Cats are amazing creatures. Their smarts, affectionate nature and sense of independence make them terrific house pets. However caring for cats is not always easy. Read on for a ton of helpful tips on caring for your cat, and use what you will learn to provide the best home for your feline friend.

Prevent your cats from playing with drapery cords. Whenever cats jump on these cords, they might get tangled up in them. This may seriously injure or kill your cat. Hide the cords for safety sake.

TIP! Keep your cat groomed. Brushing is a very important component towards taking care of your cat.

If your kitty is a female, make sure to plan a spaying once she is of age to breed. Even if you have an indoor female cat, if it escapes when it’s in heat it could get you a bunch of kittens you weren’t planning on having. Spaying the feline is really the optimal way of dealing with this.

Cats can really scratch up your home. If your cat is ripping up and shredding your home, invest in a kitty tower or scratching post. Teach your cat to scratch this instead of the legs of a couch or sofa. Sooner or later, they’ll love to use it.

Cats are nocturnal animals. This means nighttime is an active time for your cat. If your cats are busy keeping you awake early, just close your bedroom door. It also protects your toes from those crafty midnight pounces.

TIP! Keep your older cat comfortable by placing a heated tile underneath its bed. Place a tile made of terra cotta or a similar material in an oven heated to 200 degrees for around 15 to 20 minutes.

Be attentive to your cat and give them your love and company, often. Cats need companionship as much as we do. Cats thrive when treated like part of the household, so involve them in daily activities around the house. They want to feel like a valuable, happy family member, too.

Cats frequently groom themselves. If the cat has longer hair, it can be the cause of hairballs. If your cat needs assistance with this problem, consider a special diet. Some foods are in fact formulated specifically to reduce hairballs, and that is a good idea for your cat and you too.

Prevent crystals from forming in the urine of male cats with the right diet. The cat is in pain passing the crystals, and the correction for this is costly. Feed your cat food that is low in magnesium. Read the ingredient list on the label. Fish products tend to be higher in magnesium than poultry products.

TIP! Deter cats from shocking themselves on electrical wires by spraying them with bitter apple. If they like to chew on cords, try covering them as much as you can.

If you’re traveling with your cat, take care to remember their ears. You may love loud music, bit it might be bothering your cat. Therefore, the volume of your music should be minimized, and turn it off completely if necessary.

Do you own both a dog and a cat? Dogs will eat cat food right up. This is why you should have a feeding area for your cat that is too high for the dog to reach. This will prevent the two from fighting over the water when the food dishes are empty.

Speak to your peers about your cat issues. It’s possible that you could solve the problem on your own, but why deny help from others? You can locate forums about cats online if you search for them. On these forums you can ask for advice, or you can just speak with a vet.

TIP! When you get a kitten for kids, you have to set up a few rules first. Tell your kids which rooms the cat is allowed in.

Cats make good pets if you take your time when you are learning about them. Refer to the tips included here often. Put the tips into practice today, then watch your feline companions thrive and grow in a healthy way.