A well-tended cat is a family member, just as beloved as the two-legged variety. It is important to know how to properly care for your cat, so that it can enjoy a long and happy life. Knowing more about cat care can make your relationship more enjoyable. Read these tips to help your cat live a long and healthy life.

If you have drape cords in your home, keep them away from your cats. Cats should not be allowed to play with these cords, as they can get parts of their body stuck in the cord loops. This is an extreme choking hazard and should be prevented at all costs. Hang your drapery cords out of your cats’ sight to avoid this.

TIP! Regular veterinary checkups are important for the health of your cat. Cats require special shots to prevent illness and the vet can check their overall health.

Put a heated tile beneath the bed of an older cat. Just heat a one-foot square terra cotta tile in your oven at about 200 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Wrap it up in a towel and place it under where your cat sleeps. This should be changed a few times a day to maximize comfort.

Take your cat to the vet regularly to make sure they remain in good health. They need a routine check-up every year, maybe more of important shots are necessary. If you notice that your cat appears to be experiencing some sort of illness or injury, do not delay a trip to the vet.

Don’t give a cat a dog’s product. This can irritate your cat or cause an allergic reaction. This warning applies to products for getting rid of fleas. Flea treatments made for a dog can be fatal to a cat. Keep them separated by at least one door for a few hours after treatment.

TIP! Your home likely has no small spaces a curious cat won’t want to investigate. If they have a collar on, this might prove to be a safety risk if they happen to get stuck.

It can be hard to make your cat stay off the counter. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings. You can remedy this by creating some place up high that you can can enjoy hanging out in. Sometimes strategically placing a tall cat tower near your kitchen will help.

Cats are usually more active during the night. The result is that cats prefer to be more active during the night. Close the door to prevent the noise from getting to you. This will keep them from pouncing on you and trying to play in the middle of the night.

You should create a tablecloth for the cats in your home. Some cats prefer removing their food from the bowl and eating it on the side. This habit means you will end up with cat food on the floor to clean up. To make clean up a breeze, use a place mat underneath the bowl or a piece of fabric. You’ll be able to pick it up easily and shake the excess food into the trash.

TIP! If your kitty is a female, make sure to plan a spaying once she is of age to breed. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands.

Consider getting your cat a fountain to drink from. When cats are in the wild they tend to prefer water that is running when they are thirsty, this applies to cats at home. Cats prefer to drink water that is streaming. Cats will even drink from the tap if they can! Fountains keep the water cool and clean.

Feed canned food to your cat. Even though the dry versions can be more cost-effective, canned cat food usually is more beneficial. Canned food will give your cat more water, fat and protein. Canned food is much easier to chew for older cats. You should ask your vet for some recommendations if you are not sure what kind of food to get.

Take a cat who pees all over the house to the vet. Cats often do such things when suffering from urinary tract infections or other sorts of health issues. Take the cat to the vet if it stops using the litter-box and let the vet diagnose the problem.

TIP! The cat’s litter box should be placed in the right spot. The box should be out of the high traffic areas and a good distance from where your cat eats.

Cats are able to pick up many different parasites. These vermin will remain with your pet unless you take action. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to spoil and safeguard your beloved cat. Your pet will be glad you did.