Cat owners find endless joy with their pet. However, you should keep in mind that being a cat owner takes a lot of effort. There are a variety of important responsibilities that all cat owners must understand. The following article will explain to you those responsibilities. Keep reading and discover valuable tips that will improve your pet ownership experience.

Put a heated tile beneath the bed of an older cat. Just get a tile and heat it up in the oven for a while to place under the cat’s bed. Keep the temperature of the oven at 200 degrees. Put the tile inside a towel and place it under the cat’s bedding. Replace it every three hours or so.

TIP! Have your cat see a vet frequently to keep good health. They need a routine check-up every year, maybe more of important shots are necessary.

When your female cat is old enough, it’s vital to get her spayed. You may believe that this is unnecessary if your cat stays inside all the time; however, cats almost always find a way to get outside, especially when they are in heat. When this occurs, your cat could get pregnant. Unless you want the hassle of getting rid of kittens, spaying is the best option for your cat.

Be sure you have a vet that your cat sees regularly so it stays healthy. A yearly visit for a regular check-up is important, with more frequent visits for shots as required. Don’t hesitate to take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice anything unusual about their health or if they are injured.

Never use a product on your cat that is intended for dogs. Cats are known to have severe negative reactions when exposed to products designed for dogs. This will especially be true if it’s a product for fleas. When used on your cat, flea products for dogs can be lethal. Once you use flea prevention products on your dog, it should be kept separately from the cat for hours.

TIP! Most cats are nocturnal. They get very active at night.

Prevent your cat from getting zapped by coating exposed wires with bitter apple. Cats who love to chew need to be kept away from cords. Tuck loose cords into old toilet paper or paper towel rolls. Any electronic item not in use should be stored away where the cat can’t get to it.

Adore your cat! They want the same level of companionship that they give to you as their owner. Like many people, cats need to socialize with people so that they feel like they are an important part of their family’s lives. They need to feel as though they are an important part of the family, as well.

Be careful as small kids may treat kittens too roughly. Make sure your child knows how to pet a cat. Show them to pick up kitty gently and the types of activities which are appropriate. Because cats are more delicate than dogs, they need to be handled more carefully.

TIP! You will often find ways to save money on medication for your cat on the Internet instead of getting it from your vet. Though, in emergency situations, buying online may not be possible.

You should create a tablecloth for the cats in your home. It’s a common practice for cats to eat their food on the side of their bowl. This can result in you having to clean up food outside its bowl if you don’t use a tablecloth. 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.

Before you consider buying a kitten for your children, make sure clear boundaries are set before you bring the kitten home. Let them know which rooms and areas your cats should not be in. If the cat is to be indoors, tell your children not to allow him outside. If your children know the rules beforehand, mishaps are less likely.

Do you own a dog and a cat? Dogs will eat cat food right up. This is why it’s important that the cat’s feeding area is in a spot that’s too high for a dog to get to. This also ensures that there are no squabbles over the water between the two, when the food is gone.

TIP! Cats enjoy high places. To make your cat happier, give him a lookout perch where he can check out the area.

Understand that leaving a small kitten together with small children can be dangerous to both. Children under 5 years of age should not be alone with the pet. They don’t know what harm they can do. As your children get older, you can decide when to teach them about handling a pet.

Do not punish your cat if they make a mess in the area outside of the litter box. When this occurs, it tends to be because the box is not being maintained properly. Punishing your cat will make it afraid of being close to you.

Cat Urinates

TIP! Make sure that you do not instruct your cat on using the litter box. Cats instinctively understand what to do and teaching is not required.

If you notice that your cat urinates very frequently, you should take it to the vet. A change in where or how a cat urinates can signal a UTI or other health problem. A potentially serious illness may be able to be treated by inexpensive antibiotics.

Does it feel like your home is overrun with your cat’s hair? Cats do a lot of shedding, and it helps to brush them. If your cat is shedding too often, you should brush it more regularly. Brushing can help prevent their fur from matting or tangling.

The potential benefits of cat ownership are, it’s worth stating again, numerous and wide-reaching. But if you want a happy and healthy cat, you’ve got to care for it properly. Use these tips to make your cat’s life complete.