Cats are mysterious animals. Though they are independent, cats do need time with their owners as well. They are hard to figure out, but they also bring much joy. Here are some things you can do to make sure you’re caring properly for your cat.

Keep your drapery cords out of the reach of your cat. You should not allow your cat to play with drape cords since they could end up with the cord wrapped around their neck. This could hurt or kill them. Hide the cords for safety sake.

TIP! Groom your cat. Regular combing and brushing is usually all that is required.

Make sure your cat is not too bored. Cats require physical activity. Sadly, this can be easily overlooked. Bored cats will quickly wreck your home or become obese. Make sure you give them lots of toys and room to play. If your cats are kept inside, set up a carpet lined scratching pad or post. There are many climbing structures that can be purchased or made for cats who enjoy heights.

Cats can spend hours keeping themselves and their fur clean. However, if it has a lot of hair, hairballs can occur. There are foods which help combat this problem. Some cat foods are specially formulated to help reduce hairballs, which is good for both you and your pet.

Often, the best cat medicine deals are found online. In emergency situations, buying online may not be a good option. However, if you buy meds for your cat on a regular basis, you can save huge amounts by getting medication via the Internet.

TIP! Cats love to get into tight, small spaces. If they have a collar, this can be a safety issue if they get stuck.

Use a tablecloth underneath your cat’s dish. A lot of time cats will take their food from their bowls to eat it on the food bowl’s side. This habit means you will end up with cat food on the floor to clean up. Put a placemat under the bowl, or even some fabric so cleaning up is a snap.

Loose Hair

You should brush your cat on a regular basis. Brushing can help to spread the natural oils and stimulate the skin’s blood flow. Furthermore, it helps reduce all the loose hair. Loose hair causes hairballs, a common problem for cats. The hair enters the pet’s stomach and they later cough it up.

TIP! If you have an old cat, you can help make its bed more comfortable by placing heated tiles underneath it. Just heat a one-foot square terra cotta tile in your oven at about 200 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Don’t get mad at your cat if it urinates outside the litter box. Many times, this is caused by failure to properly clean or place the litter box. Punishing the cat will only make him afraid to be around you in the future.

Mix up the food you feed your cat to avoid them becoming a picky eater. If you start them off eating the same type of food all of the time and you never change it up, this will most likely be the only food they will eat in the future.

High quality cat food is important to your cat. Scrutinize the ingredients closely, and make sure that quality protein sources like chicken, fish and beef are first on the list. Don’t choose a food which is mainly corn. Cats are carnivores, so if you want them to be as healthy as possible, you need to be sure they’re eating enough animal protein.

TIP! Don’t try using dog food or products for your cat. They can have very strong and possibly negative reactions to dog products.

Buy your cat a fountain to drink from. Cats like running water for drink more than water that is just sitting there. Streaming water is your best bet. Cats will even drink from the tap if they can! A drinking fountain will be good for the environment and can help the cat to enjoy its water more.

Your cat should be given food from a can. While dry food is less costly, the canned food has added benefits. Your cat will get more water and more vitamins and protein. It’s easier for older cats to chew as well. Speak with a vet, but know that wet food is normally much better for your pet.

Do not use chemicals around your cat that contain phenol. This chemical is present in many household cleaners, such as Pine-Sol and Lysol. Cats hate the smell, and it can do sever damage to a cat’s liver if left near it for prolonged periods.

TIP! Don’t allow your cat to get bored too often. Cats need to exercise and play.

A declawed cat should not be outdoors. The cat will have difficulty playing with other animals and may get hurt. Indoor cats are the only ones that may be declawed. Only take out the front claws. A cat’s back claws are not used when scratching furniture, so those can be left.

Cats have shockingly sharp noses, which means they can spot changes in their home with ease. This can be troublesome sometimes if you’re trying to feed the cat new food or give it new toys. If the cat doesn’t like it, don’t be alarmed. As the item becomes a part of your home’s natural smell, your cat will become more comfortable with it.

If your schedule has changed recently, leaving your cat alone for long periods of time, you may find that your cat will seem lonely or lethargic. You can avoid both boredom and loneliness by getting another cat.

TIP! The litter box for your cat needs to be positioned in the right place. Put the litter box in a secluded area, and make sure that it is not near the cat’s food.

Many cat owners give their cats a bath for grooming purposes. It’s not necessary unless there is a mishap. Cats clean themselves, after all. Cat are persnickety when it comes to appearance.

Bad Weather

Do not let cats stay outside in bad weather. Bad weather includes times of extreme wind, cold and rain. Your cat could panic in such weather and put itself in danger. If you leave them out, you might lose them once the weather event is over.

TIP! Cats spend lots of time grooming themselves. Your cat’s long hair can cause hair balls.

Don’t let your cat swat at other people or bite at feet. It’s not cute and can lead to worse behavior. Let your cat know that this behavior is unacceptable when they are young because it will be easier to change bad behavior during this time instead of when they are older.

Cats are very interesting creatures and you could spend the rest of your life trying to figure them out. The tips here will help you keep them that way. Owning a cat is a wonderful experience but you need to make sure that your friends is happy and healthy.

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