Cats have been beloved pets for many centuries. They’ve been the subject of poems, movies, and even Broadway musicals. In fact, cats usually believe that they rule the world. The advice below is priceless.

If you want to add a cat to your family, go to the shelter first to see what is available. Sometimes, you may find the cat of your dreams at a shelter. You’re literally saving their life.

TIP! Shop at your local pet shelter for your next cat. Shelters usually have many cats who need a home, and the fees typically include their shots and spaying or neutering.

Cats need a certain amount of grooming to stay healthy and presentable. Cats require frequent brushing or combing. If you brush cats on a regular basis, it will keep their coats clean and attractive. It also helps to reduce their shedding and can cut down on how many times they are spitting up hairballs. In order to keep shed hair down to a minimum, plus have a beautiful cat, you must groom your cat regularly.

Keeping your cats away from the counters can be hard. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings. To help prevent your cat from doing this, you can establish tall places specifically for your cat. Placing a cat tower near the kitchen will help the cats to not lay on the counter.

Crystals form in urine from male cats. This can be prevented with good food choices. Passing those crystals hurts and having this corrected by a vet is expensive. Food with a low magnesium content will help. Be sure that you read the label. You will notice that fish-based foods and products are higher in levels of magnesium than anything sourced from poultry.

TIP! Be sure your cat gets regular checkups at the vet. They should have a routine check-up once a year or more if important shots are due.

Create a little tablecloth for your cat. Cats often like to remove food from their bowl to eat it off to the side. This can lead to a big clean-up. An easier way to do that is to either buy a placemat and put it underneath the cat bowl, or to cut a bit of fabric to use as a tablecloth that you can pick up and wash or shake over the garbage can.

Make sure you are cautious about leaving a young child alone with a small kitten. Kids under five should not be left alone with a pet. Kids of this age aren’t old enough to know how dangerous a cat can be. Once the child is older and more mature, decide if they are ready for the responsibility of handling animals.

Help your cat get accustomed to the carrier. Introducing your cat to a carrier as a kitten can really help to make this easier. They prefer encouragement instead. Take their favorite blanket and place it within the carrier. Then leave the carrier with the door ajar in a frequented spot. Cats are natural explorers and sooner or later he will check it out. This will make getting the cat inside easier later.

TIP! Cat’s claws can really put a dent in your furniture. If you find your cat shredding your furniture, consider purchasing a scratching post or cat tower.

Like most cats, your cat probably believes the universe revolves around it. By using this advice, you can help your cat learn where the real boss resides. People enjoy cats because they’re great as pets, and you can use the above advice to make sure you’re giving your pet a great life.