Cats are wonderful to have around, but they aren’t always easy to live with! You’ll need to understand how to feed and groom your cats, and the tips contained in this article will help you get a handle on that.

Local Shelter

TIP! Make sure your cat is always well groomed. Brushing is a very important component towards taking care of your cat.

Check out your local shelter if you are thinking about getting a cat. Shelters all over the country are crowded with marvelous cats, and most provide veterinarian care with the adoption fee. By adopting a cat from your local shelter, you will preserve a life and will do your part in controlling the cat population.

Small places are spots cats love to get into. Collars can be a safety risk if your kitty gets stuck. A breakaway collar is a good option since it will break if your cat pulls on it. A collar like this could save your cat’s life.

You can make your old cat feel better thanks to a hot tile placed under its bed. Heat a fabric covered heating pad in the microwave for a couple of minutes, making sure that is not too hot to the touch. Wrap it up in a towel and place it under where your cat sleeps. If you want, you can change it for a newly warmed tile a few hours later.

TIP! Always provide your feline with special attention and affection. Cats are looking for a response in kind in exchange for all of the friendly companionship they offer to humans.

It can be hard to prevent your cat from jumping on the counter. Cats love being up high so that they can see. One way to combat this behavior is to proved your cat with an elevated place it is okay to climb on. Putting a cat tower in or near the kitchen can help keep the cats from laying on the counter.

Cats are usually more active during the night. In other words, they’ll be up and about late into the night. If your busy kitties are keeping you up into the wee hours, try simply closing your bedroom door. They should stay away from you at night and then they will not be able to jump on your feet.

Give your cat plenty of love and affection. Cats need companionship as much as we do. They are social creates which need reassurance. They want to know they are a valuable part of the family too.

TIP! 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.

Consider all the options before you let your cat be an outdoors cat. This can compromise your cat’s safety. Fleas can infest your cat, or something worse can happen. Other animals and vehicles could also injure your cat. If you’ve just got to have the cat outdoors, limit it to an enclosed area.

Do you have a cat and a dog? Dogs will generally try to eat the cat’s food whenever the opportunity comes along. This is why you should have a feeding area for your cat that is too high for the dog to reach. Doing this will also help you avoid fights over the water bowl.

Get your cat used to a carrier. Cats do not respond in the same way dogs do to punishment. Encouragement is more likely to get them to respond. Put a favorite blanket and toy in the carrier and leave it open somewhere the cat frequents. Cats are natural explorers and sooner or later he will check it out. A cat who is used to a carrier will not mind traveling, meaning it will be a much less stressful experience for them.

TIP! Cats are generally great with kids, though small kids may be too rough. Make sure your kids understand how cats should be handled.

Keep a collar with ID on your cat. This is essential even for indoor cats. The lure of an open door or window is very attractive to your curious cat. They should wear a tag with your vet’s info as well as your telephone number. This precaution is especially important when your cat has an existing medical condition.

Do you feel overwhelmed by cat hair everywhere you look? Since cats shed so much, they need to be frequently brushed. How often and how much your cat sheds can give you a good idea of how often he need to be 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.

When your cat is nearly ready to have her kittens, prepare a spacious, but protected area for your cat to give birth. The kittens will arrive within three or four hours, so try to be patient. Once 6 hours have passed, if all the kittens have not been delivered you should seek the help of a vet.

TIP! Try and figure out why kitty is meowing. As you develop a relationship with your cat over time, it will become easier to determine why she is meowing.

Making sure your cat is taken care of can be easy if you know what you’re doing and if the animal behaves right off the bat. But, you have to remember that most cats won’t be that easy to take care of. Make use of the excellent advice provided here to ensure you are doing all you can for your cat. In the end, your efforts will be worth it.