Some Tips To Help You Take Care Of Your Cat.

As one of the best pets out there, cats are a pleasure to have, but caring for them can get a bit spendy. Vet expenses, toys, food and litter all add up to a significant amount. The following tips can help you maximize your happiness without breaking your wallet.

Don’t let your cat near drape cords. Keep the cat away from these cords as they tend to form loops when the cat is playing around, and it could accidentally go around their neck and strangle them. This could seriously injure or even kill them. Be sure your drape cords are strongly secured.

Make sure you don’t allow your cat to be around drape cords. The cats will start playing with the cords and they can easily wrap around their necks. This can definitely hurt them, and it could even kill them. Pin and hide drape cords to avoid this.

It’s crucial that your pet gets checkups from your vet regularly. Cats require special shots to prevent illness and the vet can check their overall health. For the most consistent pet care, choose one veterinarian and stick with them. This one vet will be aware of the cat’s history.

Make sure you keep all the recommended appointments with your cat’s veterinarian. Not only will a veterinarian give a general physical exam, he or she will also make sure they have necessary vaccinations. When you find a vet you like, stick with them. This one vet will be aware of the cat’s history.

Never use a product on your cat that is intended for dogs. It is possible that a dog’s product could cause a serious adverse effect on a cat. One product in particular to pay close attention to is any remedy for fleas and ticks. Your cat can die if you use a dog flea product on it. In fact, your cat should be kept away from your dog for several hours after the dog has been treated for fleas.

Kitty claws can be quite destructive to fabric and furnishings. If you have problems with a cat that shreds furniture, invest in a durable scratching post. Teach them to scratch on it instead of your belongings. Sooner or later, they’ll love to use it.

Cats can use their claws to destroy furniture and other parts of the house. If you have problems with a cat that shreds furniture, invest in a durable scratching post. You should scold your cat when it scratches your furniture and direct its attention to the scratching post or tower. Although this may take time, your cat should eventually claw the device rather than your furniture.

It can be tricky to keep a cat off the kitchen counters. They love to be able to look around from up high. One good way to beat this problem is by giving your kitty some safe, high perches throughout the house. One way to keep your cats from continuously jumping on the counter is to install a cat tower near the problem counter.

Cats will often devote most of their time to grooming. In long-haired cats, hairballs can result from excess grooming. There are special foods that can ease this issue. Certain kinds of cat food are made to decrease hairballs. As a result, you and your cat will be happier.

Your kitty’s litter box requires strategic placement. You shouldn’t keep it near your pet’s food, and you shouldn’t keep it in an area people walk through a lot. You’ll want to place the box in a spot with good ventilation to avoid unpleasant smells. This will keep both you and your cat happy.

You will often find ways to save money on medication for your cat on the Internet instead of getting it from your vet. If it’s an emergency, buying online may not be an option. For more routine situations, saving 50% by buying online is quite possible.

You may get much better prices on medications online. You can’t always get it online. But for routine medication purchases, you may find a discount of 50 percent online.

Always watch a kitten around small kids. Up until your child is five, children shouldn’t be alone with your pet. They’re not really mature enough to know how dangerous a kitten can be. When they mature, they can spend alone time with the kitty.

While cats are good pets for children generally, smaller children may treat them too roughly. Show your kids the proper way to handle cats. Demonstrate the appropriate way to pick the cat up and how to play with them. Cats need to be protected, too. Their bones are much more susceptible than dogs.

Cats love being up high. For very happy cats, give them a safe place where they can look around at their surroundings. If a cat tree is not your style, clear off a sturdy shelf that he can jump up on. Put a blanket on it so they can rest peacefully.

Use care if you have kids and a cat. Children under 5 years of age should not be alone with the pet. They aren’t mature enough in order to handle the potential dangers of a kitten. As a kid ages, they can show maturity with handling a little pet.

Seek the advice of others if you have a cat that’s giving you problems. Although you might want to take care of things on your own, advice from other people with cats can be a big help. You can find several cat forums online where you can ask questions, or you can choose to simply call your vet for advice too.

You shouldn’t be training your cats for litter box use. This comes naturally – you can’t teach it. It’s not a good idea to rub your cats paws in litter. Some people think this is the way to train. It isn’t.

Don’t throw away your cat’s old scratching post. While it doesn’t appear clean and new, your cat probably thinks otherwise. For a cat, it is comfortable and familiar. Even if you throw it away and buy a new one, your cat may opt for tearing up your upholstery instead.

Brush your cat’s coat often. This will help spread the natural oils within their fur while stimulating their skin’s blood flow. Additionally, brushing helps to expedite hair shedding. This helps prevent hairballs, which can lead to choking and other health issues.

If you just own one cat but are considering obtaining another one, then you should ensure you allow a few weeks for your old cat and new one to become familiar with each other. They might hide from each other or hit each other. However, if you allow them to slowly get used to each other, they will eventually become friends.

Do not discipline your cat if it makes a mess outside its litter box. They’re doing it because the box is too dirty, or they may be sick. If you attempt to punish your pet, you may cause fear and resentment–and more accidents!

Make sure your cat gets plenty of opportunities to play. Actually playtime is very common for all animals, especially cats and people despite their age. While older cats have less energy than their younger counterparts, they can still play a little. Make sure you spend time doing fun things with your cat.

It would be a good idea for your cat to get used to a pet carrier. Cats just don’t respond like dogs do when it comes to punishment. Encouragement is a much better strategy. Place a loved blanket and favorite toy into a carrier and then leave the door open. Make sure it’s in an area that the cat frequents. Soon, your cat will naturally enter the carrier. This makes transporting much easier.

Is your home covered in your cat’s fur? Cats shed a lot, so it is important to brush them often. If your cat sheds, it’s important to brush then frequently. Brushing can help prevent their fur from matting or tangling.

You may want to try different types of cat food. Cats can easily become finicky eaters. If you start them off eating the same type of food all of the time and you never change it up, this will most likely be the only food they will eat in the future.

Don’t give your cat medicine that is meant for humans. If your cat needs medication, then you should take your cat to the vet. 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.

Don’t buy cheap cat food. Look at the ingredients and make sure protein like fish, chicken, or beef is near the top. Try avoiding foods that have non-protein elements like corn. Cats are naturally carnivorous. If you want to keep them healthy and happy, you need to feed them plenty of animal protein.

Line your furniture with sticky tape. Cats will avoid scratching furniture if it is equipped with sticky tape. You can even get this kind of a tape from a pet store. Booby-trapping furniture and getting a scratching post can help you break your cat of this habit.

Expect it to take several weeks for your current cat to accept a new cat in the home. They will probably hide from each other, hiss or even attack each other. Over time, though, they will learn to tolerate each other and eventually form a close bond.

There are many dangers, such as fleas, rabies or fungus, that you should consider before you let your cat outside. While your cat may still have problems with these things as an indoor cat, they will have less of a chance to have these problems if they don’t go outside.

Is your cat shedding like a madman? Cats shed a ton, so they must be brushed frequently. If your cat sheds, it’s important to brush then frequently. Doing this will also make sure they don’t get a matted or tangled coat.

Look out for holes around the home you would rather your cat didn’t get into. Cats can get through minuscule gaps. Kittens can also be very creative in their explorations. Keep this in mind when bringing new cats into your home. You will need to repair or at least cover up any of the bigger holes you find.

Cats get some illnesses that we do. Since cats are like family, it’s easy to tell when they’re sick. Take your cat to the vet at the first sign of a problem. They can determine what is wrong and figure out the proper course of care.

Think about having your cat just be indoors. Outdoor cats die younger and end up sick quite often. Certain feline diseases can actually be passed to humans, so it is good for you to keep your cat inside for that reason. Make sure an indoor cat has a sunlit perch to keep him or her content.

Cats should never be left outside in very cold or poor weather. Cats do not fare well in the extreme rain and snow. When it is bad outside, cats search for a hiding place, which may be under a car’s hood. Leaving them out could cause you to lose them after the weather clears.

Don’t get a cat during the holidays, as things are too hectic to give your pet proper attention. The better way to go about this is to go to the pet shop or the animal shelter and let your child take ownership of the pet selection process.

Cats can be a very expensive animal to take care of. With the amount of care that goes into them, it can be compared with caring for a small child. You should apply the tips you just read, and do your best to be a responsible cat owner.

If the weather is bad outside, don’t let your cat out. Examples of times to keep your cat inside are during cold snaps, storms and periods of high wind. During bad weather, cats will seek out hiding spots, and beneath the hood of a car is a popular one. Leaving your cat out during bad weather could cost you his life.