Cats are fabulous animals. They are very intelligent and will definitely surprise you once you get to know the cat you adopted better. Unfortunately, caring for a cat is not always simple. Read on to find out how to properly care for your cat.

If you want to have the love of a cat, get one from a shelter. There are so many great cats at shelters. The fee you will have to pay typically includes vet care. When you bring home a shelter cat, you will be saving its life and you will be doing your part to help out.

TIP! Your cat probably spends a lot of time grooming himself to perfection. If your cat has hair that’s long it could get hairballs.

Your cat needs to be groomed properly. Cats must be brushed and groomed frequently. This will help them maintain a clean and healthy coat. It will reduce shedding, which means that they won’t be experiencing a ton of hairballs. Regularly grooming your cat will help keep it and your home looking great.

If your cat is getting older, you can increase it’s comfort by placing its bed over a heated tile. Simply heat a terra-cotta tile in a 200 degree oven for 20 minutes. Wrap it in an old towel and put it under your cat’s bed or blanket. Change it frequently if you like.

Think about getting a microchip for your feline friend. Even cats that live their lives entirely indoors can suddenly escape out a window or door. Even if you put a collar or tag on your cat, be careful as they can wiggle out of these very easily and can be dangerous if they get caught on a foreign object like a tree branch. A microchip will hold the contact information to reach you and it’s only about as big as a piece of rice. Most organizations that deal with animal care can scan your cat for microchips, and because they are implanted, they won’t get lost.

TIP! Cats and small children may not always mix. Always train your child the proper way to handle a pet.

Cats spend a ton of time grooming themselves. If your cat is long haired, this may cause hairballs. To help prevent this from occurring, buy your cat special food. Some foods are in fact formulated specifically to reduce hairballs, and that is a good idea for your cat and you too.

You may get much better prices on medications online. Sometimes you might not have time to wait for an online order to arrive however, such as if your cat needs an immediate antibiotic or emergency treatment. If you regularly need to buy pet medication, you can get a savings of up to 50 percent online.

Tell your kids what the rules are about your new kitten. Let your children know which areas of the house are off-limits for the cat. It’s also important to let them know that outside doors must be kept closed so that the cat doesn’t escape. Setting rules in advances ensures understanding.

TIP! Don’t try and teach your kitty how the litter box is supposed to be used. This is the sort of thing which flows naturally.

Do you have dogs and cats? A dog will probably end up eating the cat’s food if it gets the chance. Consider placing the cat food on a location away from where the dog can reach. Doing this will also help you avoid fights over the water bowl.

Rotate the variety of food you feed your cat. If you feed them the same cat food every day, they may not accept anything else. This makes it difficult to find food they’ll eat when a store runs out of a certain brand, or you are traveling.

As you can now see, a cat can be the best pet you’ve ever had. Keep the information here in mind. Put the information to good use for your kitty friend so that you can have them in your life for many years to come.