Although independent, cats still require plenty of care from their owners. The grooming methods you use on dogs or other animals won’t necessarily work for your cat. A little extra care and attention is needed to keep them looking good. Continue reading to learn excellent cat-grooming tips.

If you own a female cat, you should have her spayed when she is old enough. You may not think it’s necessary if you have an indoor cat, but your cat may escape. The best method of stopping this is to have your cat spayed.

TIP! Check your local animal shelter if you have plans to get a cat. Many shelters are overcrowded with lovable and adoptable cats.

Make sure your cat sees a vet regularly to maintain their good health. They need a routine check-up every year, maybe more of important shots are necessary. If your cat has any health issues or injuries, you should try and have them seen right away.

Flea Products

Make sure you purchase medicines and treatments specifically for cats. It is possible that a dog’s product could cause a serious adverse effect on a cat. Flea products can be especially harmful. Your cat may die if you use dog flea products on it. Once you use flea prevention products on your dog, it should be kept separately from the cat for hours.

TIP! Make sure that your cat is well groomed. Cats require frequent brushing or combing.

Make sure your cat is not too bored. Cats need to play and get regular exercise. But many cat owners ignore that need. Cats who get bored can actually become depressed or display other undesirable behaviors. Give them plenty of space to roam and provide them with toys to give them some exercise. If you have an indoor cat, offer him a variety of toys, scratching post or objects he can climb on.

Cats love to be clean. However, if it has a lot of hair, hairballs can occur. To help your cat out with this problem, try buying him special food. Some foods have special formula for hairball reduction, which will benefit you and your cat.

Pay Attention

TIP! Be sure you have a vet that your cat sees regularly so it stays healthy. Cats need routine annual check-ups and possibly additional ones as well for vaccinations.

Pay attention and try to figure out what is causing your cat to meow. After a while, you’ll start to recognize what some of the noises your cats makes mean. She may be hungry, or she may want you to let her outside. When you pay attention to the cat’s actions and cues, then may grow to understand the cat all the more.

A battered appearance isn’t a good reason to discard a beloved cat condo or scratching post. Cats typically like older posts compared to newer posts. Your cat might not want to use the new scratching post and start ruining your furniture instead.

Plan on spending the money for good cat food that contains the nutrients that your cat needs. Always look at the ingredients first. You want to see either fish, chicken or beef noted. Some foods contain a lot of fillers like corn products, don’t buy those. Because cats are carnivores, their diet need only consist of a good source of protein.

Drinking Fountain

Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat to get water from. Cats like running water in the wild, as well as in the home. Streaming water is much easier for your cat to take in. You could even consider turning on your sink a few times a day to let your cat drink from the faucet. A drinking fountain designed for your cat is the ideal solution to keep the cat happy.

Provide your cat with canned food rather than dry. Dry food is cheaper, but some wet foods have more benefits. The moist food gives your cat water, and it usually has more protein and fat in it. Older cats find it easier to eat, too. Your vet can give you more information specific to your cat, though canned food is usually better.

TIP! Put bitter apple on all electrical cords. If your cat still prefers to chew on cords, then you have to make sure they stay covered.

Cats need to play! No matter what age, play is common among cats and other animals. Even older cats love a little play, just not as rough. Make an effort to have playtime with your cat regularly.

Keeping your cat up to date on vaccinations and annual check ups can keep your cat in good health and provide a longer life. Just like with having kids, young cats need to be checked on to see if they’re doing okay from time to time. It also needs its shots so that you can avoid problems later on down the road. When you have a cat, it becomes a member of your family, so you’ll want to ensure that it’s as healthy as possible.

Litter Box

TIP! Cats appreciate all the affection you can give. A cat’s companionship should be returned with the same.

If your pet is avoiding its litter box, try moving it to a different spot. A cat will be more inclined to use the litter box if it is placed in a quiet and safe area in your home. Low-traffic areas like basements and laundry rooms are great places to put the litter box.

When a dog wags it’s tail, it’s telling you that it is excited or happy. Cats wag their tails, but definitely not for the same reason. If you see a cat’s tail moving like that, it is an indication that they are agitated or don’t know what to do. Similarly, if your cats tail wags when you hold it, it’s wise to put it down at that time.

Put a collar around your cats neck that contains your name, address, and number. Even if you own an indoor cat, it’s possible he or she might escape. It that is the case, you should make certain they have the ability to get back home.

TIP! Cats love to be clean. If your cat has hair that’s long it could get hairballs.

Your cat will look great after a high quality grooming session. It is your job to do what you can to keep your feline friend healthy, happy, and comfortable. Any grooming efforts you take will be appreciated by your cat. Use the tips shared here for grooming and making your cat happy.