Cats are marvelous creatures. Eliot called cats creatures that households depend upon, and that is somewhat true. Well-behaved, healthy cats are great for any home. Sometimes, cats are very difficult to live with. These tips can help you and your cat exist better together.

Make sure your cat is regularly visiting the vet for checkups. Cats require special shots to prevent illness and the vet can check their overall health. Try to stick with one vet during the life of your pet. They will understand your cat and its issues better this way.

TIP! If you want to have the love of a cat, get one from a shelter. Sometimes, you may find the cat of your dreams at a shelter.

Small places are spots cats love to get into. If they’ve got a collar on, this may put them in danger as it can get stuck. A breakaway style collar will literally “break away” if pulled too tight. This can help to save a couple of your cat’s nine lives.

A heated tile for underneath your cat’s bed can provide real comfort. Allow a terra cotta tile to heat in an oven for 15 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep this underneath your cat’s resting space for extra warmth. When the tile cools down, change it out for a fresh, warm one.

Female Cat

TIP! Good grooming is important for cats. Regular combing and brushing is usually all that is required.

If you own a female cat, make sure the cat is spade when she’s old enough. It does not matter if you an indoor cat; if she gets out when in heat, you can end up with many kittens. Your best bet is to have your female cat spayed.

Make sure your cat sees a vet regularly to maintain their good health. Cats need routine annual check-ups and possibly additional ones as well for vaccinations. If your cat has any health issues or injuries, you should try and have them seen right away.

If your cat goes outside, it is important to have a collar with a tag. Cats enjoy traveling far away, so a tag can help your cat get back home when lost. The tag should contain at least the cat’s name and your contact information.

TIP! It’s not easy convincing your pet that the kitchen counter is a no-cats zone. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings.

The claws of a cat can really destroy parts of your house and furniture. If you are having problems with your cat clawing up furniture, then purchase a scratching post or kitty tower. Place this device into an area that your cat frequents, and attempt to get your cat to scratch it rather than the furniture. Be patient, it might take some time for your cat to learn to use the post or tower.

Consider having your cat fitted with a microchip. Even indoor cats get out sometimes. 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 will hold the contact information to reach you and it’s only about as big as a piece of rice. 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.

It’s important that you don’t forget your cat and allow them to become bored too easily. Play is important to the health and vitality of your cat. Unfortunately, many owners do not realize this important part of ownership. Bored cats are more prone to depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, as well as many other behavioral issues. Give them toys they can play with, play with them yourself, or at the least give them room to exercise. If they’re an indoor cat, get them an object to climb on or a scratching post.

TIP! Think about putting a microchip in your pet. Even indoor cats can decide to run away at a moment’s notice, escaping through an open window.

If your cat is male, understand that he could develop crystals inside his urine, which can be very painful to him. Therefore, prevent this issue from occurring in the first place by feeding your cat the right type of food. Passing these crystals is painful and the vet bill to have this corrected is expensive. Feed cats food that’s low in magnesium. Just as in the grocery store, take the time to read the labels. Fish products are usually higher in magnesium.

Owning a cat can be difficult, but it can also be really rewarding. From a cat that knocks dishes off shelves or one who likes to pee on the couch, there are solutions for all of your problems. You’re going to be hearing your cat purring instead of meowing to get your attention.