Owning a cat is a lot of fun. However, it should be noted that owning cat also requires a lot of hard work. Cat owners have many responsibilities. Luckily, the article below will illustrate exactly what those responsibilities are. Keep reading and learn a little something about caring for your cat.

Making sure your cat doesn’t jump on the counters is hard to do. Cats enjoy high places so they can see what is happening around them. You can get your cat to quit doing this if you make areas that it can climb up to. If you place a cat tower around the kitchen area, they may be less likely to lay on your counters.

TIP! Don’t let your cats play with drape cords. If the cat becomes caught in a loop, they could choke to death.

Your cat needs love and attention. Cats need companionship as much as we do. Your cat needs to socialize and get plenty of attention from everyone in your family. Cats want to feel loved and needed.

Cats sometimes will spend hours grooming themselves to perfection. If the cats hair is too long, this is what causes hairballs. To fix this problem, you can try buying a new food. There are foods on the market for cats that specifically deal with the hairball problems and are good for the cat.

Male felines tend to get crystals in the urine that can be prevented with proper diet. Passing these crystals is painful and the vet bill to have this corrected is expensive. Try to find a cat food that has a low level of magnesium. Be sure that you read the label. Fish-based foods usually contain more magnesium than poultry-based foods.

TIP! If your cat is female, you need to get it spayed at the proper age. Even if she spends her time indoors, it is possible for her to escape while in heat, causing an unwanted pregnancy.

Find cat medicine online if you want to get discounts. If it’s an emergency, buying online may not be an option. However, if your pet gets regular prescriptions for a chronic or ongoing issue, you can often save up to 50 percent by shopping online.

Children usually take well to cats, but if you have a small child, you may need to provide some instruction. Make sure your child knows how to treat a cat. Demonstrate the proper way to pick up a cat and what they can do with the cat. Tell them that a cat’s bones need to be handled more gently than those of a dog.

Canned Cat

TIP! It’s very important to get your cat microchipped. Even a house cat may end up lost outside, no matter how careful you are.

If possible, always choose canned cat food. Yes, dry food is cheaper, but canned food really has a lot more benefits. Canned food will give your cat more water, fat and protein. Aging cats find it makes it much easier to chew. Speak with your vet, however generally speaking, canned cat food is better for your cat.

Ensure your cat is collared and wears an identification tag. This is even true for indoor cats. Cats can be very curious and they may escape out of a door or a window. It is a good idea to include your own phone number along with the name and contact number of your veterinarian. Obviously, this is particularly important for pets who have special health concerns.

If you are thinking about adding another cat to your home, you need to set aside a couple of weeks where you let the animals get used to being around each other. They may seem like they’re fighting all the time. With enough time to acclimate themselves to the new arrangement, though, virtually any two cats will become willing, friendly, and perhaps even inseparable companions.

TIP! Crystals in the urine, an issue many male cats have, can be avoided with the proper food. This problem is painful for the cat and to your wallet, as well.

Play is something that all cats need to do. No matter what age, play is common among cats and other animals. Older cats do not have the same energy level as younger ones, but they still like to play a little. Playing with your cat will help you to form happy and cherished memories to look back on.

There are many great benefits that a cat brings to the table. You definitely need to take care of the feline so that it lives a great and healthy life. Apply what you’ve learned here, if you’re thinking of adding a cat to your life.