Similar to people, cats need a balanced, healthy diet which is loaded with nutrients. In order for them to live an enjoyable life you should learn proper care. Read the piece that follows to understand the proper diet for cats.

Regular vet visits are very important for your cat’s health. They need a check-up and possibly vaccinations. If there are more pressing health problems, take your cat to the vet right away.

TIP! If you have an outdoor cat, be sure he or she has a tagged collar. Cats can roam far, so a tag will ensure you find them quickly when they’re lost.

You may want to have a microchip put into your car. Even an indoor cat may find a way out of your home. A collar and identification tags can help bring your pet back to you. But experts point out that collars that do not snap apart quickly if your cat gets it caught on a branch or even a bush can accidentally strangle your cat. Microchips are extremely small, but they can hold all the same information as an identification tag. Nearly all veterinarians and shelters now have scanners capable of reading the information on these chips, and since they are under the skin, there is no chance of the chip getting lost.

Make sure that you never neglect your cat. Cats are looking for a response in kind in exchange for all of the friendly companionship they offer to humans. Cats, just like people, want to feel like a loved part of a family. Socialization is important to them. Make her feel like she is part of your family.

Most cats spend a large amount of time on grooming themselves. Long hair encourages hairballs. To help your cat out with this problem, try buying him special food. Some foods contain extra oils and nutrients, specifically designed to prevent or diminish hairball concerns.

TIP! Cats can use their claws to destroy furniture and other parts of the house. Buy a scratching post if you need to protect the furniture in your home.

When getting a little kitty for your kid, set boundaries beforehand. You can then teach your kids which areas your cat can go into. If you’re raising an indoor cat, inform your kids that the cat can’t go outside. If you make the rules ahead of time, you can be sure your kids understand them.

If your cat constantly meows, you need to try to figure out why. After a while, you’ll start to recognize what some of the noises your cats makes mean. Possibilities include that she is hungry or wants to be let outside. When you pay attention to the cat’s actions and cues, then may grow to understand the cat all the more.

Drinking Fountain

TIP! Try to avoid your cat from becoming bored each day. Every cat needs exercise time and play! Unfortunately, many owners do not realize this important part of ownership.

Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat. Wild cats like to drink flowing water, and domestic cats are the same. A constant stream of water will entice them to stay hydrated. In fact, the running water in a sink garnishes more attention from a cat than their water bowl usually does. So a drinking fountain makes a smart investment that’s both environmentally friendly and loved by your feline.

Cats need to have play in their life. All mammals love to play. An older cat may not be as energetic as when it was younger, but still enjoys light play. Playing with your cat will help you to form happy and cherished memories to look back on.

Dogs wag their tails frequently when they are happy or excited to see their owners. Cats also wag their tails, but for totally different reasons. Tail wagging for a cat is more subtle and can indicate many different emotions. Sometimes a cat wags its tail when threatened or frightened. If you happen to be cuddling with your cat when the wagging occurs, be prepared to loosen your grip!

TIP! Cats are frequently nocturnal in their habits. Because of this, night time is when they are most active.

Keep your cat indoors as much as possible, close to home and near its owner. Indoor cats typically live longer than those who live outside. You can exercise your cat by playing with it.

Human Medication

Never make the choice of giving your cat human medication. When your cat has health issues, they should be taken to their vet, who will give them any medication they need. When you make the mistake of giving any type of human medication to your cat, it can kill them or cause them some other type of grave medical misfortune.

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.

Cats have a keen sense of smell and notice the smallest things. This is good but can cause issues when you introduce something new to the home, like a new cat bed or scratching post. Don’t worry if the cat isn’t happy with the items when you first bring them home. Eventually the cat will get used to the smell and things will go back to normal.

Avoid overfeeding your cat. Many health issues can arise from doing so. The result of overeating is obesity, which then leads to other health issues. Make sure your cat’s diet is well-balanced.

Check your home for openings that a cat could slip through. Keep in mind that a tiny gap is enough for your cat to go outside. Especially kittens. Be especially careful about this if you’re bringing a cat home for the first time. Make sure to cover any easily accessible holes or repair them if at all possible.

TIP! Cats feel safest in an elevated location. To keep your cat happy, offer him a spot of his own up high where he can survey his kingdom.

If possible, leave your cat indoors at all times. Outdoor cats are known to have a shorter life expectancy and they also can catch more diseases. Some cat diseases can be transmitted to humans. Let your cat hop up into windows and watch the birds outside safely.

Make sure that your cat wears a collar with a tag on it at all times. Your cat will try to go wandering on their own as soon as they get a chance. If there is a tagged collar on your cat, it’s more likely she’ll be returned to you if she gets lost.

What a cat eats is critical to his health and well-being. A diet with an overabundance of bad food or even just minimal amounts of right foods can leave your cat unhealthy, unhappy and even dead too early. Choose the cat food you use for your pet very carefully.