Cats, just like all kinds of pets, require care from a responsible owner. You don’t groom a cat the same way you would a dog or another type of pet. You need to pay attention to your cat. Read on to find more things cat owners should know.

Keep your drape cords out of your cats reach. These can cause your cat to choke if they get a hold of it. This could hurt or kill them. Pin the cords of your drapes up where your cat can’t get to them.

TIP! Don’t let your cats play with drape cords. These are not great play toys for cats.

Cats like to get into all sorts of small spaces. If they have a collar on, this might prove to be a safety risk if they happen to get stuck. A collar that will breakaway is the best idea for safety. Your cat can preserve a few of his nine lives with this.

Don’t use dog portions for your cat. Cats can have strong negative reactions to a product that is formulated for a dog. This happens a lot with flea products. Your cat can die when exposed to flea prevention items made for dogs. You need to separate your pets when you treat them for fleas.

You may want to have a microchip put into your car. Even indoor cats can decide to run away at a moment’s notice, escaping through an open window. A tagged collar might help get kitty home, but it can just as easily come off if snagged on a branch. Your name and the best way to contact you can be encoded on the chip, which is tiny. Most organizations that deal with animal care can scan your cat for microchips, and because they are implanted, they won’t get lost.

TIP! It’s crucial that your pet gets checkups from your vet regularly. They should get their vaccinations and have a full check up.

Being nocturnal is quite normal for cats. This means their behavior is quite active during the night. If your kittens are keeping you awake into the middle of the night, close the door to your bedroom. You won’t be able to hear their sounds as they walk around in the middle of the night.

Be sure to show your cat affection as much as possible. They want warm companionship since that’s what they provide to you. Like most people, cats like to socialize and feel that they are included in the family. They want to know they are a valuable part of the family too.

Put your cat’s food on a tablecloth. Sometimes cats prefer to remove food from their bowls and eat it from the floor. That means you will have to tidy up the food left beside the cat bowl. Think about putting a placemat underneath the bowl or make your own tablecloth out of fabric.

Outdoor Cat

Reconsider having an outdoor cat. This could be harmful and unsafe. You cat might pick up pests or fleas. They might get injured by some other animals, vehicles, or people. If your cat must be an outdoor cat, limit it to your own backyard.

Feeding them lots of different foods can lower their chances of becoming finicky eaters. If you feed them the same cat food every day, they may not accept anything else. This makes it difficult to find food they’ll eat when a store runs out of a certain brand, or you are traveling.

TIP! Cats are usually more active during the night. Your cat will probably be very active during the night.

Buy your cat a fountain it can drink from. In nature, a cat prefers to drink from running streams. House cats prefer this as well. Streams of water will attract your cat. Running sink water is another alternative that you can use. Fountains keep the water cool and clean.

Make sure that your cat has a collar on with ID tags on it. Even an indoor pet should have this. An adventurous cat can easily slip through an open door or window. The identification tags should contain your home phone number and the number for your veterinarian. If your kitty has medical conditions, this information can be a life saver.

Is your cat peeing all the time, sometimes in places that it shouldn’t? If so, you should talk to your veterinarian. Cats often do such things when suffering from urinary tract infections or other sorts of health issues. Certain antibiotics prescribed by your vet can clear up the problem.

TIP! A proper diet for male cats will help prevent kidney problems that cause them to pass crystals with their urine. Passing those crystals hurts and having this corrected by a vet is expensive.

Think about the extra work before buying a long-haired cat. Shedding is a major issue that you will have to face. Don’t adopt a cat with long fur unless you’re sure you can handle the extra cleaning. Hair balls are also more prevalent in long haired cats.

Give the cat a collar with your contact information. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, there is that small chance he or she might get out one day. If your cat does get out, make sure that it can get home.

You may often eat things that are quite bad for cats. Some of these include onions, grapes, garlic and green tomatoes. When a cat eats these items, they can get very sick. Dairy, including milk, is also not a good thing to give your cat.

Outdoor Cats

Your cat should stay inside most of the time, and when it’s outside, you should ensure it remains close to home. Studies have proven that cats who live most of their life indoors live longer than outdoor cats. Indoor cats don’t face the diseases and other risks that outdoor cats do.

When your cat is properly cared for, it looks, feels, and behaves wonderfully. It’s up to you to tend to your cat’s needs and take the necessary steps to keep it healthy. Whatever grooming you do will be appreciate by the cat. Follow this post, and spend time grooming your cat regularly.