Cats are amazing friends and companions. Those that haven’t owned cats before should read the article below. If you have never owned a cat before, read these tips for important information.

Spray bitter apple on electrical cords. If your cat is especially intent on chewing cords, keep them covered as much as possible. If you have any loose cords around your home, try stuffing them into a used paper towel roll. Electronics with thin cords must be put out of reach when they aren’t being used.

TIP! Keep your cat groomed. Remember to brush your cat’s fur and comb it regularly.

Keeping your cats away from the counters can be hard. If your cat is high, he can see everything that is going on. To help prevent your cat from doing this, you can establish tall places specifically for your cat. Having a cat tower near your kitchen will keep them off your counters.

When it comes to litter boxes, placement is everything. Don’t put it close to your cat’s food or in an area that gets too much traffic. To minimize odors, keep it in a spot that’s well ventilated. Not only will your cat appreciate it but you will too.

Cats will often devote most of their time to grooming. Your cat can get hairballs in the event that their hair is too long. Buy special food in order to help that problem. Some foods are in fact formulated specifically to reduce hairballs, and that is a good idea for your cat and you too.

TIP! Take your cat in for regular vet exams. Cats require special shots to prevent illness and the vet can check their overall health.

Consider all the options before you let your cat be an outdoors cat. This can put your cat in an unsafe position. Cats can become infected with fleas, ticks and ringworm. There is the possibility they may get injured by another animal, even people and cars too. If you’ve just got to have the cat outdoors, limit it to an enclosed area.

Do you own both a dog and a cat? Keep in mind that the two animals have separate dietary needs, and dogs will try cat food if given the chance. You should keep your cat food away from the dog. The added benefit is that you will prevent fights over the other animals food and water when one of them runs out.

Splurge on your cat’s food. Always look at the ingredients first. You want to see either fish, chicken or beef noted. Stay way from cat foods made of corn or any other ingredients that aren’t based in protein. Cats are meant to eat meat, and that means that they need to have foods that are high in protein.

Aired Cat

A long-haired cat comes with a great deal of extra care. Shedding is a major issue that you will have to face. Realize the extra effort needed to keep a long-haired cat. Also, give them the right food which is anti-hairball.

Make sure you consider where you are going to place the cat’s litter box. You may really want to hide that box from everyday life. The litter box should be somewhere that is easy for your cat to get to, however. It has to be a quiet area with little traffic. Keeping litter boxes on cement floors that are cold can be remedied by placing a rug or mat under it.

TIP! Do not use dog products on your cat. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs.

When dogs are excited their tails wag from side to side. A cat may look like it is wagging its tail, but it is completely different than what a dog does. In cats, wagging of the tail tends to indicate conflict or anxiety. If you hold your cat and it starts wagging its tail, you should put your cat down right away.

Put a collar around your cat’s neck. Make sure it has your address, phone number and name. Even if they’re an indoor cat, they may get out. If this occurs, you should ensure you do all you can to get your cat back.

Indoor Cats

TIP! Think about putting a microchip in your pet. Even cats that live their lives entirely indoors can suddenly escape out a window or door.

Make sure your cat stays inside as much as it can, near to both its home and its owner. Indoor cats typically live longer than those who live outside. Indoor cats don’t face the diseases and other risks that outdoor cats do.

If your cat has been declawed, outdoors should be off-limits. Since the cat is not able to adequately defend himself from attack, there is a risk of serious injury. Cats that are declawed should be indoor cats only. Even then, you should only have the front claws removed. A cat’s back claws are important to his balance.

Consider your cat if you are going to make a schedule change. You can avoid both boredom and loneliness by getting another cat.

TIP! The litter box for your cat needs to be kept in a good place. You shouldn’t keep it near your pet’s food, and you shouldn’t keep it in an area people walk through a lot.

Feed dry food to your cat. As kittens, cats require wet food because of their tiny teeth. Once they grow up though, dry, harder food will strengthen their teeth and keep them clean. Try also mixing together dry and wet food if you’ve got a picky cat.

Don’t feed your cat too much since this may cause them to acquire health issues later on. Overeating can cause obesity in your cat, which can cause serious illness, similar to people. Monitor your cat’s meal portions, and be sure he is getting a well balanced diet.

Since cats can catch many diseases outside, such as rabies or fungal infections, plan on keeping your pet cat inside. Even though it is possible these issues could affect indoors cats as well, they are definitely more prone to experience them if they are outside quite a bit.

TIP! Your cat needs lots of affection and love. They give us love, and we need to return it to them.

If you are getting a pet, cats are a fantastic choice. Cats are often a comfort and can also aid in stress relief. However, you need to know the proper way to take care of a cat if you’re going to own one. Consider the advice listed above, and help to give your cat a high quality of life while you enjoy his company.