Cats are a fine domestic animal with great abilities and traits. These felines are one of the most common household pets and flood the streets of every major city when active. Learning to live in a home with these intriguing animals can sometimes be a challenge. These creative, smart, and agile animals can often be stubborn and need special tactics.

Groom your cat. Cats require frequent brushing or combing. This can keep them clean. It’s also helpful in reducing how much cats shed and how often they spit out those dreaded hairballs. Cat grooming will not only keep kitty looking great, but it will also help to reduce the effort spent picking up cat hair around the home.

TIP! If you want to have the love of a cat, get one from a shelter. Shelters usually have many cats who need a home, and the fees typically include their shots and spaying or neutering.

You should be bringing your cat to their vet for a check-up regularly. Cats require special shots to prevent illness and the vet can check their overall health. Do your best to keep the same vet for your pet’s entire life. This is because this person will know your cat and the history of the animal.

Cats love to get into tight, small spaces. Cats that wear collars are at risk should they become stuck somewhere cramped. If your pet is wearing a breakaway collar, it’ll detach if it’s pulled too hard. This could help save your cat if it gets caught in a tight spot.

Flea Products

TIP! A lot of cat owners have a hard time keeping their cats off the counter. Cats enjoy going into high places so that they can see what’s going on around the house.

Avoid using dog products on cats. Cats will react very negatively to any products intended for dogs. Flea products can be especially harmful. When used on your cat, flea products for dogs can be lethal. Keep your cat away from your puppy after treating it with some flea products.

Most cats tend towards nocturnal behavior. Because of this, night time is when they are most active. If you find that your nocturnal kitties are waking you up in the middle of the night, the solution may be as simple as closing the door to your bedroom. Your cat will not bother you in the middle of the night if this area is off limit.

Cover the area around your cat’s bowl with a cloth. Sometimes cats prefer to remove food from their bowls and eat it from the floor. This can result in a mess that needs to be cleaned up. It’s easier to clean up this food by purchasing a placement and inserting it under your cat’s food bowl, or you could simply cut some fabric and make it into a tablecloth so you can easily pick up the food and throw it away.

TIP! Your cat needs attention and a lot of affection. Cats are looking for a response in kind in exchange for all of the friendly companionship they offer to humans.

Try figuring out why the cat is purring. After a while, you’ll start to recognize what some of the noises your cats makes mean. Maybe she wants to go out, or maybe she wants to eat. By listening to your cat, it will be easier to know what they want.

Are you the owner of a dog and a cat? A dog will probably end up eating the cat’s food if it gets the chance. This is why you should have a feeding area for your cat that is too high for the dog to reach. This also ensures that there are no squabbles over the water between the two, when the food is gone.

Avoid spending too much time trying to train your cat to utilize its litter box. This should come naturally for your cat. You cannot teach it to do this. Certain techniques, such as rubbing the paws of your cat in the litter could actual traumatize your cat.

Litter Box

Place the litter box for your cat in an open area. Although you may want to have the litter box hidden in a place where you won’t smell it, your cat’s needs should be before your wants. It is equally important that the litter box is readily accessible to your cat, though. Felines can be finicky. This means you must give them the right location and make sure it is inviting. If you keep the litter box on a cold cement floor, put a mat or rug down underneath it.

Be aware whenever your cat suddenly quits using its litter box. There are a number of medical issues that can cause your cat to suddenly stop using their box. A potential bladder or kidney infection may be the reason for this. If this happens, you are advised to take your cat to the vet.

TIP! Do you have both a cat and dog? Dogs will generally try to eat the cat’s food whenever the opportunity comes along. Because of this, you should keep your cat’s food in a high spot that your dog won’t be able to reach.

Give your cat a collar that features your contact information. Even a house cat may get outside. Should this occur, your cat can be returned to you or someone can contact you with his whereabouts.

You may often eat things that are quite bad for cats. Onions, garlic, grapes and green tomatoes are among these foods. Even a little taste of these foods can make your cat seriously sick. Milk also often upsets your cat’s stomach.

Your cat will thrive if allowed to say indoors. Indoor cats live longer than others allowed to walk around the neighborhood freely. While cats can get their exercise roaming the neighborhood and squaring off against other cats, they can also get diseases and injuries this way. Vigorous indoor play with an owner is a preferable way to get exercise.

TIP! Don’t leave a kitten with small kids. A child less than five years old should not be left alone with a small pet.

If your cat gets hairballs often and you have been brushing her regularly, there are other things that may help. Adding in just 1 teaspoon of pumpkin mixed in with their food bowl can help with prevention. A teaspoon of tuna water mixed with pumpkin can also work. Another solution may be to use a cat food that has anti-hairball properties added.

You cannot be the boss of you cat, it’s hopeless! Your cat will quickly learn where it is permitted to be and where it is not. Though they are very unlike dogs, cats are very loving animals and very rewarding to own.