Cats are very interesting animals and you will love yours right away if you decide to adopt one. You are responsible for learning and using what you have learned to provide the best life for your cat. Keep reading to learn more about cat care.

Drape Cords

TIP! Local rescue organizations are a great place to look for a new pet cat. Many shelters are overcrowded with lovable and adoptable cats.

Drape cords should be kept distant from cats. Cats can potentially strangle themselves on these cords so it is important to protect your cat from this potential danger. This is an extreme choking hazard and should be prevented at all costs. Therefore, ensure that drape cords are pinned away from your cat’s reach.

When considering a new pet, make sure you visit the area shelter first. Many shelters are overcrowded with lovable and adoptable cats. When adopting a shelter cat, you’re saving a life and aiding in controlling the cat population.

If your cat is female, you need to get it spayed at the proper age. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands. The best method of stopping this is to have your cat spayed.

TIP! Properly groom your cat. You have to make sure your cat gets brushed or combed often.

Ensure that your cat goes to the vet often so that they are healthy. They should go at least once yearly for a check-up, and more often if they need any shots. Cats need to be seen by a vet right away if there are injuries or health problems that don’t go away.

Make sure your cat has a collar if it goes outside. Cats can travel far, and a tag will help you find the cat easier if they get lost. Some required information on the tag would be the cat’s name and your personal phone number.

Cats love to be clean. Hairballs are more common in long-haired cats. Special food can help. The are specially formulated cat foods that help reduce the instances of hairballs, which is not only good for your cat, but also good for you and your feet in the middle of the night.

TIP! To safely help an old cat feel comfortable, place a heated tile under its bed. Heat a fabric covered heating pad in the microwave for a couple of minutes, making sure that is not too hot to the touch.

Little kids shouldn’t be left alone near cats. Guide your kids in handling a feline. Teach them what are appropriate activities and how to gently touch it. A cat’s bones are not as strong as a dogs, and they should be treated more gently.

Set a tablecloth under your cat’s food bowl. Sometimes cats like to take food out of the bowl and eat it to the side of the bowl. That can mean a bigger mess for you to clean. 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.

Speak to other people if you’re having cat troubles. Although you may feel like you don’t need help, other owners may be able to give you good advice. You can find online cat forums to ask questions, or you can speak with your vet.

TIP! If your cat is female, it is very important that she be spayed when the vet feels she is old enough. Even if she spends her time indoors, it is possible for her to escape while in heat, causing an unwanted pregnancy.

Cats do not need to be taught how they should use the cat litter box. Cats instinctively understand what to do and teaching is not required. While some folks think you should pick up your cat and place their paws against the litter, this can actually be traumatic.

Feeding your cat different types of food helps ensure they don’t get finicky. If they only eat the same food, they may never eat another food in the future.

Feed canned food to your cat. Dry food is less expensive, but there are added benefits to be had in canned cat food. The moist food gives your cat water, and it usually has more protein and fat in it. Canned food is much easier to chew for older cats. Can food is generally better, but consult your vet first before feeding it to your cat.

Litter Box

Your cat’s choice to potty outside the litter box could signal something more worrisome than misbehavior. Many feline health conditions can cause a cat to urinate and defecate in random places outside of their litter box. A potential bladder or kidney infection may be the reason for this. Be sure to go see your vet if your cat stops using its box.

If your cat is pregnant, make sure she has plenty of room to give birth. The process generally takes about three hours, so you must exercise patience. If it has been more than six hours and you believe more kittens are still inside your cat, you need to get her to the vet right away.

TIP! If you have an outdoor kitty, make sure to invest in a break away collar with an identification tag. Cats love to roam, so you need to give someone who finds your cat a way to contact you.

Dogs wag their tails frequently when they are happy or excited to see their owners. Cats also exhibit this tail-wagging behavior, but the message is different. Cats wag tails if they sense conflict, or if they’re trying to decide whether to fight or flee. If you notice you cat begin to wag his tail when you are holding him, put him down to be sure you are not scratched or swatted.

Your cat will thank you if you avoid phenol in your cleaning products. This chemical is often in Lysol and certain other regular household cleaners. The smell from this chemical is disliked by cats. Also, when exposed to phenol for too long, it can cause issues with their liver.

You should never medicate a cat with something that was meant for humans. If your cat is ill, you need to take him to the vet to get proper treatment. When you make the mistake of giving any type of human medication to your cat, it can kill them or cause them some other type of grave medical misfortune.

TIP! You may want to have a microchip implanted in your cat. Even cats that live their lives entirely indoors can suddenly escape out a window or door.

As you’ve read, a cat can be a wonderful companion. To make sure your cat stays happy and healthy, you need to learn all you can about caring for them peoperly. Read on to learn all of this information. Your pet cat will love you!