The poet T.S. Eliot once stated cats are animals which households depend on. He was not entirely wrong in this statement. A home can benefit from a healthy, good cat. Unfortunately, cats aren’t the easiest pets to live with. These tips will help you live comfortably with your cat.

Your home furnishings can fall victim to your cat’s sharp claws. Buy a scratching post if you need to protect the furniture in your home. You should scold your cat when it scratches your furniture and direct its attention to the scratching post or tower. Your cat will eventually understand they should only use the post or tower for scratching.

TIP! Get your cat to a vet on a regular basis for the best health possible. Cats need routine shots and wellness checks just like people.

The correct location is important when picking a spot for a cat’s litter box. Don’t put it where the cat can’t reach it or near their food. The area should also be well ventilated so that it doesn’t smell too badly. Your cat and you will prefer this in the end.

Receiving plenty of positive, loving attention is important for your cat. They usually offer us warm companionship, and they require the same. Cats need social time with the family just like people do so that they know that they are valued. Make her feel like she is part of your family.

Be considerate of your cat’s preferences while traveling. Although you might enjoy jamming to your music, understand that cats prefer peace and quiet. Try turning down your tunes or keeping it off to make your cat’s trip better.

TIP! If your cat is outdoors, it needs to have a tagged collar. Cats can travel a long way and this will help you get them back easier if they’re lost.

Create a tablecloth that your cats can use. Cat’s will often remove food from their bowl to eat it. If this occurs, you will have a mess on your hands. An easy solution to this problem is a placemat underneath the food dish, or a piece of fabric you can easily wash.

You should think before allowing your cat to go outside. This could be harmful and unsafe. Your cat can pick up fleas, or worse. Cats can be gravely injured or killed by eating poisonous plants, flowers or chemicals, hit by a car or even harmed by neighbors who are irritated with your cat on their property. If your cat must be an outdoor cat, limit it to your own backyard.

Cat Owners

TIP! A microchip will allow you to find your pet if it is lost. You may not have had trouble with your cat getting loose previously, but it can happen at any time by accident.

If you’re having an issue with your cat, try to get some input from other cat owners. Though you want to handle problems on your own, you may require advice from others who own cats. Use the Internet to share tips with other cat owners and ask your questions or talk with your neighbors, friends or veterinarian.

Regularly brush your cat’s hair. This helps to stimulate blood flow and circulation, and it will also help to evenly distribute the natural oil your cat’s fur has. It’ll also remove all that loose hair. This can reduce hairballs which can be harmful to a cat and build up in their stomachs.

Consider buying your cat a special drinking fountain. Cats out in the wild like to drink from running water, so they would like that at home too. A constant stream of water will entice them to stay hydrated. Actually, certain cats like to drink right from the sink faucet as it runs. A fountain keeps the water moving without letting any go to waste.

TIP! Cats will be up during the night more often than not. Your cat will probably be very active during the night.

If you’re adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a few weeks to get to know each other. The cats might hiss, swat and hide from each other at first. Your cats will grow used to the presence of the other animal and will eventually get along.

If you notice your cat is urinating a lot or at improper places, you should take it to the vet. Cats may show this behavior if they develop an infection of the urinary tract, or some other health issue. Take the cat to the vet if it stops using the litter-box and let the vet diagnose the problem.

Does it seem like your cat’s hairs are everywhere you look? Cats are known for shedding, so good grooming habits are a must. You should brush your cat quite a bit of they are prone to shedding. It’s also a great aid to keeping the cat’s coat as pristine as possible.

TIP! The correct location is important when picking a spot for a cat’s litter box. You shouldn’t keep it near your pet’s food, and you shouldn’t keep it in an area people walk through a lot.

There are some thing that you eat that may not be good for your cat. Some of these foods are green tomatoes, grapes, onions and garlic. Even a little taste of these foods can make your cat seriously sick. Dairy, including milk, is also not a good thing to give your cat.

Any chemicals that have phenol should be kept away from your cat. This is a chemical that is normally found in Lysol, Pine-Sol and other household cleaners. Not only is the smell offensive to cats, but exposing them to this chemical for prolonged periods of time can lead to problems with their liver.

Caring for a cat can be difficult, but it is very gratifying. No matter how active or lazy your cat may be, the advice you have read will help the two of you get along better. Sounds of contentment are bound to arise more often.