Cats are amazing animals and some of the most interesting domesticated friends humans can have. Cats are also a very common household pet, and they are very populated in many areas. It can pose quite the challenge and be difficult at first when they are brought indoors. Such intelligent, quick animals can be stubborn and need special techniques.

Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. You have to make sure your cat gets brushed or combed often. This leads to a cleaner cat. Also, this can eliminate the constant shedding that you will deal with. Your cat should be kept groomed so that they look great and you’ll also make your home look good.

TIP! Grooming is an essential part of your cat’s care. You have to make sure your cat gets brushed or combed often.

If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. Cats sometimes travel a bit when outside, and a tag prevents any mishaps due to your cat being lost. Have your phone number engraved on the tag.

Generally, cats love to stay on the counter. They love to be able to look around from up high. One way to nip this problem in the bud is to give your cat a dedicated perch of their own as an alternative to using your space. An excellent tool for preventing your cat from jumping on the counter is a cat tower that is in the kitchen.

Make sure that you never neglect your cat. Most cats crave the same warmth and companionship they give their owners. Cats have a need to communicate with others to show they are part of the family. They also like feeling important and a big member of the family.

TIP! Cats really enjoy squeezing into any and all small spaces. If they have a collar, this can be a safety issue if they get stuck.

Try and figure out why kitty is meowing. After living with your cat for long, it’s easier to interpret its meows. This could mean that your cat needs to go out or is hungry. You’ll learn her cues quickly.

Reconsider having an outdoor cat. Your cat might not be safe outside. It takes mere minutes for your cats to pick up fleas, be bitten by a tick or something far worse. It can also be potentially hurt by cars, people or other animals. If you need to let your cat out of the house, be sure it’s in a safe place.

Is there a dog in your home, as well as a cat? Dogs are known for eating other pet’s food. Feed your pets in different areas of the house, and monitor them while they eat. This also has the effect of stopping fights over the water before they start.

TIP! If a cat is outdoors frequently, they need a collar that has a tag. Cats can go far from home and without a tag they could become lost forever.

You may find it is helpful to talk to others about challenges you have with your cat. You may wish to deal with it alone, but you may need advice from other cat owners. Your local veterinarian can be a valuable source of information, but there is also help available online by joining user forums geared toward cat owners.

Litter Box

Never try to teach a cat how to work a litter box. This is the sort of thing which flows naturally. Some cat owners believe they should expose their cat to the litter box and rub its paws into the litter; however, this may actually have the opposite effect and make your cat scared of it.

TIP! Your furnishings and belongings can easily be ruined by a cat’s claws. If you find your cat tearing up things around your home, buy a scratching post or cat tower.

If your cat is urinating a lot or in areas away from the litter box, they may need to see the vet. A change in where or how a cat urinates can signal a UTI or other health problem. Most of the time, these conditions can be resolved with relatively affordable antibiotic treatments.

Do you feel as if there is cat hair all over the place? Since cats shed so much, they need to be frequently brushed. The more a cat sheds, the moor they should be properly brushed. Brushing will also keep their coat in good shape.

The location of a litter box is very important. It is tempting to place it out of sight, in order to avoid the image of it or smells that go along with dirty litter. However, if you hide it from your pet he might not try very hard to find it when he needs to go to the bathroom. Cats are quite finicky, so it is important to make their bathroom environment appealing them them or risk messes throughout the house. Instead of just keeping the box on cold cement, add a rug or mat beneath it.

TIP! It can be hard to prevent your cat from jumping on the counter. One thing they like about it is they enjoy being high up.

After you read these tips, you will be able to outsmart your cat easily. You’ll teach them where they should go and what areas they should avoid in no time. While they’re not as easy to train as a dog, they can be well-trained and be made into well-mannered companions for their owners.