Cats make great pets, but they can also make expensive pets. Veterinarian bills, cat food, cat toys and kitty litter all add up. The following are a few tips that should help you to find more enjoyable, less expensive ways to care for your cat.

Taking your cat to the vet is part of being a responsible pet owner. They should have a routine check-up once a year or more if important shots are due. Don’t hesitate to take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice anything unusual about their health or if they are injured.

TIP! Check-ups are an absolute must for any pet cat. Your cat should receive shots regularly to prevent health issues.

Don’t use items on a cat that are meant for a dog. They can have very strong and possibly negative reactions to dog products. Flea products are a great example of this. Flea treatments made for a dog can be fatal to a cat. If you treat your dog for fleas, make sure you keep the cat away for several hours following the application.

Avoid letting your cat get bored. Cats need play and exercise. A lot of cat owners do not keep their cats busy. Bored cats tend to develop emotional and mental disorders that may negatively impact their health. Give them toys they can play with, play with them yourself, or at the least give them room to exercise. Give them a cat tree to play with.

When you purchase a kitten for your child, set rules and boundaries beforehand. Make sure your children know where in the house the cat is permitted to be. If you’re planning on keeping your kitty inside full time, make sure your kids know their pet shouldn’t go outdoors. Establishing these boundaries ahead of time prevents any confusion.

TIP! Cats enjoy getting into small spaces. If they have a collar on, this might prove to be a safety risk if they happen to get stuck.

Don’t let your cat go outside. Going outdoors isn’t very safe for a domesticated cat. Your cat could get fleas or even worse parasites. Your cat might be injured by people, other animals and even vehicles on the road. If you’ve just got to have the cat outdoors, limit it to an enclosed area.

Cats like to be up high. To make your cat happier, give him a lookout perch where he can check out the area. If you’re averse to cat trees for some reason, a shelf without breakable items will work. You could even place a small bed or blanket on the shelf to make your cat feel more comfortable.

Don’t stress yourself out about instructing your cat on proper litter box usage. This is the sort of thing which flows naturally. It’s not a good idea to rub your cats paws in litter. Some people think this is the way to train. It isn’t.

TIP! A heated tile can be positioned beneath the bed of a mature cat. Use a 12″ terra cotta tile and heat it by putting it in a 200ºF oven for 20 minutes.

Never reprimand your cat for missing the litter box. It might be happening because you aren’t caring for the box good enough. Punishment can make your cat fearful in your presence.

Vary your cat’s diet just a tiny bit to keep them from being picky. If you feed your cat the same food all the time, your cat will likely be uninterested any any other brand or flavor.

Feed your cat quality cat food. Beef, fish or chicken, all great protein sources, should head the list of main ingredients. Avoid brands that use non-meat fillers like corn. Cats are carnivores and need animal protein to stay healthy.

TIP! Be sure your cat gets regular checkups at the vet. They should have regular check ups annually, and more appointments should be made if they need to get important shots.

Canned food is an excellent choice for cats. Even though the dry versions can be more cost-effective, canned cat food usually is more beneficial. There is more water in canned food and more protein and fat too. Aging cats find it makes it much easier to chew. Ask your vet for more info, bun in general, canned food is much better for a number of reasons.

Play is essential to your cat’s life. Play is important for all mammals, even people, regardless of their age. While older cats aren’t near as energetic, they still enjoy playing often. Make sure you have fun with the cat whenever you can!

There is more care to consider with long-haired cats. All that hair will be literally everywhere. If you can handle the extra grooming and cleaning time, then a long haired cat might be a good choice for you. Also, cats with long hair tend to have frequent hairball issues.

Litter Box

Move the litter box if your cat won’t use it. The best place for a litter box is in a secure, quiet area. Cats feel vulnerable when they’re using it, so they want it to be in a place where they feel safe. Basements, laundry rooms and other quiet spots are best.

If you own a declawed cat, do not let it outdoors. Your cat will have no way of defending itself against other animals, which means it could get seriously injured or even killed. Declaw your cat if you plan on always having it inside. Make sure that only the front claws are removed. Don’t take the back claws as cats need them to stay balanced.

TIP! Use quality food to prevent crystals from forming in a cat’s urine. This problem is painful for the cat and to your wallet, as well.

Pets can be pricy to care for and cats aren’t an exception. They need a lot of help, and it can be just like caring for a small child at times. As you’ve seen here, your cat expenditures can be reduced while still allowing you to take good care of your cat.