Cats can make great pets! These cats are overpopulated and can be a nuisance. Use the information from this article to help guide you along your pet care journey.

Look a local animal shelters for cats. Shelters have tons of great cats and their adoption fee will generally cover necessary vet care. When adopting a shelter cat, you’re saving a life and aiding in controlling the cat population.

TIP! Any drape cords should be hidden so the cat cannot grab hold of them. If the cat becomes caught in a loop, they could choke to death.

If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. Cats can travel a long way and this will help you get them back easier if they’re lost. The tag should contain your name and number for contact purposes.

Think about putting a microchip in your pet. One day, your indoor cat might leave through an open door or get outside through an open window. Collars and tags can help get your cat home, however cats are experts at wiggling out of these, not to mention the risk they pose if they were to get snagged on a bush or tree branch. A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and can hold all of your contact information. 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.

Be sure you show your cat lots of love. They are very loving animals and deserve affection back. Your cat needs to socialize and get plenty of attention from everyone in your family. This will increase the love that surrounds the family.

TIP! The claws of a cat can really destroy parts of your house and furniture. If you find your cat shredding your furniture, consider purchasing a scratching post or cat tower.

Avoid the chance that your male cat will develop crystals in his system that will come out in his urine by feeding a high quality diet. Passing stones or crystals hurts and can cost you a ton in vet bills if they don’t come out naturally. Feed cats food that’s low in magnesium. Go over the label carefully. Fish is often high in magnesium compared to chicken.

Remember that very young children can be a bit too rough with a cat or new kitten. Make sure your child knows how to pet a cat. Show them what activities are appropriate and how to pick them up. Keep in mind that a cat’s bones are much more fragile than a dog’s.

Create a little tablecloth for your cat. Sometimes cats like to take food out of the bowl and eat it to the side of the bowl. This may make a big mess that you need to clean up. Use a placemat under your cat’s bowl or cut some fabric to create a small tablecloth. Shake the placemat or cloth over the garbage regularly.

TIP! Making sure your cat doesn’t jump on the counters is hard to do. Cats like to be up high, where they can watch everything going on.

Take care if you leave a kitten with youngsters. Under five, the child needs to be watched. A child of that age doesn’t realize when they are being too rough with a pet. As children grow, it will be easier to see if they’re mature enough to handle a cat.

Scratching Post

If the cats scratching post is looking tired and worn out, never throw it away. Your cat will enjoy the post most when it has been well used. Your cat might not want to use the new scratching post and start ruining your furniture instead.

TIP! Always provide your feline with special attention and affection. A cat’s companionship should be returned with the same.

Make sure your cat always wears identification tags on their collar. This is very important for indoor cats. An adventurous cat can easily slip through an open door or window. You should use a tag with your contact information and the address of your veterinarian. Include your cat’s special diet or medical needs on his identification.

You should have a better idea of how you can take good care of your cat after reading this article. A cat can be a constant companion or just a decent neighbor – if you know how to treat it right. Cats are very sensitive and you should take good care of them. Now that you’ve read this article, you are more knowledgeable on how to deal with all cats.