Cats need to eat right and exercise, just like you. Without such a diet, your cat can either be malnourished, or become obese. Continue reading to learn more about cat care.

Don’t let your cat near drape cords. Cats should not be allowed to play with these cords, as they can get parts of their body stuck in the cord loops. This could even choke them to death. Pin and hide drape cords to avoid this.

TIP! Check your local animal shelter if you have plans to get a cat. Many shelters have more cats than they can handle and the fees associated with adoption take care of vet visits.

To help your old cat feel comfy, keep a tile that’s heated under their bed. 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. Wrap this in a towel that’s old and then place it under the bed the cat sleeps on. This should be changed a few times a day to maximize comfort.

In order to be sure your cat is healthy, take them to their vet regularly. Your cat should always go to the vet for a check up, especially if they need shots. Cats need to see a vet right away if they have health issues, injuries or conditions that require immediate attention.

Electrical Cords

TIP! A vet trip should happen for your cat yearly. Your vet can give you an idea of your cat’s overall health, in addition to administering any shots it may need.

Make sure your cat is out of harms way by putting a little bitter apple on all the electrical cords to avoid them getting shocked. If the cat likes to chew on cords, its best to cover them as best you can. Loose cords can be bundled and tucked inside old paper towel rolls. If you have electrical cords laying out that are not being used, put them away as cats can play with them and then move on to live electrical cords.

A cat’s claws can do significant damage to your home and belongings. If you find your cat tearing up things around your home, buy a scratching post or cat tower. When your cat scratches inappropriately, redirect him to the scratching post. It doesn’t happen overnight but with some patience, you should be able to save your house from the claws.

Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. Even a house cat may end up lost outside, no matter how careful you are. Tags and collars are great, but if a cat escapes them, there’s no guaranteeing they’ll make it home safe and sound. A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and can hold all of your contact information. Nearly all veterinarians and shelters now have scanners capable of reading the information on these chips, and since they are under the skin, there is no chance of the chip getting lost.

TIP! Cats often view small spaces as a fun challenge. There are ways to make sure that their collar does not get stuck.

Try to avoid your cat from becoming bored each day. Every cat needs exercise time and play! Unfortunately there are too many cat owners who don’t properly exercise their cats. Cats that are frequently bored may develop OCD, depression or other harmful conditions. Give them enough space to exercise in, with fun toys to keep them entertained. If you have an indoor cat, offer him a variety of toys, scratching post or objects he can climb on.

Receiving plenty of positive, loving attention is important for your cat. Cats give us a lot of love, and they deserve to be loved back. Like people, cats like to socialize and need to feel like they’re an essential part of your life. Cats want to feel loved and needed.

A tablecloth for the feeding area can be quite useful. Often cats prefer moving food from a bowl onto the floor to eat. This leaves food on the floor outside their bowl that must be cleaned. The best thing for you to do is to have a place mat underneath the cat’s bowl.

TIP! If your cat is female, then ensure you spay her as soon as you can. Even though your cat stays indoors all the time, there might be that one time she slips through the door when she goes into heat, which results in a litter of unexpected kittens.

Discuss any issues you have with your pet with others. It’s possible that you could solve the problem on your own, but why deny help from others? There are many online forums that discuss cats. Most vets will also be happy to help you with some advice.

Vary your cat’s diet just a tiny bit to keep them from being picky. By giving them one kind of food all the time, it will be all they want to eat.

You eat quality food, and if you want your cat to stick around a long time, they need quality food, too. Look over the ingredients in the food, and be sure there is some kind of a protein source in the food. Avoid foods like corn or other items without protein. Cats are carnivores so it is important for them to get enough animal protein in their diet.

Drinking Fountain

Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat. Your cat will prefer drinking from running water since this is a natural behavior. Cats will respond more positively to streams of water. In fact, some cats prefer running sink water to their own water bowls. A drinking fountain designed for your cat is the ideal solution to keep the cat happy.

Play is an essential element of a cat’s daily life. Really play is something that all mammals share, no matter the age. Even a mature cat that isn’t as spry anymore it still loves to play around. Make sure you spend time doing fun things with your cat.

TIP! You might find that your cat sleeps all day and wants to be active at night. They are often active at nighttime.

Diet is a very significant factor in the health of your cat. If your cat doesn’t eat right it’ll be in bad shape. It may even reduce life expectancy. Provide your cat with nutritious foods that give them the opportunity to live a long healthy life.