Cats are interesting creatures that are great pets. If you’re going to own one, you must know all you can about proper cat care. Carefully read over this article to learn some excellent tips on raising a cat successfully.

Ensure that you groom your cat regularly and properly. You can regularly brush or comb your cat. Brushing rids your cat’s coat of dirt and helps keep them clean. It will reduce shedding, which means that they won’t be experiencing a ton of hairballs. A cat that is well-groomed is one that looks the best at home.

TIP! Local rescue organizations are a great place to look for a new pet cat. Shelters usually have many cats who need a home, and the fees typically include their shots and spaying or neutering.

If you own a female cat, it’s crucial to spay it at the appropriate age. You may not think it’s necessary if you have an indoor cat, but your cat may escape. The best method of stopping this is to have your cat spayed.

Flea Products

Make sure you purchase medicines and treatments specifically for cats. Your cat will have a bad reaction to anything that has been specifically formulated for a dog. Flea products are a great example of this. When used on your cat, flea products for dogs can be lethal. If you treat your dog for fleas, make sure you keep the cat away for several hours following the application.

TIP! Make sure you keep all the recommended appointments with your cat’s veterinarian. Your vet can give you an idea of your cat’s overall health, in addition to administering any shots it may need.

You may want to have a microchip implanted in your cat. Even an indoor cat can get the urge to run out of a door or leap through a window. While a collar with a tag is useful, remember that your cat may be able to escape from the collar while they are away. Collars can also harm your cat if they get caught. Microchips are minuscule, but can hold all the essential information about your cat and its hope. Most organizations that deal with animal care can scan your cat for microchips, and because they are implanted, they won’t get lost.

Litter Box

The litter box for your cat needs to be kept in a good place. It shouldn’t be put in an area with high traffic and should be far from their food. It is also advisable to keep the litter box area ventilated to control odor. You and your cat will greatly appreciate this.

TIP! Spray bitter apple on electrical cords. Most office stores sell a tube that you can stick all of your wires and cords through if the spray doesn’t work.

Cats appreciate all the affection you can give. A cat’s companionship should be returned with the same. Cats, just like people, want to feel like a loved part of a family. Socialization is important to them. A cat can feel that he is a valuable, cherished part of their household.

Chances are, your feline spends many hours grooming himself. When your cat’s coat is long, it can result in hairballs. To help your cat out with this problem, try buying him special food. They help the hair pass through by breaking it down.

Sometimes children get too excited when playing with a new cat and may mishandle them. Make sure your child knows how to pet a cat. Demonstrate the proper way to pick up a cat and what they can do with the cat. Cats have weaker bones than dogs do, and must be treated accordingly.

TIP! Try to avoid your cat from becoming bored each day. Cats need to play and get regular exercise.

Speak with friends and family when you have difficulty with your cat. You can often get great advice from friends and family. You can locate forums about cats online if you search for them. On these forums you can ask for advice, or you can just speak with a vet.

You eat quality food, and if you want your cat to stick around a long time, they need quality food, too. Read the ingredient label, and make sure a protein from meat tops the list. Some foods contain a lot of fillers like corn products, don’t buy those. The main part of a cat’s diet should be meat protein, so his cat food should be mostly real meat.

As previously mentioned, cats are great pets. To make sure your cat is happy and healthy, learn all you can. Refer back to this article whenever you have questions or concerns. Your cat will love you for it.