Do you love cats and have one of your own? If this is the case, you probably care a great deal for it. A cat requires lots of care and love. Fortunately, you can provide all this for it. This article will show you how its done.

Check out your local shelter if you are thinking about getting a cat. Shelters have a lot of cats in them and you can get one adopted for a small fee. When you bring home a shelter cat, you will be saving its life and you will be doing your part to help out.

TIP! If you are planning to get a pet cat, be sure to check with your local shelter. They have tons of amazing cats who desperately need a home.

Cats will try to get into many different crevices. Collars can be a safety risk if your kitty gets stuck. A breakaway collar is a good option since it will break if your cat pulls on it. Your cat can preserve a few of his nine lives with this.

If your cat is a female, be sure to get her spayed when she is old enough. This is true even if you think your cat is indoors only. One escape can lead to a lot of small kittens around! A spayed cat is a safe cat.

A microchip will allow you to find your pet if it is lost. Even cats who live completely indoors may someday decide to bolt out the door or escape out of a window. Although they provide the information needed to find your beloved pet, they can also accidentally get caught or even be wiggled out of. A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and can hold all of your contact information. Most shelters and veterinarians can scan your pet to read the information on the chip, and the chip cannot be lost since it is beneath the skin.

TIP! Keep your cat properly groomed. Regular combing and brushing is usually all that is required.

Keep your cat amused. Cats need play and exercise. Too many cat owners forget this simple fact. Bored cats will quickly wreck your home or become obese. Give them lots of space for exercise and plenty of toys they can play with. If your cats are kept inside, set up a carpet lined scratching pad or post. There are many climbing structures that can be purchased or made for cats who enjoy heights.

The litter box for your cat needs to be positioned in the right place. Don’t put it where the cat can’t reach it or near their food. Also, minimize the smell by making sure it is a well ventilated area. Your cat and your nose will thank you for the effort.

Speak to others about your cat problems. You won’t have the knowledge to handle every cat issue properly, so take advantage of the experiences of others. There are many online cat forums that will help you get questions answered. You could also try asking your vet.

TIP! Though things may appear to be fine, you should always schedule regular medical checkups for your feline pet. Your cat requires a variety of vaccines and shots to prevent illness, and it is also important to identify health problems before they become too severe.

Use a brush on your cat regularly. It helps with blood flow, and it also moves the natural oils around in the fur. Additionally, brushing helps to expedite hair shedding. Loose hair causes hairballs, a common problem for cats. The hair enters the pet’s stomach and they later cough it up.

Litter Box

If you notice that your cat has stopped using its litter box, you’ll want to contact your vet. Health problems may be causing your cat to urinate in places other than their litter box. A potential bladder or kidney infection may be the reason for this. Therefore, whenever you notice your cat not using its litter box, call your veterinarian.

TIP! Regular visits to the vet will make sure that you cat is as healthy as he can be. Your cat should have a health check yearly, but should go in more if your cat needs shots.

Dogs will often wag their tails to show their happiness or excitement. Cats wag their tail for a different reason. Tail-wagging is usually a sign that your cat is considering attacking or fleeing. If you hold your cat and it starts wagging its tail, you should put your cat down right away.

If you can, keep your cat inside and close to you. Cats trained to live inside instead of outside live longer according to certain studies. Daily exercise with you doesn’t need to create risks for other cat attacks or diseases from the wild.

You should not let your de-clawed cat outdoors. The cat is defenseless against other animals, which may lead to injury or possibly death. Cats should only be declawed if they’re going to be inside fulltime. Even in the case of indoor cats, you should only declaw the front claws. Don’t cut the back claws because they won’t scratch up your furniture or floors.

TIP! Cat claws are one of the worst enemies of your home and furniture. If you find your cat shredding your furniture, consider purchasing a scratching post or cat tower.

You love your cat, and you want to make sure you’re giving it the best care you can. Now that you’ve read this, you should know much more about proper cat care. Use these ideas to make sure your cat remains happy and healthy. You can increase the life span of your beloved pet by properly caring for it.