Cats need to eat a balanced diet with proper vitamins and minerals, just like humans do. Without the right nutrition, cats can get sick. Continue reading to learn more about cat care.

Good grooming is important for cats. You should comb and/or brush them on a regular basis. Do this often in order to aid in keeping your cat’s outer coat clean and healthy. Having a clean fur coat helps reduce the amount of hairballs that get spit up around the house. Keeping a cat well groomed basically helps keep them looking their best, along with your home.

TIP! Regular vet checkups for your cat are very important. 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.

Cats love to get into tight, small spaces. If your cat wears a collar they might get hurt, and stuck. Breakaway collars will “break” if they’re pulled too tight. This will allow your cat to live another day if it gets tangled up.

Cats are generally great with kids, though small kids may be too rough. Guide your kids in handling a feline. Children need to know how to hold a cat and what sorts of play a cat likes. Cats have weaker bones than dogs do, and must be treated accordingly.

Make sure that you have a good tablecloth for your kitten. Cat’s will often remove food from their bowl to eat it. This can lead to a big clean-up. Think about putting a placemat underneath the bowl or make your own tablecloth out of fabric.

TIP! You may want to have a microchip put into your car. Even indoor cats can decide to run away at a moment’s notice, escaping through an open window.

If you give your kids a kitten, provide them with firm boundaries at the same time. Make sure everyone understands which parts of the house the cat is not allowed in. If you want your cat to stay indoors, then the children must understand the seriousness of never letting it out. Make sure your children understand the rules from the get go.

Cats enjoy being high up. Providing a safe environment for your cat is key to its happiness. If you can’t afford a cat tree, give the cat an empty shelf of his own. Additionally, you can place a bed or blanket in this space.

You should not train your cat to use a litter box. This comes naturally – you can’t teach it. It’s not a good idea to rub your cats paws in litter. Some people think this is the way to train. It isn’t.

TIP! Cats frequently groom themselves. Long-haired cats often develop hairballs.

Brush your cat daily. This will help spread the natural oils within their fur while stimulating their skin’s blood flow. You will also decrease the amount of fur throughout your home. Doing so reduces the occurrence of hairballs, which are a choking risk. It also benefits the cat’s stomach by reducing the animal’s need to clean itself.

Never punish a cat for a mess outside of its box. If this happens, it may be because you have not kept the box as clean as you should. If you get mad, they’ll never use the box again.

Scratching Post

TIP! Be especially mindful of your cat’s ears when you take them on a trip. You may enjoy it, but it could be hurting your cat’s ears.

Although you might find its appearance unappealing, don’t toss a scratching post when it’s getting particular worn and frazzled. This is the condition that cats most appreciate. By throwing away an old scratching post and replacing it with a newer one, your cat will likely look for older items to scratch, such as your furniture.

Your cat needs good play time. All animals of all ages need to play and a cat is no different. Older cats may not have much energy, but they still like to play. Make an effort to have playtime with your cat regularly.

Carefully consider where you will place your friend’s litter box. Do not hide the box simply to reduce the smell. However, if you hide it from your pet he might not try very hard to find it when he needs to go to the bathroom. Cats tend to be finicky, so you’ll want to provide a location that isn’t off-putting to your cat. Instead of just keeping the box on cold cement, add a rug or mat beneath it.

TIP! Is there a dog in your home, as well as a cat? Dogs love to eat cat food! This makes it a good idea to have a cat feeding place high up enough that your dog can’t get to it. This can prevent squabbles over water when their food is gone.

Keep your cat healthy, and ensure him a longer life, by keeping him up-to-date on his vaccinations and health check-ups. Not unlike kids, kittens require vaccinations and check ups every so often so that they do not get sick. You need to stay up to date with immunization and booster shots to improve the health of your cat.

Litter Box

If your feline stops using a litter box, pay special attention. Many feline health conditions can cause a cat to urinate and defecate in random places outside of their litter box. A potential bladder or kidney infection may be the reason for this. You should take your cat to the vet if you think there is something wrong with your pet.

TIP! Cats feel safest in an elevated location. To make your cat happier, give him a lookout perch where he can check out the area.

A cat’s diet is important to its overall health. If it isn’t taken care of properly then the cat’s life could be in danger, which is why it’s important that you follow the above article. Buy the right kind of cat food for your cat’s age so they live well.