Cats are very loving and fun animals. Adopt one and you should soon find yourself spending many happy hours playing with it. To keep your cat happy and active, introduce new toys and games often. Understand that a cat requires a lot of care, but entertaining them doesn’t cost a lot. Keep these tips in mind for a good outcome.

Make sure you don’t allow your cat to be around drape cords. Cats love to play with hanging cords and this poses the threat of your cat hurting themselves or becoming entangled. This accident could trap or injure your cat, or even be fatal. Make sure that the cords are completely out of sight.

TIP! Keep your drape cords away from your cats. Never let your cats play with drape cords, as they could seriously injure themselves.

Keep your cat properly groomed. Cats require frequent brushing or combing. This will keep them sterile and aesthetically pleasing. It’s also helpful in reducing how much cats shed and how often they spit out those dreaded hairballs. Keeping a cat well groomed basically helps keep them looking their best, along with your home.

A vet trip should happen for your cat yearly. 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. Try to stay with the same veterinarian throughout your pet’s life. You won’t have to worry that the vet won’t have all of your cat’s medical records.

A lot of cat owners have a hard time keeping their cats off the counter. Cats naturally love heights so they can easily see everyone and everything. Therefore, you should create high areas for resting. For example, give them a cat tower nearby.

TIP! Look a local animal shelters for cats. Shelters have tons of great cats and their adoption fee will generally cover necessary vet care.

Male cats can develop crystals that form in their urine, so prevent this with the right food. These are very painful and expensive to treat. Your cat’s food should be low in magnesium. Be sure to read the ingredient label. Products that have fish in them have more magnesium usually when compared to products with poultry.

Online outlets offer better prices for cat medicine than vets. In an emergency, this won’t be much help, of course. Most of the time, you will get great discounts if you purchase on the web.

Sometimes children get too excited when playing with a new cat and may mishandle them. Make sure that you teach your children the proper way to handle a kitten or cat. Teach them about appropriate activities and how to gentle pick up the cat. Cats don’t have strong bones like dogs do, so they need to be treated gently.

TIP! Your cat will want to climb into small spaces. Cats that wear collars are at risk should they become stuck somewhere cramped.

Create a little tablecloth for your cat. It’s a common practice for cats to eat their food on the side of their bowl. This can lead to a big clean-up. Use a placemat under your cat’s bowl or cut some fabric to create a small tablecloth. Shake the placemat or cloth over the garbage regularly.

Do your best to determine why your cat is meowing. After living with your cat for long, it’s easier to interpret its meows. She may be hungry, or she may want you to let her outside. When you understand what each type of behavior indicates, you can improve your relationship.

Always watch a kitten around small kids. Children under 5 years of age should not be alone with the pet. Young children are not yet mature enough to realize what behaviors are dangerous to a cat. Once the child is older and more mature, decide if they are ready for the responsibility of handling animals.

TIP! It can be hard to stop your cat from coming on your counters. After all, cats prefer to stay high so that they can keep an eye out on everything.

You could be playing games with your kitten right now. While no two cats are the same, most felines do enjoy the tips provided here. The healthier your cat is, the longer it is likely to be around in your life.