There are few pets as rewarding to own as a cat. They are very amusing and can protect the house from small pests as well. You might be surprised at how many ways a cat can improve your life.

Move any drape cords out of a cat’s reach. Cats love to play with hanging cords and this poses the threat of your cat hurting themselves or becoming entangled. This could cause injury or death. Make sure that the cords are completely out of sight.

TIP! Cats enjoy finding small spaces to fit into. They can get caught or stuck if they happen to be wearing a collar.

Regular visits to the vet will preserve your cat’s health. They need a routine check-up every year, maybe more of important shots are necessary. Cats must see their vet right away if they start having health issues, injuries or other problems.

It’s not easy convincing your pet that the kitchen counter is a no-cats zone. Cats like heights and like to see everything happening around them. You may mitigate the problem by providing designated heights for them to use. If you don’t want your cats to jump on your counters, you can put a cat condo in or around the kitchen.

Try to avoid your cat from becoming bored each day. Cats need to exercise and play. Sadly, this is overlooked by many cat owners. Bored cats tend to develop emotional and mental disorders that may negatively impact their health. Give them room to play and a large number of toys. Indoor cats will appreciate having a structure they can climb on or a dedicated scratching post.

TIP! Avoid using dog products on cats. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs.

Cats will be up during the night more often than not. This refers to the fact that they are usually more active at night. Close your bedroom door if your cat is driving you nuts at night. This should help them from waking you during the night, pouncing on your feet under the covers.

If you take your cat with you when you travel, be mindful of their ears. You may be tempted to blast your favorite songs at top volume. Cats, on the other hand, would probably prefer that you didn’t. Keep your music off, and talk to your cat instead.

You should try your hardest to figure out the reason that you are hearing your cat meow. You need to learn what their meows mean. They may want outside or may be hungry. Understand your cat’s preferences, and you’ll be that much better off.

Cat Outside

Don’t let your cat outside. Letting your cat outside greatly increases his risk level. They may acquire fleas or much worse things. Cats can also be hunted by other animals, stolen or hit by passing vehicles. If you must let your cat outside, do so in a very small area of your backyard or lawn.

Do you have both a cat and dog? Dogs will generally try to eat the cat’s food whenever the opportunity comes along. You should keep your cat food away from the dog. This can prevent squabbles over water when their food is gone.

TIP! It’s not easy to keep cats off counters. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings.

Speak to your peers about your cat issues. You may wish to deal with it alone, but you may need advice from other cat owners. You can find several cat forums online where you can ask questions, or you can choose to simply call your vet for advice too.

Your cat should be given food from a can. While dry food is less costly, the canned food has added benefits. There is more water in canned food and more protein and fat too. It is easier for older cats to chew. Canned food is usually a great option for your cat, but talk with your vet.

Litter Box

TIP! Your cat probably spends a lot of time grooming himself to perfection. If the cat has longer hair, it can be the cause of hairballs.

If you notice that your cat has stopped using its litter box, you’ll want to contact your vet. Health problems may be causing your cat to urinate in places other than their litter box. For example, the behavior may be caused by an infection of the kidneys or bladder. Consult with your veterinarian when your cat refuses to use its litter box.

Some human foods you enjoy often are not good for your cat. These foods include grapes, onions green tomatoes and garlic. Even a little taste of these foods can make your cat seriously sick. Milk can also upset your cats’ stomach.

Don’t give your cat medicine intended for humans. If your cat is suffering from a medical condition, be sure and take them to a vet to get the proper medication. Using human medicine for your cat is harmful and can even cause their death.

TIP! Avoid the chance that your male cat will develop crystals in his system that will come out in his urine by feeding a high quality diet. Passing those crystals hurts and having this corrected by a vet is expensive.

Keep an eye out for panting. Panting is a normal thing in dogs. Your cat may pant if it is anxious or overheated, but panting may also indicate a more serious problem. Call your vet, especially if you cat has a history of respiratory problems.

If your feline has hairball issues, and there’s been no help from brushing, try these tips out. Mix in a few pinches of pumpkin into your cat’s food. In addition, you could use one teaspoon of water for packing tuna and mix it with the pumpkin. Cat food sometimes has an anti hairball formulation, which includes extra fiber in order to solve this issue.

Cats aren’t the same as owning a dog or other pet; however, the rewards to be had can be greater for you. You should consider getting a cat if you do not already have one. It’s easy to see why so many people have fallen for the company of cats.