Cats are awesome! Being a cat owner is an enjoyable venture in life. Read this article thoroughly to pick up some great cat tips.

If you are planning to get a pet cat, be sure to check with your local shelter. Shelters have tons of great cats and their adoption fee will generally cover necessary vet care. When you adopt a cat from a shelter, you save a life and help keep the cat population under control.

TIP! If you own a female cat, make sure the cat is spade when she’s old enough. While your cat may be an indoor one, there is always the possibility it can get out and you wind up with kittens one day.

If you want a cat to feel like it’s more comfortable, a heated tile may be able to help. Just heat a one-foot square terra cotta tile in your oven at about 200 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Place it in an older towel and place it underneath of the feline’s bed. Change it regularly if you need to.

If your cat is a female, it needs to be spayed when it reaches the appropriate age. While your cat may be an indoor one, there is always the possibility it can get out and you wind up with kittens one day. The best method of stopping this is to have your cat spayed.

Make sure your cat has a collar and tag if outside. Cats sometimes travel a bit when outside, and a tag prevents any mishaps due to your cat being lost. The tag should contain at least the cat’s name and your contact information.

TIP! Most cats prefer to be mostly nocturnal. This means that they will be the most active at night time.

If your cat is male, understand that he could develop crystals inside his urine, which can be very painful to him. Therefore, prevent this issue from occurring in the first place by feeding your cat the right type of food. The cat is in pain passing the crystals, and the correction for this is costly. Try to find a cat food that has a low level of magnesium. Check the ingredients list on the label. Foods that contain fish usually have more magnesium.

Take the time to make your cat familiar and comfortable with a carrier. Understand that cats don’t react to punishment as well as dogs. They like responding to encouragement better. Leave your cat carrier open and put a few special toys inside. Over time the cat will not be stressed about the carrier and will enter it voluntarily. Once the cat is in the carrier, they will be so much easier to transport.

Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat to get water from. Cats normally look to drink from running water. This is true in the wild or at home. Normally, cats much prefer water that comes out in a stream. Actually, you will see many cats prefer running tap water from the sink instead of the water bowl. A fountain keeps the water moving without letting any go to waste.

TIP! Many times, cat meds can be purchased on the internet for less than they’d cost if you got them from your vet. There may be some cases in which you cannot buy online, such as in an emergency.

If your cat urinates frequently or outside his box, you may need to talk to your vet. Cats may show this behavior if they develop an infection of the urinary tract, or some other health issue. Some cheap antibiotics can get rid of some dangerous illnesses.

Is cat hair getting into everything you own? Cats are shedding machines, which means you need to brush them to keep the shedding under control. How often and how much your cat sheds can give you a good idea of how often he need to be brushed. Brushing will also keep their coat in good shape.

Stay current on your cat’s exams and vaccinations. Just like with having kids, young cats need to be checked on to see if they’re doing okay from time to time. It also needs its shots so that you can avoid problems later on down the road. Your cat is a member of your family, so treat them like any valued member of your home.

TIP! Cats are usually great for kids, but smaller kids may be too rough with them. Make sure your child knows how to treat a cat.

When your cat is close to giving birth, provide a spacious area for her. The birth of the kittens will take approximately four hours, so use a little patience. If it has been more than six hours and you believe more kittens are still inside your cat, you need to get her to the vet right away.

Dogs will show a lot of enthusiasm through their tail when their owner comes back home. While cats are also prone to tail wagging, they do it for very different reasons. When a cat wags its tail, it can mean that it is conflicted or that it is trying to decide if it should run away from a situation or attack. If you notice you cat begin to wag his tail when you are holding him, put him down to be sure you are not scratched or swatted.

There are things you can eat that your cat cannot. Grapes, onions and garlic are a few of the food items. If your cat eats these foods, he may become sick or even die. Even though everyone knows that cats love milk, this can actually cause a cat to have an upset stomach.

TIP! Pay attention and try to figure out what is causing your cat to meow. After you have coexisted with a pet cat for a long while, you are sure to figure out its meowing patterns.

Your cat will thank you if you avoid phenol in your cleaning products. This chemical is present in many household cleaners, such as Pine-Sol and Lysol. The smell of the chemical isn’t pleasant for your cat and prolonged exposure may cause liver problems.

Watch out for panting. Panting in dogs is perfectly normal. Your cat may pant if it is anxious or overheated, but panting may also indicate a more serious problem. Do not hesitate to contact a vet, particularly if there has been a history of respiratory problems.

As was stated earlier, cats are a wonderful choice for a pet. To make sure your cat stays happy and healthy, you need to learn all you can about caring for them peoperly. Read on to learn all of this information. Your pet cat will love you!