For those who don’t know, feral cats live in the streets. Adopting a new kitten is a great way to help keep this population of wild animals down and you will find that a cat is a great pet to have. Keep reading for some excellent advice about taking care of your pet.

Groom your cat. Brush your cat’s fur often to help it be shiny and healthy. This will keep your cat’s coat clean. In addition, it helps decrease shedding, which results in less hairballs. In order to keep shed hair down to a minimum, plus have a beautiful cat, you must groom your cat regularly.

TIP! Move any drape cords out of a cat’s reach. The cats will start playing with the cords and they can easily wrap around their necks.

Regular veterinary checkups are important for the health of your cat. There are shots and vaccinations that are standard and necessary for your cat. If you find a vet you are comfortable with, use them for the duration of your cat’s life. This helps make sure your vet knows your cat’s history.

If you want a cat to feel like it’s more comfortable, a heated tile may be able to help. 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. Use an old towel to wrap around it, then place it beneath the cat’s blanket or bed. Change it out every few hours if you feel the need.

If you have an outdoor cat, make sure he is fitted with a tag and collar. Cats enjoy traveling far away, so a tag can help your cat get back home when lost. Ensure that you at least put the name of your cat and your personal phone number on this tag.

TIP! If you want to add a cat to your family, go to the shelter first to see what is available. Shelters have great pets available for adoption, and the fee isn’t that high.

Cats love to be clean. However, if it has a lot of hair, hairballs can occur. If your cat needs assistance with this problem, consider a special diet. They help the hair pass through by breaking it down.

Prevent crystals from forming in the urine of male cats with the right diet. This problem is painful for the cat and to your wallet, as well. Feed cats food that’s low in magnesium. Always read labels. Poultry products will tend to have lower amounts than seafood based products.

Do all you can to figure out what’s causing your cat to meow. After you have coexisted with a pet cat for a long while, you are sure to figure out its meowing patterns. She may be hungry, or she may want you to let her outside. Look for the cues and you’ll be much more in tune with your pet.

TIP! To safely help an old cat feel comfortable, place a heated tile under its bed. Bake a one-foot tile made from terra cotta in the oven at 200 degrees F for around 15 to 20 minutes.

You must take caution when leaving your cat with any children. If children are younger than five years old, pets ought not be left with them. They don’t know what harm they can do. Find your child’s age of maturity when it comes to handling pets.

Cats like to be up high. To keep your cat happy, offer him a spot of his own up high where he can survey his kingdom. You do not need a big cat tree in the living room; simply provide a solid shelf next to a window. You can also add a small bed or blanket at the top.

Cat Owners

TIP! Take your cat to the vet every year. Your cat should always go to the vet for a check up, especially if they need shots.

Speak to your peers about your cat issues. You may wish to deal with it alone, but you may need advice from other cat owners. The Internet will allow you to contact many forums and online communities for cat owners. Don’t forget, your vet’s office can also provide sound advice.

Use a brush on your cat regularly. This helps spread out the cat’s natural oils in their fur and stimulates blood flow in the skin. It also gets rid of shedding hair. Hairballs can be prevented this way, which often lead to choking. There will be little need for self grooming and hair build up.

If your cats create messes near the litter box, don’t punish them. Your cat probably did not use the litter box because it is not well taken care of. If you punish the cat, it may shy away from you at future times.

TIP! Cats can tend to be more nocturnal than not. The result is that they active while you’re sleeping.

Make sure you provide adequate space to a cat that is about to give birth. It will take about three to four hours for all of the kittens to come out, so be patient. If you believe your cat is still giving birth after six hours, you should immediately drive to the vet’s office.

Happy dogs wag their tail. Cats also exhibit this tail-wagging behavior, but the message is different. When a cat wags its tail, it can mean that it is conflicted or that it is trying to decide if it should run away from a situation or attack. If your cat starts wagging its tail while you hold it, you might want to set it down to avoid getting scratched and swatted.

This article has given you some great tips on how to deal with cats. Cats are prone to a number of issues, but with the right knowledge, you’ll be able to handle all of them. Just remember that cats are delicate creatures that need to always be handled with love and affection. Who knows, there could even be a feral cat out there that steals your heart!