Why wouldn’t you save the life of an animal if you could? Many cats are available for those who can offer a loving home. When you plan to adopt one, read this article to learn how to care for it.

Keeping cats from a counter really can be tough. They love to be able to look around from up high. Provide your cat with a few high places it can uses. Your cat will not go on your counters if there’s a cat tower close to the kitchen.

TIP! Regular veterinary checkups are important for the health of your cat. Cats need vaccinations to keep them healthy, and your vet can keep an eye out for any other health issues.

Think about putting a microchip in your pet. Even cats that live their lives entirely indoors can suddenly escape out a window or door. Cat collars are a great thing to have in case your cat gets lost, but they also pose a risk if they get caught on something. Microchips are very small, approximately as large as a single grain of rice. Although they are small, they can hold your entire contact information. Nearly every vet and shelter owns a scanner which can read a microchip, and since they’re implanted, there isn’t a risk of the chip falling out or getting lost.

Cats are generally nocturnal. This means their behavior is quite active during the night. Close your bedroom door if your cat is driving you nuts at night. This should help them from waking you during the night, pouncing on your feet under the covers.

Online outlets offer better prices for cat medicine than vets. You can’t always get it online. Most of the time, you will get great discounts if you purchase on the web.

TIP! To help your old cat feel comfy, keep a tile that’s heated under their bed. Bake a one-foot tile made from terra cotta in the oven at 200 degrees F for around 15 to 20 minutes.

If your cat is traveling with you, remember their ears. You and your cat probably have different ideas about the ideal volume for the car stereo, for instance: Remember that your cat’s hearing is more sensitive than yours. Therefore, try to turn down your music or keep if off altogether so your cat has a better trip.

If you give your kids a kitten, provide them with firm boundaries at the same time. Make sure your children know what rooms the cat can go into and what rooms it can’t. If your cat is going to be one that stays inside, let the kids know that it’s not allowed outside. By getting these rules into place before having a cat, you’ll be sure that your children can understand.

Do you have dogs and cats? Dogs often take advantage of dining on the cat’s food. Thus, you must keep cat food out of the dog’s reach. This will prevent the two from fighting over the water when the food dishes are empty.

TIP! If you have a female cat it is important to have her spayed once she becomes old enough. Even if you own an indoor cat, it might produce many kittens if it escapes during mating season.

Be careful if you leave a kitten with a young child. Never leave a pet alone with a child who is any younger than five. Their immaturity prevents them from understanding how easily they could hurt the kitten. Find your child’s age of maturity when it comes to handling pets.

Feed your cat high-quality cat food. Carefully look over ingredients, and be sure that a quality protein source like chicken, fish, or beef is at the beginning of the list. Some foods contain a lot of fillers like corn products, don’t buy those. Your cat is a carnivore, and for proper nutrition, he should have a food high in animal protein in order to keep him at his best.

If you wish to add another cat to your home, give it a couple weeks for your old cat and your new cat to grow accustomed to each other. In the early days, you may see a lot of posturing from the cats including hissing and swatting at each other. But, eventually, they will get used to the idea, and begin to tolerate, and even enjoy, each other’s company.

TIP! Make sure that you have a good tablecloth for your kitten. A lot of time cats will take their food from their bowls to eat it on the food bowl’s side.

Adopting a needy cat is something to be proud of. You’re making a conscious decision to love an animal and provide it with the care that it needs to survive. The relationship between you and the cat you care for can last a lifetime. Take good care of your cat and she will be your companion for years to come.