Cats are fabulous animals. They have a loving nature at times, and yet are strangely intelligent and independent. It takes work to be a good cat owner. Read on for a ton of helpful tips on caring for your cat, and use what you will learn to provide the best home for your feline friend.

Check your local animal shelter if you have plans to get a cat. Shelters are overflowing with wonderful cats, and the adoption fee usually covers essential vet care. When you adopt a cat from a shelter, you save a life and help keep the cat population under control.

TIP! You must always take your cat for regular vet check-ups. Your cat should receive shots regularly to prevent health issues.

When your female cat is old enough, you should have her spayed. Even if she stays inside all the time, she could get out when in heat and end up pregnant. If your cat has been spayed, however, you won’t have to worry about this happening.

A cat’s claws can cause lots of damage to your home. If your beloved feline friend is shredding and damaging parts of your home, try investing in a cat tower or a scratching post. Entice them to scratch those items rather than your belongings. It may take some time, but will be worth the effort and expense.

Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. Even an indoor cat may find a way out of your home. Collars or tags can identify your cat, but cats can wiggle out of those, and they are also at risk of getting hung up on something. Microchips are very small, and you can note your name, address and phone number in there. Nearly every vet and shelter owns a scanner which can read a microchip, and since they’re implanted, there isn’t a risk of the chip falling out or getting lost.

TIP! If your cat goes outside, it is important to have a collar with a tag. This can help if your cat becomes lost while wandering in the great outdoors.

Think over whether or not you should let your cat go outdoors. This can compromise your cat’s safety. Your cat could get parasites, or worse. There’s the chance that your pet could be harmed by other animals or passing vehicles. If you think your pet needs to go outside, think about enclosing a back patio with metal mesh or some type of heavy screen to keep your cat inside, yet allow them to experience the outdoors.

Cats like to be up high. Providing a safe environment for your cat is key to its happiness. You should install a cat tree or allow your cat to climb on some shelves. Put a blanket on it so they can rest peacefully.

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. They do this by nature and don’t need to be taught. It’s not a good idea to rub your cats paws in litter. Some people think this is the way to train. It isn’t.

TIP! Put bitter apple on all electrical cords. If your cat happens to be a champion cord-chewer, you’ll need to use cord covers to protect your cords.

Make sure to give your cats different types of food so that they aren’t as finicky. If they start eating just one type of food without variation, they are sure to grow finicky.

Don’t buy cheap cat food. Check out the ingredients, and make sure it includes protein, such as meat, as the first item in the list. Try omitting non-protein based foods such as corn from your regular diet. Cats are carnivores and their diet should reflect that.

It can be vastly rewarding to own a cat as long as you realize the commitment involved and are willing to put in the time and energy required. Carefully read over the advice found in this article. Make use of it so that you can enjoy a happy and healthy cat.