Being a responsible cat owner demands a certain level of care and attention. Cats aren’t the same as other pets so they need to be taken care of differently. There is a little extra work involved with keeping them looking good and clean. Read through this article if you would like to know how to take better care of your cat.

Make sure you don’t allow your cat to be around drape cords. You should not allow your cat to play with drape cords since they could end up with the cord wrapped around their neck. They could be seriously hurt or even killed. Therefore, ensure that drape cords are pinned away from your cat’s reach.

TIP! Shop at your local pet shelter for your next cat. Shelters have great pets available for adoption, and the fee isn’t that high.

You should make sure your cat stays groomed properly. A cat’s fur must be brushed or combed on a regular basis. This leads to a cleaner cat. It will also limit shedding and may cut down on hairballs. A cat that is well-groomed is one that looks the best at home.

You need to take your pet to the vet on a regular basis. The vet will be able to provide your cat with needed vaccinations and any medications it requires. Veterinarians also keep tabs on your cat’s overall health and diagnose any problems they find. For the most consistent pet care, choose one veterinarian and stick with them. They will learn your cat’s history best.

To help your old cat feel comfy, keep a tile that’s heated under their bed. Simply heat a terra-cotta tile in a 200 degree oven for 20 minutes. Put it inside a cloth and place underneath your feline’s blanket or bed. Change it every couple of hours if desired.

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

If your cat is female, you need to get it spayed at the proper age. 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 your cat is the best way to prevent this from happening.

It’s not easy to keep cats off counters. Cats like to be up high, where they can watch everything going on. One way to combat this behavior is to proved your cat with an elevated place it is okay to climb on. A carefully placed cat tower in the kitchen will keep cats away from the counter.

Litter Box

TIP! You should take your cat to the vet on a regular basis to maintain optimum health. They should have regular check ups annually, and more appointments should be made if they need to get important shots.

Put your cats’ litter box where it is most acceptable to him. You shouldn’t keep it near your pet’s food, and you shouldn’t keep it in an area people walk through a lot. In addition, you should ensure you place the litter box in a well-ventilated area to minimize the smell. This will keep both you and your cat happy.

Cats sometimes will spend hours grooming themselves to perfection. When the cat’s hair is longer, this could lead to hairballs. There are special foods you can give to your cat to reduce this problem. They help the hair pass through by breaking it down.

If you’re traveling with your cat, take care to remember their ears. You may prefer loud music as you drive down the freeway, blasting your stereo, but your feline friend likes softer sounds better. Therefore, try lowering your music or turning it off in order for your cat to enjoy the trip more.

TIP! Don’t try using dog food or products for your cat. Cats usually react negatively to items made especially for dogs.

Do your best to determine why your cat is meowing. After you have coexisted with a pet cat for a long while, you are sure to figure out its meowing patterns. Possibilities include that she is hungry or wants to be let outside. Watch their cues to learn more about them.

Treat your cat to a good quality cat food. Look at the ingredients and make sure protein like fish, chicken, or beef is near the top. Steer clear of food made primarily of corn and fillers. Cats are naturally carnivorous. If you want to keep them healthy and happy, you need to feed them plenty of animal protein.

Cat Needs

TIP! Your cat needs a collar and tag if it goes outside. If your cat gets lost during its time outdoors, a tag makes it easier to locate the animal.

Your cat needs to always wear some tags on a collar. Even indoor cats should have identification on them. An adventurous cat can easily slip through an open door or window. Tags should include contact information for you and your vet. Veterinary information is essential if your cat needs medication.

Does it seem like your cat’s hairs are everywhere you look? Since cats shed so much, they need to be frequently brushed. You should brush your cat quite a bit of they are prone to shedding. Brushing can help prevent their fur from matting or tangling.

Consider the placement of your cat’s litter box. It’s sometimes tempting to put the box somewhere that you don’t have to smell or see it. However, it’s important to make sure your cat can easily access its litter box. Cats can be picky, so you should be sure that you put its litter box in a spot that isn’t difficult to access or unpleasant in some other way. If you keep the litter box on a cold cement floor, put a mat or rug down underneath it.

TIP! It can be hard to stop your cat from coming on your counters. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings.

Whenever your cat has been properly groomed, it will look incredible. In order to ensure a healthy looking cat, you’ll have to give it the grooming that it needs. Any grooming efforts you take will be appreciated by your cat. Read here about how to be successful in keeping your cat groomed in a healthy, productive way.