Cats are really mysterious. They can ignore you for hours, only to suddenly demand your undivided attention. Their odd behaviors might be confusing, but their loving natures are a lot of fun to have around. Use these tips to understand your feline friend.

Don’t let your cats play with drape cords. Keep the cat away from these cords as they tend to form loops when the cat is playing around, and it could accidentally go around their neck and strangle them. This is incredibly dangerous as it could be fatal for your cat. Keep all drape cords out of reach as a preventative measure.

TIP! A lot of cat owners have a hard time keeping their cats off the counter. Cats like heights and like to see everything happening around them.

A heated tile for underneath your cat’s bed can provide real comfort. Simply heat a single foot cotta tile at 200 degrees between 15 and 20 minutes. Wrap it in an old towel and put it under your cat’s bed or blanket. If possible, re-heat several times throughout the night.

Dog Products

Avoid using dog products on cats. Cats often have negative reactions to dog products. This particularly applies to flea products. Products used for flea prevention in dogs can be very harmful to your cat. In truth, your cat needs to be kept a distance from any dog just flea-treated for the first few hours.

TIP! You might find that your cat sleeps all day and wants to be active at night. In other words, they’ll be up and about late into the night.

If a cat is outdoors frequently, they need a collar that has a tag. Cats can get lost, and they need a tag to be found. The tag should contain your name and number for contact purposes.

Cats will be up during the night more often than not. Because of this, night time is when they are most active. If your cat’s activities are keeping you awake at night, try keeping your bedroom door shut. This will stop them from bothering you at night, and playing with your feet beneath the covers.

Cats frequently groom themselves. Your cat’s long hair can cause hair balls. To fix this problem, you can try buying a new food. Some foods have special formula for hairball reduction, which will benefit you and your cat.

TIP! Cats will often devote most of their time to grooming. Your cat’s long hair can cause hair balls.

Cats are generally great with kids, though small kids may be too rough. Spend time instructing your children on cat care. Demonstrate how to pick up the animal and how to play with it as well. Cats need to be protected, too. Their bones are much more susceptible than dogs.

Make sure your kids know the rules before kitty comes home. Explain where the cat is and isn’t allowed. If the cat is to be indoors, tell your children not to allow him outside. Clearly explaining the rules will limit future mishaps.

Try and figure out why kitty is meowing. The more time you spend with your cat, the better you’ll understand what its meows mean. She may be hungry, or she may want you to let her outside. By listening to your cat, it will be easier to know what they want.

TIP! Feeding your male cat the proper food can help prevent crystals from forming in his urine. It can be painful to pass these crystals and your vet bill will be priced accordingly.

Reconsider having an outdoor cat. It is dangerous in today’s society. The cat can get fleas or something much worse. There’s the chance that your pet could be harmed by other animals or passing vehicles. When your cats go outside, keep an eye out to make sure they do not wander too far away.

Be careful if you leave a kitten with a young child. If children are younger than five years old, pets ought not be left with them. Their immaturity prevents them from understanding how easily they could hurt the kitten. Once the child is older and more mature, decide if they are ready for the responsibility of handling animals.

Brush your pet often. This will reduce the amount of bacteria on the fur. Additionally, brushing helps to expedite hair shedding. This keeps hairballs at bay, which may cause choking and build up inside their stomach from self-grooming.

TIP! Keep a collar with ID on your cat. Even an indoor pet should have this.

Acclimate your cat to a cat carrier. Cats just don’t respond like dogs do when it comes to punishment. They need positive reinforcement. Put the carrier in a comfortable place and fill it with treats and toys. Over time the cat will not be stressed about the carrier and will enter it voluntarily. This takes the hassle out of traveling with your cat in its carrier.

Cats can be difficult to learn about, but after a while they will become your best friends. Use the ideas in this piece to get the most of your relationship. A cat is a companion that anyone can enjoy, and taking good care of them is a fine way to repay them for how much they enrich your life.