Enjoy A Healthy, Happy Cat With This Advice.

Cats are amazing pets. Cats do not require a lot of attention, so they are the perfect pet if you are always on the go. You can ensure your cat has a rich and healthy life with the following tips.

Keep your cat away from your drapery cords. The cats will start playing with the cords and they can easily wrap around their necks. This could lead to a severe injury or even death. Hide the cords for safety sake.

Visit your local shelter if you’re thinking about getting a cat. Shelters have lots of great cats available, and your adoption fee often covers key veterinary services. A cat gets a new chance at life and the cat population stays in check with adoption.

It is always important to take your cat to the veterinarian for regular checkups. There are shots and vaccinations that are standard and necessary for your cat. Try to keep the same vet during the life of your pet. This is because this person will know your cat and the history of the animal.

A vet trip should happen for your cat yearly. Understand that cats require vaccinations in order to stay healthy, and the veterinarian needs to regularly check for any health problems. If you can, stick with one vet for your cat’s entire life. That way, the doctor will be familiar with the history of your cat.

Prevent your cat from getting zapped by coating exposed wires with bitter apple. If your cat happens to be a champion cord-chewer, you’ll need to use cord covers to protect your cords. Use some paper towel rolls to tuck loose cords. Put your electronics away so your cat is not tempted to chew on the cords.

Cats love to squeeze into tiny spots. If they’ve got a collar on, this may put them in danger as it can get stuck. A breakaway collar let’s go if pulled on tightly. A collar like this could save your cat’s life.

Nice furniture and cat claws don’t get along very well. A kitty tower can really save your furniture. Encourage your cat to scratch where you want them to. It may take some time and some corrections, but it can usually eliminate the problem.

You might find that your cat sleeps all day and wants to be active at night. 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.

The cat’s litter box should be placed in the right spot. Put the litter box in a secluded area, and make sure that it is not near the cat’s food. Also make sure the area is well ventilated to keep the smell to a minimum. Your cat and you will prefer this in the end.

Give your cat plenty of love and affection. Cats are by nature companion animals, but that companionship goes two ways. Without love, cats may not socialize with your family. They should feel like a valued family member as well.

Cats frequently groom themselves. When your cat has long hair, this can cause hairballs. To assist your cat if it has this problem, you should get food that’s special. There are foods that are made to reduce the frequency of hairballs. It’s a smart move for your cat and your sanity.

Cats and small children may not always mix. Make sure that you teach your children the proper way to handle a kitten or cat. Demonstrate how the cat should be petted and handled and encourage your children to be very gentle. Cats’ bones are more fragile than those of dogs, so they need gentler treatment.

Avoid bladder crystals and stones by feeding high quality food. This problem is painful for the cat and to your wallet, as well. Choose foods low in magnesium for your cat. Go over the label carefully. Cat food with lots of fish tends to have more magnesium, while products with lots of poultry tend to have less.

Be careful when leaving your cat with your children. If children are younger than five years old, pets ought not be left with them. Kids of this age aren’t old enough to know how dangerous a cat can be. Once the child is older and more mature, decide if they are ready for the responsibility of handling animals.

Cover the area around your cat’s bowl with a cloth. Sometimes cats like to take food out of the bowl and eat it to the side of the bowl. This can result in a mess that needs to be cleaned up. Think about putting a placemat underneath the bowl or make your own tablecloth out of fabric.

Brush your cat daily. This will spread a cat’s oils from their fur and help blood flow from within their skin. Furthermore, it helps reduce all the loose hair. This prevents hairballs, which can cause choking, and builds up in the cat’s stomach from self grooming.

Do you own both a dog and a cat? Dogs love to eat cat food! Thus, you must keep cat food out of the dog’s reach. Separate eating spaces are a must to avoid fights between your pets.

Although your cat’s old scratching post may look very worn out, you shouldn’t throw it away. This is the time when your cats actually most prefer it. If you throw it away, you may find your cat scratching on other surfaces.

If you are experiencing an issue with your feline friend, seek advice from others. Although you may want to go it alone, it can be helpful to seek advice from other people that have experience owning cats. You can find online cat forums to ask questions, or you can speak with your vet.

Feed your pet canned food. While dry food is less expensive, canned food is healthier. Your cat will get extra protein and fats from canned food along with some of the water it needs every day. This food is easier to chew for old cat. Discuss this with your vet, who may tell you to feed your cat canned food.

Don’t teach the basics of using a litter box. This will be something that the cat does on its own and it usually is not learned fro another. Many people think rubbing a cat’s paws in litter will teach them to use the litter box, but it might actually traumatize them.

Your cat needs to always wear some tags on a collar. Even a cat you plan on always staying indoors should have identification. Cats are endlessly curious and may head out an open door or window. The identification tags should contain your home phone number and the number for your veterinarian. This will be important especially if you have a cat with medical issues.

Canned food is usually the best option for your cat. Dry food can be less costly, but there are quite a few benefits to canned food. It has water content, which is good for cats with bladder issues. Aging cats find it makes it much easier to chew. Speak with your vet to determine the proper course of action to take.

If you plan to add a second cat to your household, be sure to allow two to three weeks for your resident cat and the new cat to get used to each other. They may swat at each other or hiss; that’s nothing to be concerned about. Eventually they are going to get used to each other, and they may even end up becoming best friends.

A collar and tags are a great way that your cat can be identified if it is found stray. This is important even if your pet lives indoors. Even the tamest indoors cat can be tempted by the possibilities presented by an open door or window. Make sure the collars have tags with your contact information and your veterinarian’s information as well. This will be important especially if you have a cat with medical issues.

When your cat is due to deliver babies, ensure that she has a comfortable area with some space. You need to be patient, as it will be three or four hours before all the kittens have been born. If more than five or six hours have passed, and you think that kittens still remain inside, then you must get in touch with your vet.

When you bring a second cat into your home, allow a few weeks for the two to adjust to each other. In the beginning, they may not seem to get along at all. After the initial period though, they should start to settle and begin to get along like old friends.

Cats are great to have as pets because they’re smart and can find things to do on their own. But, you need to learn all you can about cat care. This article has provided you with a great base of information. This way, both you and your cat will enjoy a lifetime of fun and fulfillment.

Pay attention if your cat suddenly stops using the litter box properly. It may be the sign of an underlying medical issue. This sort of behavior is common among cats with UTIs and other health problems. Inexpensive antibiotics generally clear this right up.