If you know the right way to care for cats, they can be great pets. As the owner of a cat, you have the responsibility of making sure your cat has everything it needs to enjoy life. This article has lots of useful cat tips.

Check out your local shelter if you are thinking about getting a cat. Shelters have lots of great cats available, and your adoption fee often covers key veterinary services. When you bring home a shelter cat, you will be saving its life and you will be doing your part to help out.

TIP! Check with your shelter before you purchase a cat. Shelters have great pets available for adoption, and the fee isn’t that high.

If your cat is female, it is very important that she be spayed when the vet feels she is old enough. This is true even if you think your cat is indoors only. One escape can lead to a lot of small kittens around! Getting your cat spayed is the best in regards to prevention.

Deter cats from shocking themselves on electrical wires by spraying them with bitter apple. If the cat likes to chew on cords, its best to cover them as best you can. An inexpensive way to hide electrical cords is to thread them through used paper towel rolls. The cords on electronics should be hidden as well.

Is there a dog in your home, as well as a cat? Dogs will eat cat food right up. For this reason, you need to place your cat’s bowl in an area that is to high for a dog to reach. The added benefit is that you will prevent fights over the other animals food and water when one of them runs out.

TIP! Check-ups are an absolute must for any pet cat. Your vet can give you an idea of your cat’s overall health, in addition to administering any shots it may need.

If a cat urinates often or in odd places, it should probably go see the vet. For instance, it may be a sign the cat has a problem with its urinary tract. It could be the sign of other issues as well. In many cases, cheap antibiotics will resolve the problem and keep your cat healthy.

Do you see cat hair everywhere you look? Cats do a lot of shedding, and it helps to brush them. The more a cat sheds, the moor they should be properly brushed. This can also prevent their coat from becoming matted or tangled.

If your cat is pregnant, make sure she has plenty of room to give birth. It will take about three to four hours for all of the kittens to come out, so be patient. If six hours have gone by and you think there are still more kitten inside the cat, take her to a vet immediately.

Tail Wagging

With dogs, tail wagging is a sign they’re in a good mood, or glad their owners are around. While cats are also prone to tail wagging, they do it for very 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 your cat starts wagging its tail while you hold it, you might want to set it down to avoid getting scratched and swatted.

Cats have a surprisingly acute sense of smell, making it easy for them to detect change in their environment. For example, your cat will instantly detect a new scratching post, bed, food dish, etc. Don’t let this discourage you. Your cat will begin using it as soon as he is used to its smell.

TIP! Make sure you purchase medicines and treatments specifically for cats. Cats usually react negatively to items made especially for dogs.

Cats are great pets, but they need proper care. The best way to learn to be a great cat owner is to read and use the information provided here. With the proper care, your cat can enjoy a great life.