Cat provide many hours of joy for owners. However, it also takes lots of work to take care of a cat. Responsibilities come with the happiness a cat brings to you. Luckily, the article below will illustrate exactly what those responsibilities are. Keep reading and learn a little something about caring for your cat.

If you are planning to get a pet cat, be sure to check with your local shelter. Shelters are filled with beautiful cats, and the fee for adoption will basically cover the needed vet care. Taking a cat home with you means that a life has been saved.

TIP! If your cat is a female, it needs to be spayed when it reaches the appropriate age. While your cat may be an indoor one, there is always the possibility it can get out and you wind up with kittens one day.

Make sure your cat is regularly visiting the vet for checkups. Your vet can give you an idea of your cat’s overall health, in addition to administering any shots it may need. Make sure you keep the same veterinarian for your pet throughout its life. This helps make sure your vet knows your cat’s history.

If your cat is female, you need to get it spayed at the proper age. Even though your cat stays indoors all the time, there might be that one time she slips through the door when she goes into heat, which results in a litter of unexpected kittens. Getting your cat spayed is a great way to stop this from going on.

Flea Products

TIP! Use bitter apple on your electric cords to keep your kitty away from them. Keep your cords covered if you feel like your cat is hellbent on chewing them.

Don’t give a cat a dog’s product. It is possible that a dog’s product could cause a serious adverse effect on a cat. Flea products for dogs are one of the worst products to give a cat. Canine flea products can be lethal to a cat. Once you use flea prevention products on your dog, it should be kept separately from the cat for hours.

Give your cat plenty of love and affection. Cats need just as much companionship as they give out. Without love, cats may not socialize with your family. They want to know they are a valuable part of the family too.

Keep smaller children away from pets as they are typically too aggressive. Teach your kid how to properly handle a cat. Spend some time showing them how to lift a cat and how they can interact with the cat. Cat’s bones aren’t quite as strong as dogs, so they must be treated gingerly.

TIP! Think about putting a microchip in your pet. Even an indoor cat could someday jump through an open window.

When purchasing a tiny kitty as gift for the kids, it’s best to establish boundaries well ahead of the arrival. Make sure the children know where the cat is and is not allowed to roam. Make sure that your children know if the cat is strictly an indoor cat. Clearly explaining the rules will limit future mishaps.

Try as hard as you can to understand the reason your cat meows at you. After you have coexisted with a pet cat for a long while, you are sure to figure out its meowing patterns. It may be a sign your cat needs food, or needs to be let outdoors. By taking note of your cat’s cues, you’ll understand it more.

Cat Owners

TIP! Cats spend lots of time grooming themselves. If the cat has longer hair, it can be the cause of hairballs.

If you’re having an issue with your cat, try to get some input from other cat owners. You may wish to deal with it alone, but you may need advice from other cat owners. Use the Internet to share tips with other cat owners and ask your questions or talk with your neighbors, friends or veterinarian.

Mix up the food you feed your cat to avoid them becoming a picky eater. Keeping the same kind of food around most of the time makes it to where they only want that specific food.

Make sure your cat always wears identification tags on their collar. This is very important for indoor cats. Cats are inquisitive and will explore an open door or window if it is presented to them. Those tags can help if someone finds your kitty. Make sure your info and your vets info is on it. Also make sure to note any unusual medical requirements.

TIP! Younger children can be a little rough with cats sometimes. Always train your child the proper way to handle a pet.

There is a lot of responsibility involved with a long-haired cat. Although it may look nice, it will look much worse when it sheds all over your home. Unless you are prepared to do more cleaning, don’t buy a long haired cat. Also, cats with long hair tend to have frequent hairball issues.

Litter Box

Think about where you want to put the litter box. It might be tempting to have it in a hidden area where you can’t see it or smell it. The cat has to be able to easily access the box. Cats tend to be finicky, so you’ll want to provide a location that isn’t off-putting to your cat. A litter box located in the basement should be placed on a thick mat or rug.

TIP! Watch kittens around kids. Never leave a pet alone with a child who is any younger than five.

Cat ownership brings many benefits. That said, it brings many responsibilities, too. Using the information provided here will be a big step in making your cat a happy addition to your life.