If you’re familiar with how to take care of them properly, cats are great pets. You have to learn all you can about how to give that cat the best life possible. The following tips will help you out.

You never want to leave the cords of your drapes dangling down. If the cat becomes caught in a loop, they could choke to death. This could hurt or kill them. Pin the cords of your drapes up where your cat can’t get to them.

TIP! Ensure your cat remains groomed. They need to be brushed every day.

Older cats will appreciate a heated bed; you can use a heated tile to create one! Simply heat a terra-cotta tile in a 200 degree oven for 20 minutes. Wrap this in a towel that’s old and then place it under the bed the cat sleeps on. If you want, you can change it for a newly warmed tile a few hours later.

Part of caring for your cat is taking it to regular veterinarian checkups. A routine check-up should happen annually, and more often if necessary shots are due. Cats need to see a vet right away if they have health issues, injuries or conditions that require immediate attention.

If your cat goes outside, it is important to have a collar with a tag. Cats love to roam, so you need to give someone who finds your cat a way to contact you. The tag should contain the pet’s name, your phone number and your name as well.

TIP! If your cat is female, it is very important that she be spayed when the vet feels she is old enough. If an indoor cat gets out, you may soon have kittens.

Cats are generally nocturnal. The result is that they active while you’re sleeping. If your kittens are keeping you awake into the middle of the night, close the door to your bedroom. It also protects your toes from those crafty midnight pounces.

You will often find ways to save money on medication for your cat on the Internet instead of getting it from your vet. In some situations, you may not have the choice to purchase meds over the Internet, such as a health emergency. But for routine medication purchases, you may find a discount of 50 percent online.

Cats are great pets, but little ones may not understand that they are fragile. Tell them how to be gentle. Demonstrate the proper way to pick up a cat and what they can do with the cat. Cats should be handled more gently since their bones are more fragile than those of dogs.

TIP! Be sure you have a vet that your cat sees regularly so it stays healthy. They need a check-up and possibly vaccinations.

Set a tablecloth under your cat’s food bowl. Some cats prefer to remove their food from the dish and eat it off to the side. Sometimes this will make the area around the bowl messy, and you’ll have to clean it. 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.

Why is your cat meowing? The more time you spend with your cat, the better you’ll understand what its meows mean. She could be signaling that she is hungry, or she might want to go outside. When you understand what each type of behavior indicates, you can improve your relationship.

Do you own both a dog and a cat? Dogs are known for eating other pet’s food. For this reason, you need to place your cat’s bowl in an area that is to high for a dog to reach. This will ensure they don’t fight over food or water, too.

TIP! A cat’s claws can cause lots of damage to your home. Buy your cat a scratching posts to focus its attention off your furniture.

If your cats create messes near the litter box, don’t punish them. Most of the time when this happens, it is because you are not taking proper care of the box. If the cat is punished for this, they may become afraid of being around you.

Litter Box

Be aware of your cat stopping their litter box usage. Using the bathroom outside of the litter box is linked to a number of cat health issues. Issues like a kidney infection are often behind such behaviors. Be sure to go see your vet if your cat stops using its box.

TIP! Avoid letting your cat get bored. Play and exercise are both important for cats’ well-being.

When your cat is due to deliver babies, ensure that she has a comfortable area with some space. Labor can last as long as four hours, so stay patient. If your cat has still not given birth to all her kittens after six hours, get her to a vet right away.

If your cat is refusing to use his litter box, you should try putting it in a different location. A cat knows that when it’s going to the bathroom it’s in a vulnerable situation, so you should make sure the box is in a calm, secure location. Low-traffic areas like basements and laundry rooms are great places to put the litter box.

Cat Care

TIP! The correct location is important when picking a spot for a cat’s litter box. Try and put it in an isolated area away from the cat bowl.

Cat care starts with a good education. As a responsible cat owner, take the time to read through this article a few times and utilize all of the great cat care information that it contains. With proper care, your cat will live a healthy and vibrant life.