Cats are probably the most amazing creatures you can have as pets. You can find a cat in pretty much every city and in many homes. It can be hard learning to live with these animals. Such intelligent, quick animals can be stubborn and need special techniques.

Keep your drapery cords out of the reach of your cat. Do not let your cat play with these. If the cords are in loops and the cat jumps into them or plays with them, they could possibly get them caught around their neck. This may hurt them or possibly cause death. All drape cords should be fastened and kept away from any harm that might come to the cats.

TIP! Check with your shelter before you purchase a cat. Shelters usually have many cats who need a home, and the fees typically include their shots and spaying or neutering.

If your cat is a female, you’ll want to spay her once she reaches the proper age. Even if she stays inside all the time, she could get out when in heat and end up pregnant. A spayed cat is a safe cat.

Regular visits to the vet will preserve your cat’s health. They should go at least once yearly for a check-up, and more often if they need any shots. If you notice that your cat appears to be experiencing some sort of illness or injury, do not delay a trip to the vet.

Normally cats are nocturnal animals. This refers to the fact that they are usually more active at night. Try closing the door if your cats are keeping you awake at night. This way, they can’t disturb you while you sleep.

TIP! A cat generally spends quite a bit of time grooming itself. Your cat’s long hair can cause hair balls.

Cats are usually great for kids, but smaller kids may be too rough with them. Always train your child the proper way to handle a pet. Give them examples of how to be gentle with it and what should and should not be done. Cats have more fragile bones than dogs so it is important to treat them with care.

Cat Owners

You may find it is helpful to talk to others about challenges you have with your cat. Although you might want to attempt to handle the problem yourself, other cat owners can provide you with excellent advice that may help you to resolve it. There are a number of message boards for cat owners on the Internet, or you can go to your vet with problems.

TIP! Be considerate of your cat’s preferences while traveling. Although you may love singing loudly to your favorite songs while driving, your cat would probably prefer softer sounds.

Don’t toss your cat’s scratching post just because it’s starting to look haggard. Your cat will enjoy the post most when it has been well used. If you throw it away too soon, that cat may look to your furniture for some clawing while it slowly breaks in a new scratching post.

Long-haired cats require more care than their short-haired comrades. While long haired cats are soft and look great, understand that there will be a lot more fur around the rest of the house. Unless you are prepared to do more cleaning, don’t buy a long haired cat. Additionally, consider that longer-haired cats are more likely to have issues with hairballs.

Is your cat shedding like a madman? Cats shed a lot, so it is important to brush them often. The more a cat sheds, the moor they should be properly brushed. This will lessen the amount of hair around your home and it will keep them from getting knots in their hair if they have medium or long hair.

Litter Box

Make sure you put your catbox in the optimal location. Although you may want to have the litter box hidden in a place where you won’t smell it, your cat’s needs should be before your wants. The cat has to be able to easily access the box. Cats tend to be finicky, so you’ll want to provide a location that isn’t off-putting to your cat. If you keep the litter box on a cold cement floor, put a mat or rug down underneath it.

If you have a pregnant cat ready to birth her babies, be sure she has enough space. The birth will take place over the span of several hours. Once 6 hours have passed, if all the kittens have not been delivered you should seek the help of a vet.

TIP! Think twice before leaving a child alone with a kitten. If the child is younger than 5, don’t leave them alone with a kitten.

Now that you’ve read this advice, you should better be able to outsmart your feline companion. Soon, you will have your cat understanding where his limitations are. Though cats may not be as easily trainable as dogs, most accept training and are good pets that can behave.