Cats need to eat a balanced diet with proper vitamins and minerals, just like humans do. In the absence of such a dietary plan, cats will become malnourished or overweight. You will learn a lot about caring for your feline friend if you read this article.

Look a local animal shelters for cats. Sometimes, you may find the cat of your dreams at a shelter. When adopting a shelter cat, you’re saving a life and aiding in controlling the cat population.

TIP! Check out the shelter when adopting a cat. Shelters have lots of great cats available, and your adoption fee often covers key veterinary services.

Make sure that your cat is well groomed. You have to make sure your cat gets brushed or combed often. This will keep your cat’s coat clean. It will also cut down on shedding and hairballs. Regularly grooming your cat will help keep it and your home looking great.

To help your old cat feel comfy, keep a tile that’s heated under their bed. You should heat a terra cotta tile with your oven, at about 200 degrees, for around fifteen minutes. Place it in an older towel and place it underneath of the feline’s bed. Change it every couple of hours if desired.

If your cat is outdoors, it needs to have a tagged collar. If your cat gets lost during its time outdoors, a tag makes it easier to locate the animal. The tag should contain your name and number for contact purposes.

TIP! It can be hard to prevent your cat from jumping on the counter. After all, cats prefer to stay high so that they can keep an eye out on everything.

Deter your cat from chewing on inappropriate things by using bitter apple. If your cat still prefers to chew on cords, then you have to make sure they stay covered. Bundle electrical cords together inside a tube. All thin cords should be put up when you’re not using them.

The claws of a cat can really destroy parts of your house and furniture. You need to get a scratching post or a cat tower to prevent your cat from ruining your furniture. It is much better if your cat uses his claws on that, rather than your furniture. This solution might take time to take, but it will help in the end.

Many times, cat meds can be purchased on the internet for less than they’d cost if you got them from your vet. Sometimes, you may need the medicine immediately though. But, for routine medications, this can be a budget-saver.

TIP! Think about getting a microchip for your feline friend. You never know when your cat could get away from you.

Use a tablecloth underneath your cat’s dish. A lot of time cats will take their food from their bowls to eat it on the food bowl’s side. That can mean a bigger mess for you to clean. Think about putting a placemat underneath the bowl or make your own tablecloth out of fabric.

Do you own a dog and cat? Keep in mind that the two animals have separate dietary needs, and dogs will try cat food if given the chance. Thus, you must keep cat food out of the dog’s reach. This also makes sure that the two don’t fight over water.

Cats like to be high up to see the surrounding area. A cat will only be happy if you give it a safe spot to look over everything. You can give your cat on a shelf to accomplish this. Make sure that this area is comfortable for your cat.

TIP! The litter box for your cat needs to be in a good location. Never put the box near your cat’s food, and pick a quiet place away from areas that are heavily used.

Regularly brush your cat’s hair. This helps spread out the cat’s natural oils in their fur and stimulates blood flow in the skin. As an added bonus, it cuts down on loose fur. Doing so reduces the occurrence of hairballs, which are a choking risk. It also benefits the cat’s stomach by reducing the animal’s need to clean itself.

If your cat relieves itself away from its litter box, do not spring into action with punishment. When this occurs, it tends to be because the box is not being maintained properly. Punishing the cat will only make him afraid to be around you in the future.

To help avoid a finicky cat, feed your cat different brands of cat food. If you start them off eating the same type of food all of the time and you never change it up, this will most likely be the only food they will eat in the future.

TIP! Some male cats get urinary crystals, but this is preventable with proper diet. Passing those crystals hurts and having this corrected by a vet is expensive.

Your cat needs a healthy diet. Eating too much of the wrong foods, or too little of the right foods can put your cat in terrible shape, and even cut their life span. This article should have shown you all you need to know.