.

TIP! Online outlets offer better prices for cat medicine than vets. In emergency situations, buying online may not be a good option.

You should try your hardest to figure out the reason that you are hearing your cat meow. If you live with a cat for any amount of time, you will soon start to understand what your cat wants when she meows. She may be hungry, or she may want you to let her outside. Look for the cues and you’ll be much more in tune with your pet.

Do you feel as if there is cat hair all over the place? Cats shed a lot, so it is important to brush them often. If your cat sheds a lot, you need to brush it more often. Brushing can help prevent their fur from matting or tangling.

Make sure you consider where you are going to place the cat’s litter box. You may really want to hide that box from everyday life. However, it is important to keep their litter box in an area they can easily get to. You want your cat to feel comfortable using their litter box. If the litter box is on a hard surface, make sure to put something soft underneath it.

TIP! If you give your kids a kitten, provide them with firm boundaries at the same time. Make sure everyone understands which parts of the house the cat is not allowed in.

The advice above will aid you in caring for your cat. You should do your best to look after your cat and make sure she gets everything she needs; these tips will help. Your cat just might start playing nice! Maybe!