Read This Advice About Proper Cat Care.

Cats are interesting and amazing animals. They are smart, independent and loving. To ensure that your cat is getting the proper care, it may take a bit of work. Read this article to educate yourself on several helpful cat care tips, and apply what you learn to ensure that your cat stays happy and healthy.

Cats can get into even the tiniest of spaces. Cats that wear collars are at risk should they become stuck somewhere cramped. A breakaway collar will let go if it is pulled on too tightly. This could help save your cat if it gets caught in a tight spot.

Taking your cat in for regular check-ups at the veterinarian’s office is part of being a responsible pet owner. Your cat should have regular well visits, as well as all the recommended vaccinations for his age. Always use the same veterinarian if possible. This way they will know your cat’s history the best.

It may prove quite a challenge to make your cat stay off counter tops. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings. Provide your cat with a few high places it can uses. Sometimes strategically placing a tall cat tower near your kitchen will help.

If you’d like to make an elderly cat’s bed more comfy, stick a heated tile beneath its bed. Place a tile made of terra cotta or a similar material in an oven heated to 200 degrees for around 15 to 20 minutes. Use an old towel to wrap around it, then place it beneath the cat’s blanket or bed. If necessary, change this out every few hours.

Do not allow your cat to stay bored all of the time. Just like dogs, cats need playtime and physical exercise, too. Unfortunately, a lot of cat owners neglect this. Cats that are frequently bored may develop OCD, depression or other harmful conditions. Therefore, ensure your cat has enough space for exercising and playing. A scratching post is a valuable toy to put in your home.

Don’t use items on a cat that are meant for a dog. Cats can have strong negative reactions to a product that is formulated for a dog. This will especially be true if it’s a product for fleas. Flea products meant for dogs can seriously harm or kill a cat. Once you use flea prevention products on your dog, it should be kept separately from the cat for hours.

Cats can have nocturnal tendencies. They get very active at night. 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. This will stop them from bothering you at night, and playing with your feet beneath the covers.

It’s not easy to keep cats off counters. Cats enjoy going into high places so that they can see what’s going on around the house. You can remedy this by creating some place up high that you can can enjoy hanging out in. Placing a cat tower by the kitchen can keep cats from getting on counters.

Though cats make great pets for kids, younger kids may be too rough with them. Show your kids the proper way to handle cats. Teach them which activities are good and how to properly pick your cat up. Feline bones are weaker than those of many other pets, so they must be handled with care.

Have your cat chipped so you can find him if he runs away. You may not have had trouble with your cat getting loose previously, but it can happen at any time by accident. 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. A teeny microchip can hold your contact information. Scanners to read pet microchips are available in every town and they will not come out from under the skin.

Before you consider buying a kitten for your children, make sure clear boundaries are set before you bring the kitten home. Let your kids know where the cat can go. If you want to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that they cannot let it go outside. Knowing the rules ahead will help your child understand.

When it comes to litter boxes, placement is everything. Keep the litter from the cat food, and avoid placing it in a busy area. Additionally, don’t make the mistake of putting it in a poorly-ventilated area, or the smell will become overpowering. Your cat and your nose will thank you for the effort.

Think hard before allowing your cat outside. Going outdoors isn’t very safe for a domesticated cat. It takes mere minutes for your cats to pick up fleas, be bitten by a tick or something far worse. It can also be potentially hurt by cars, people or other animals. If you still insist your cat be able to go outside, then do so in the fenced backyard.

Your cat needs attention and a lot of affection. They are very loving animals and deserve affection back. Similar to people, cats like to socialize and feel as if they are important to their family. They also like feeling important and a big member of the family.

Understand that cats enjoy being elevated. To keep your cat happy, offer him a spot of his own up high where he can survey his kingdom. If a big cat tree is not something that can easily fit in your home, get a sturdy shelf that can be used as a perch. Additionally, you can place a bed or blanket in this space.

Consider all the options before you let your cat be an outdoors cat. This could be harmful and unsafe. They can get fleas, feline AIDS or even leukemia. Cats can be gravely injured or killed by eating poisonous plants, flowers or chemicals, hit by a car or even harmed by neighbors who are irritated with your cat on their property. If your cat must go outside, try to confine them to the backyard.

Get your cat accustomed to a carrier. You cannot punish a cat the same way you would a dog. Positive reinforcement is a better training tool for cats. Leave the door to a carrier open at all times, and make the interior enticing with a beloved toy and blanket. Over time, the cat will feel comfortable and go inside the carrier. Let it happen naturally or with only mild coaxing. Do not get angry. Then, you will have no problem using the carrier.

You shouldn’t leave a young cat with children unattended. Never leave a pet alone with a child who is any younger than five. They don’t know what harm they can do. As children get older, decide when they show the maturity to handle a small pet.

A long-haired cat comes with a great deal of extra care. Long-haired cats are beautiful animals, but keep in mind that they will shed everywhere in your home. You should not get a cat with long-hair unless you are ready to do a lot of cleaning. Long-haired cats also often have hairballs.

Litter Box

If your feline friend is having kittens, make sure to give her lots of room to birth in. The birth will take place over the span of several hours. If it’s been over 6 hours and you think there are more kittens inside, they need to see a vet immediately.

You don’t want to punish a cat if they do their business outside of their litter box. Many times, this is caused by failure to properly clean or place the litter box. The cat will be fearful of you if you punish it.

Dogs let you know when they are excited and/or happy when they wag their tails. Cats also exhibit this tail-wagging behavior, but the message is different. In cats, wagging of the tail tends to indicate conflict or anxiety. If you’re snuggling your kitty and you see its tail wag, it’s a sign you should put it down before you get scratched.

Carriers are great devices for you to have as a cat owner. Cats never respond to punishment the way that dogs do. They prefer encouragement instead. Put the carrier in a comfortable place and fill it with treats and toys. Sooner or later, your cat will try out the appealing space and learn to be comfortable in it. Transporting your cat inside the carrier will then become much easier.

There are things you can eat that your cat cannot. Examples of problem foods include garlic, green tomatoes, onions and grapes. If your cat eats these things, they could become very sick. Even though everyone knows that cats love milk, this can actually cause a cat to have an upset stomach.

Canned food is usually the best option for your cat. Dry foods are cheaper but canned foods are richer in vitamins and nutrients. The moist food gives your cat water, and it usually has more protein and fat in it. For older cats, canned food chew easier. Talk to the veterinarian prior to making any big changes; but, usually, canned food is best for your cat.

Avoid using phenol-containing chemicals if you have cats. This type of chemical can be found in Pine-Sol, Lysol, and other types of cleaners. The smell is something that cats don’t like, and it also can lead to liver damage if it is used around your cats for a long period of time.

If adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a couple of weeks to get comfortable with each other. They may seem like they’re fighting all the time. Eventually, they become used to each other and are comfortable together.

Don’t give your cat medicine intended for humans. If you cat suffers from health issues, ask your vet for his recommended treatment option. You can kill a cat by giving them human grade medications.

A cat’s life isn’t complete without play. Play is necessary for all mammals no matter the age or species. An older cat may not be as energetic as when it was younger, but still enjoys light play. Take the time to play and have a little fun with your kitty.

Watch out for panting. For dogs, panting is typical behavior. If your cat is panting it may be overheated or having anxiety. It may also be something that is a lot more serious than those things. It is important to speak to your vet, specifically if your feline has suffered from respiratory issues.

When dogs are excited or happy, they will wag their tails when they see their owners. Cats move their tails for a very different reason. Tail wagging in a cat usually indicates a mental conflict that your cat is mulling over, such as deciding whether to flee or attack. If you hold your cat and it starts wagging its tail, you should put your cat down right away.

Are hairballs posing a serious problem for your cat, and additional brushing does not help to reduce them? Use pumpkin in your cat’s food to help with digestion. You can also mix in a little water from a tuna can with the pumpkin. Some cat foods also contain a component for anti-hairballs, generally extra fiber, which may resolve the problem.

Cats are very unique animals, and as long as you educate yourself on their behaviors, they can make incredible pets. Study these tips carefully. Apply what you’ve just learned as you set out to properly care for your cat so that both of you lead happy lives.

Search your home for gaps or holes prior to bringing in a new cat. Cats have the ability to get through small spaces. This is especially true of kittens. Keep this in mind when adopting a new cat. If you find holes of any size that the cat could get through, repair them.