Cats are a popular pet for millions, and they deserve love and proper care. Every owner should learn the ways to care for a cat. The following cat advice will be of great help.

Check out your local shelter if you are thinking about getting a cat. There are tons of loving cats there, and the fees often cover the needed vet care. By choosing a cat from an animal shelter, you can do your part to help with overpopulation. Also, you become a lifesaver!

TIP! Check out your local shelter if you are thinking about getting a cat. Shelters have a lot of cats in them and you can get one adopted for a small fee.

Cats really enjoy squeezing into any and all small spaces. A collar can become a liability if your cat is especially adventurous. A breakaway collar will let go if it is pulled on too tightly. This can help to save a couple of your cat’s nine lives.

If you have to travel with a cat you should remember their ears. You may like music loud and booming, but a cat will prefer lower volumes as their ears are more sensitive. Keep your music off, and talk to your cat instead.

If you’re getting a kitten for your children, discuss this with them before bringing the cat home. Let your children know which rooms their cat can be in. If you plan to raise an indoor cat, let your children know that the cat cannot go outside. By getting these rules into place before having a cat, you’ll be sure that your children can understand.

TIP! When your female cat is old enough, it’s vital to get her spayed. It does not matter if you an indoor cat; if she gets out when in heat, you can end up with many kittens.

Try to figure out why your cat makes meowing sounds. After living with your cat for long, it’s easier to interpret its meows. It could be she’s hungry or needs to go outside. Know what your cats cries mean so that you’re able to understand the cat more.

Cat Owners

If your cat experiences major problems, don’t be afraid to talk to other cat owners. Although you might want to take care of things on your own, advice from other people with cats can be a big help. There are a number of message boards for cat owners on the Internet, or you can go to your vet with problems.

TIP! Be sure you have a vet that your cat sees regularly so it stays healthy. Your cat should have a health check yearly, but should go in more if your cat needs shots.

It’s important to let your cat see where you place the litter box, but it’s not always a good idea to force your cat to learn how to use it. This will be something that the cat does on its own and it usually is not learned fro another. Some individuals believe they should carry their cat to the litter box and rub paws into the litter. This actually can be quite traumatic for a cat.

Reduce the chances of raising a finicky cat by feeding them several brands of food while they are young. If they eat the same food all the time without changing it, that may be the only one they’ll eat later on.

Don’t toss your cat’s scratching post just because it’s starting to look haggard. To your cat the post is just right. Something new is not necessarily better for a cat, and it may lead them to scratching the furniture.

TIP! Don’t give a cat a dog’s product. Cats can have strong negative reactions to a product that is formulated for a dog.

Feed your cat top quality food. Carefully look over ingredients, and be sure that a quality protein source like chicken, fish, or beef is at the beginning of the list. Any foods with non-protein sources, such as corn, should be avoided. Understand that your cat needs a lot of animal protein to stay healthy.

Keep a collar with ID on your cat. This is very important for indoor cats. Cats are curious creatures, and you never know when they might wander off to explore. Those tags can help if someone finds your kitty. Make sure your info and your vets info is on it. Veterinary information is essential if your cat needs medication.

Litter Box

TIP! Nice furniture and cat claws don’t get along very well. If your couch is starting to look like it’s been put through a shredder, it’s time to invest in a nice scratching post or cat tower.

If you notice your cat is not using the litter box, try moving it to a new location. The best place for a litter box is in a secure, quiet area. Cats feel vulnerable when they’re using it, so they want it to be in a place where they feel safe. A basement, laundry room, or another area that doesn’t experience much household traffic is the ideal spot for the litter box.

Do not use cleaning supplies with phenol in them if you have a cat. Lysol, Pine-Sol and many other products contain this chemical. The smell is offensive to cats, and prolonged exposure can lead to liver problems.

Preventing hairballs can help keep your cat sanitary and safe. You can try blending a spoon of pumpkin into her food. You may also use some tuna packing water to mix with your pumpkin. Special foods are available to help treat hairballs.

TIP! The litter box for your cat needs to be in a good location. Put the litter box in a secluded area, and make sure that it is not near the cat’s food.

Dry food is a good choice for your cat. Kittens need some wet food because they have very small teeth. However, as their teeth grow, the hardness of dry food allows their teeth to get stronger. If you have an extremely finicky cat, you could mix dry and wet food together.

Give your pet a tag and collar, and be sure it always wears it. If it ever finds a way outside, you will be happy you did. If your cat is wearing the appropriate collar with tags, you’ll have a good change of finding it.

Cats are popular pets but they need to be cared for properly. Be sure and use the information in the article below if you are serious about taking care of your cat. With a little love and effort, your cat is sure to have a happy and healthy life.