Cats make the perfect pet for several reasons. This article is especially helpful for people who have never been a cat owner. Keep reading to deepen your knowledge about cats.

If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. Tags can save you a lot of trouble if your cat gets lost. Be sure that the pet’s name and also your home number are on the tag.

TIP! Keep your cat away from your drapery cords. These can cause your cat to choke if they get a hold of it.

Don’t let your cat get frequently bored. They need exercise and they get it through play. Unfortunately, a lot of cat owners neglect this. A bored cat runs the risk of developing depression and obsessive compulsive disorders that may harm them or something in your home. Give them lots of space for exercise and plenty of toys they can play with. If they’re inside kitties, get them a post or something else that they can scratch and climb.

Litter Box

Do not isolate the litter box in a distant place. Put the litter box in a secluded area, and make sure that it is not near the cat’s food. To help control odors place the litter box in a well ventilated area. Both your cat and you will appreciate this.

TIP! Cats enjoy getting into spaces that are small. Collars can be a safety risk if your kitty gets stuck.

Give your cat plenty of love and affection. They want warm companionship since that’s what they provide to you. Cats thrive when treated like part of the household, so involve them in daily activities around the house. They want to feel like a contented and satisfied member of the family.

You should create a tablecloth for the cats in your home. Cat’s will often remove food from their bowl to eat it. That means you will have to tidy up the food left beside the cat bowl. Place a piece of fabric or a place-mat under your cat’s bowl and then simply shake it over a garbage can for quick and easy clean up.

If you cat is overly vocal, try to figure out exactly why he or she is making so much noise. After some time, you’ll understand why your cat purs or meows based on what she wants. Possibilities include that she is hungry or wants to be let outside. By giving her the proper amount of attention you can better attend to her needs.

TIP! Older cats will appreciate a heated bed; you can use a heated tile to create one! Place a tile made of terra cotta or a similar material in an oven heated to 200 degrees for around 15 to 20 minutes. You should wrap it with a towel and place it under the bed your cat uses.

Avoid letting your cat go outdoors. This can put your cat in an unsafe position. You cat might pick up pests or fleas. Cats can be harmed by cars, people and other animals. Cage in an area for a cat in your backyard if they must go outside.

Talk to others when you have a problem with your cat. It can really help to get advice from fellow cat owners. Your local veterinarian can be a valuable source of information, but there is also help available online by joining user forums geared toward cat owners.

Regularly brush your cat’s hair. This can help spread their fur’s natural oils around and stimulate blood flow to their skin. It is also a good way to reduce shedding. This is a good way to avoid hairballs, which are a serious health problem since they can cause choking.

TIP! Make sure you purchase medicines and treatments specifically for cats. Cats are known to have severe negative reactions when exposed to products designed for dogs.

Never punish a cat for a mess outside of its box. Many times, this is caused by failure to properly clean or place the litter box. Your cat will become afraid of you if you punish it or scold it too often.

Your cat deserves a high quality food. Ensure that the food your cat eats is very high in protein. The foods to avoid are those with a large amount of corn and low amounts of protein. Cats are naturally carnivorous. If you want to keep them healthy and happy, you need to feed them plenty of animal protein.

If you’re adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a few weeks to get to know each other. Do not expect an instant friendship. Instead, look for them to hide frequently, hiss and possibly even become physical with each other. Eventually they are going to get used to each other, and they may even end up becoming best friends.

TIP! Lessen the chances of your cat becoming harmed or killed by spraying all electric cords with something to keep them from chewing it. Bitter apple is a good choice and can be found at most pet stores.

If you are getting a pet, cats are a fantastic choice. They offer lots of comfort and can be stress relievers. However, you need to know the proper way to take care of a cat if you’re going to own one. Use the tips below to make sure you and your pet have a happy relationship for years to come.