A cat’s purr is a beautiful sound. This is usually very relaxing to listen to, and it also appears to be a reflection of peace and contentment in your cat. To keep it up, make sure you take care of the cat. Taking advantage of these cat care tips is certain to get your cat purring more often.

Remove the drape cords from visibility when a cat is in the house. Cats can potentially strangle themselves on these cords so it is important to protect your cat from this potential danger. This could hurt or kill them. Make sure drapery cords are kept back to avoid this.

TIP! Any drape cords should be hidden so the cat cannot grab hold of them. Never let your cats play with drape cords, as they could seriously injure themselves.

If you are planning to get a pet cat, be sure to check with your local shelter. Shelters have a lot of cats in them and you can get one adopted for a small fee. When you adopt a cat from a shelter, you save a life and help keep the cat population under control.

Female cats need to be spayed as soon as they reach the proper age. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands. Spaying a cat can prevent this.

Be sure you think about your cat’s ears when traveling. You may like music loud and booming, but a cat will prefer lower volumes as their ears are more sensitive. To keep you cat from feeling nervous, keep the volume at a lower level. A trip is already stressful for a pet.

TIP! Contact local shelters if you want to adopt a cat. There are so many great cats at shelters.

Create a tablecloth for the feline. Some cats prefer removing their food from the bowl and eating it on the side. This may make a big mess that you need to clean up. There are two ways to do this. You can either put a placemat under the food bowl or use some stray fabric that you have lying around. Either way, you can easily get rid of debris by dumping them in the garbage.

Think twice before letting your cat outside. Your cat might not be safe outside. Your cat may get fleas or something even worse than that. Your cat may be targeted by another animal, or get injured by a vehicle or another person. When your cats go outside, keep an eye out to make sure they do not wander too far away.

You cannot teach a cat to use a litter box. This is not something that needs to be taught. In fact, it comes naturally for them. Some thing that rubbing a cats paws in litter is smart, but it can actually cause them mental trauma.

TIP! Regular visits to the vet will preserve your cat’s health. They need a check-up one time a year, or more if they require certain shots.

Consider getting your cat a fountain to drink from. Wild cats like to drink flowing water, and domestic cats are the same. Cats seem to like a water stream better. Cats will even drink from the tap if they can! Drinking fountains are more environmentally-friendly and they let your cat drink naturally.

Canned food is an excellent choice for cats. Dry food may cost less, but canned food has more benefits. Your cat can get more water, fat and protein from canned food. Older cats also find it easier to chew up. Be sure to ask your vet about your pet’s food; however, canned food is usually the best for your cat.

Your cat needs good play time. In fact, play is a common activity for all mammals, including people and cats, no matter their age. Though older cats don’t have as much energy, they still need some play. Make sure you and your cat are thoroughly enjoying each other.

TIP! Keeping your cat off of the counter can be difficult. Cats enjoy high places so they can see what is happening around them.

Think about extra care before you take home a cat with long hair. The hair looks good, except when it’s all over your furniture. If you can handle the extra grooming and cleaning time, then a long haired cat might be a good choice for you. Not to mention cats that have long hair are more prone to getting issues with hairballs.

Dogs are known to way their tails. This means they are content or excited and is normal dog behavior. Cats wag their tail for a different reason. A cat wags its tail when it is upset. Likewise, if you are holding your cat, and he suddenly starts to wag his tail, you may need to let him down to avoid swats or scratches to yourself!

Cats have a surprisingly acute sense of smell, making it easy for them to detect change in their environment. When you give them a new toy, bed, food or scratching post, this can be an issue. Don’t be upset if the cat does not take to these items immediately. As the smell takes on the smell of your home, your cat will warm up to it.

TIP! A microchip for your cat is something that you should really consider. You may not have had trouble with your cat getting loose previously, but it can happen at any time by accident.

Cats purr when they are happy, and taking good care of your cat is the way to keep it happy. You can keep your cat happy and healthy with the techniques in the following article. Try these tips if you want your kitty to purr a bit more.