Cats are playful and fun animals, and you’ll soon waste whole afternoons playing games with your cats. In some cases, you need to instigate the fun on your own by introducing a new toy or game. You don’t need to spend any money to enjoy some playtime with your cat. Use this advice to enjoy your life with your cat.

Ensure your cat remains groomed. Cats have to be brushed or combed on a regular basis. Doing this frequently can help them keep their coat clean. Also, this can eliminate the constant shedding that you will deal with. Your cat should be kept groomed so that they look great and you’ll also make your home look good.

TIP! Taking your cat to the vet is part of being a responsible pet owner. They need a routine check-up every year, maybe more of important shots are necessary.

Never use any product intended for dogs on a cat. Cats will have a reaction that’s negative towards a product made for dogs. This warning applies to products for getting rid of fleas. Your cat can die if you use a dog flea product on it. In fact, your cat should be kept away from your dog for several hours after the dog has been treated for fleas.

Avoid letting your cat get bored. Just like dogs, cats need playtime and physical exercise, too. The unfortunate thing is that many owners of cats don’t realize this. Bored cats are more prone to depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, as well as many other behavioral issues. Make sure you give them lots of toys and room to play. Give them a cat tree to play with.

Do you own both a dog and a cat? Dogs often take advantage of dining on the cat’s food. Because of this, you should make the place that your cat food is in higher up so that the dog cannot reach it. This will ensure they don’t fight over food or water, too.

TIP! It can be hard to make your cat stay off the counter. Cats instinctively want to be at a high vantage point so they can survey their surroundings.

If you’re having an issue with your cat, try to get some input from other cat owners. It is possible to work out the problem yourself, but help from others can be invaluable. There are many online cat forums that will help you get questions answered. You could also try asking your vet.

Brush your cat on a regular basis. This will spread a cat’s oils from their fur and help blood flow from within their skin. You will also decrease the amount of fur throughout your home. This is a good way to avoid hairballs, which are a serious health problem since they can cause choking.

It would be a good idea for your cat to get used to a pet carrier. Introducing your cat to a carrier as a kitten can really help to make this easier. They like responding to encouragement better. Place a beloved blanket or item inside the carrier and let it stay open near the cat’s usual haunts. The cat will eventually get into it and feel comfy. This will make getting the cat inside easier later.

TIP! Put your cats’ litter box where it is most acceptable to him. Place the litter box away from high traffic areas.

You may want to try different types of cat food. Cats can easily become finicky eaters. If they only eat the same food, they may never eat another food in the future.

Your cat deserves a high quality food. Check out the ingredients, and make sure meat tops the list. The foods to avoid are those with a large amount of corn and low amounts of protein. Cats need meat, not vegetables.

Provide your cat with canned food rather than dry. Dry food is cheaper, but some wet foods have more benefits. There is more water, more fat and more protein in it. As a cat ages, it has a harder time chewing. You should ask your vet for some recommendations if you are not sure what kind of food to get.

TIP! Your cat can take lots of time to groom themselves to what they consider “perfect.” If your cat is long haired, this may cause hairballs.

If you’re adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a few weeks to get to know each other. They might have conflict, hide from each other or swat one another. Cats usually learn to enjoy having a companion or at least put up with another one in their home.

Aired Cat

A long-haired cat comes with a great deal of extra care. There is no denying that long-haired cats are beautiful, but that beautiful coat takes a lot of work and also means a lot of shedding. If you don’t mind cleaning, get a long-haired cat. Hair balls are also more prevalent in long haired cats.

TIP! Sometimes children get too excited when playing with a new cat and may mishandle them. Teach your kid how to properly handle a cat.

Carefully consider where you will locate your cats’ litter box. It is tempting to place it out of sight, in order to avoid the image of it or smells that go along with dirty litter. But the most important factor is making sure your cat can easily access its littler box. You want your cat to feel comfortable using their litter box. If you keep the litter box on a cold cement floor, put a mat or rug down underneath it.

Don’t give your cat medicine intended for humans. If you have a sick cat it is best to take them to someone who specializes in animal sickness, such as a veterinarian. You could unintentionally kill your beloved pet if you use medications designed for humans.

You want to be watchful regarding panting. Dogs love to pant. Panting sometimes means your cat might be overheated or perhaps anxious, but it also can sometimes mean something even more serious. Make sure you contact a vet, especially if your cat has had respiratory problems in the past.

TIP! When you get a kitten for kids, you have to set up a few rules first. Let your children know which rooms their cat can be in.

Make dry food the foundation of your cat’s diet. As kittens, cats need moist food to accommodate small teeth. When the adult teeth develop, dry, hard food will help make teeth stronger. Dry and wet food can be mixed if you have a picky cat.

You and your cat are on your way to happy and healthy lives. Not all cats are the same, but these tips should work on yours. Keeping your cat healthy enables them to live a longer and happier life.