What One Needs To Learn If They’re A Cat Owner

Cats are creatures that exhibit power, agility, and finesse. Felines are common and found just about everywhere. Sharing your home with a cat can be quite the challenge. Cats are very intelligent, yet they can be hardheaded.

You should make sure your cat stays groomed properly. Cats need to be combed or brushed regularly. Do this often in order to aid in keeping your cat's outer coat clean and healthy. It helps your cats shed much less too, which keeps them from spitting those hairballs up. A well groomed cat will be much more pleasant for everyone and will also help you keep your home clean.

TIP! Contact local shelters if you want to adopt a cat. Shelters have a lot of cats in them and you can get one adopted for a small fee.

You must always take your cat for regular vet check-ups. Your cat requires a variety of vaccines and shots to prevent illness, and it is also important to identify health problems before they become too severe. Try to stay with the same veterinarian throughout your pet's life. This helps make sure your vet knows your cat's history.

If you have an outdoor cat, be sure he or she has a tagged collar. This can help if your cat becomes lost while wandering in the great outdoors. Be sure the name of your cat and your number can be found on the tag.

A microchip will allow you to find your pet if it is lost. Indoor cats could run out your door or jump out the window. Cat collars are a great thing to have in case your cat gets lost, but they also pose a risk if they get caught on something. Your important information can all fit nicely on a rice grain sized microchip. The majority of veterinarians possess scanners that can read your chips. Because these chips are placed underneath your cat's skin, they won't get lost.

TIP! A cat's claws can cause lots of damage to your home. If your couch is starting to look like it's been put through a shredder, it's time to invest in a nice scratching post or cat tower.

Most cats spend a large amount of time on grooming themselves. Hairballs are very common for long-haired cats. To help your cat out with this problem, try buying him special food. There are foods on the market for cats that specifically deal with the hairball problems and are good for the cat.

Male cats sometimes have crystals in their urine, but this can be prevented with the right cat food. Passing these crystals is painful and the vet bill to have this corrected is expensive. Your cat needs food low in magnesium. Read the label. Fish products can have more magnesium when compared to poultry.

Make a tablecloth for your cats. Some cats prefer removing their food from the bowl and eating it on the side. Sometimes, this results in food outside the bowl that you have to clean up. There are two ways to do this. You can either put a placemat under the food bowl or use some stray fabric that you have lying around. Either way, you can easily get rid of debris by dumping them in the garbage.

TIP! Cats can tend to be more nocturnal than not. Thus, the bulk of their activity will occur at night.

Avoid leaving a kitten alone with small children. If the child is younger than 5, don't leave them alone with a kitten. 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.

Speak with friends and family when you have difficulty with your cat. Although you might want to take care of things on your own, advice from other people with cats can be a big help. There are a number of message boards for cat owners on the Internet, or you can go to your vet with problems.

Provide your cat with high-quality cat food. Check out the ingredients, and make sure meat tops the list. Steer clear of food made primarily of corn and fillers. Understand that your cat needs a lot of animal protein to stay healthy.

Drinking Fountain

Get your cat a drinking fountain. A cat will always drink from running water if possible. Cats prefer to drink water that is streaming. In fact, many cats like to drink from a running faucet instead of drinking from their water bowls. A drinking fountain will be good for the environment and can help the cat to enjoy its water more.

Is your cat shedding like a madman? Since cats shed so much, they need to be frequently brushed. The more a cat sheds, the moor they should be properly brushed. It's also a great aid to keeping the cat's coat as pristine as possible.

Litter Box

Pay attention if your cat won't use their litter box. There are a number of health conditions that can make your kitty urinate and go to the bathroom in places other than the litter box. A UTI or kidney infection may be the reason for its bathroom problems. Be sure to go see your vet if your cat stops using its box.

Has your cat stopped using its litter box? If so, consider moving the box into another location. Whenever a cat is using the restroom, it feels vulnerable; therefore, the litter box needs to be kept in a safe and quiet location. Basements, laundry rooms and other quiet spots are best.

TIP! It's often cheaper to buy medicine for your cat on the Internet instead of through your vet. If it's an emergency, buying online may not be an option.

There are things you can eat that your cat cannot. Some of these foods are green tomatoes, grapes, onions and garlic. These foods are healthy for humans, but they can make cats very sick. Your cat should also steer clear of dairy products.

Sticky Tape

Apply sticky tape to your furniture. Cats will avoid scratching furniture if it is equipped with sticky tape. Certain pet stores even sell this type of tape for this reason. Place sticky tape on your furniture and install a scratching post in order to kick this bad habit.

TIP! When getting a little kitty for your kid, set boundaries beforehand. Make sure everyone understands which parts of the house the cat is not allowed in.

You'll be able to run circles around your cat once you have read these and other cat care tips. Cats will learn some basic things, like where they're allowed or not allowed to be. While cat's are harder to train than dogs, they are generally more well-mannered by nature.

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Wonderful Feline Tips And Tricks For A Happy Cat

Lightning reflexes, soft purring and quick wits. These are just some of the things you'll get when you decide to get a cat. Those fuzzy little beings can be quite a handful at times, though, and that's why the following article will be very helpful. When your cat is happy, you can be happy. So read on to discover them!

Keep your drape cords out of your cats reach. These can cause your cat to choke if they get a hold of it. This could cause injury or death. To stop this from happening, pin your drapes and hide them out of sight.

TIP! Make sure you don't allow your cat to be around drape cords. These are not great play toys for cats.

Keep your cat properly groomed. A cat's fur must be brushed or combed on a regular basis. This can keep them clean. It also stops hairballs. Brushing your cat will keep your home cleaner, too.

Scratching Post

Cat's claws can really put a dent in your furniture. Think about a scratching post or kitty tower if your cat's claws become a problem. Redirect your cat to the scratching post when they start to go after your furniture. Catnip can be put in the posts or on the tower to help train the cat to use it. They may not take to it overnight, but they should eventually.

TIP! Visit your local shelter if you're thinking about getting a cat. Shelters have tons of great cats and their adoption fee will generally cover necessary vet care.

Most cats are nocturnal. It is likely that they will want to play while you are sleeping. If your cat is keeping you up at night, you should close the door to your bedroom. This can keep them from waking you up at night and from pouncing on feet under the blankets.

You should think before allowing your cat to go outside. There are many dangers to your cat outside. Your cat could get fleas or even worse parasites. Cars, people, or animals could hurt your beloved pet. If you've just got to have the cat outdoors, limit it to an enclosed area.

Use care if you have kids and a cat. This is especially true if your child is less than five years old. You may not have noticed a problem when you see them together, but very kids do not really understand they can accidentally harm or kill a kitten. When children are over the age of five, then you should decide whether or not they are mature enough to handle a kitten.

Loose Hair

Brush your cat's coat often. This will help stimulate blood flow. It can also reduce the amount of loose hair they have. Loose hair causes hairballs, a common problem for cats. The hair enters the pet's stomach and they later cough it up.

If you want to buy a second cat, prepare for some time where the cats will be familiarizing themselves with each other. They might have conflict, hide from each other or swat one another. Sooner or later, they'll tolerate and even begin to love each other.

TIP! If you have an old cat, you can help make its bed more comfortable by placing heated tiles underneath it. Use a 12" terra cotta tile and heat it by putting it in a 200ºF oven for 20 minutes.

It's important for your cat to get plenty of playtime. It is pretty normal for all different types of species to have an inner desire to play. Older cats do not have the same energy level as younger ones, but they still like to play a little. Make sure you have fun with the cat whenever you can!

Does it seem like cat hair is everywhere? Cats shed a lot, so it is important to brush them often. The more your cat sheds, the more often you want to give them a good brushing. This can also prevent their coat from becoming matted or tangled.

You may often eat things that are quite bad for cats. Common foods that are poisonous to cats include: garlic, grapes, onions and tomatoes. If your cat eats these things then it can become ill or even die. Milk upsets a cat's stomach, too.

TIP! Avoid using dog products on cats. Cats will react very negatively to any products intended for dogs.

Always keep your declawed cat indoors. The cat will have difficulty playing with other animals and may get hurt. Indoor cats are the only type of cat that needs to be declawed. However, you should still only remove the cat's front claws. Leaving the back claws are important so that your cat can scratch themselves.

Try to feed your cat dry food as much as possible. Kittens need wet food since they have tiny teeth. When they grow, they need to eat dry food to have stronger teeth. You can also try mixing dry and wet food until you get the consistency your cat prefers.

Sticky Tape

TIP! Make sure your cat has a collar and tag if outside. Cats love to roam, so you need to give someone who finds your cat a way to contact you.

Placing sticky tape on your furnishings can be a helpful trick. Cats naturally like to claw things and often your furniture is what they use. The tape will help prevent this. Your local pet store may carry tape for this. Place sticky tape on your furniture and install a scratching post in order to kick this bad habit.

Think about keeping your cat primarily inside the house. Outdoor cats are known to have a shorter life expectancy and they also can catch more diseases. In fact, some diseases could possibly pass to you and other people living with you. To make a cat feel like it is outdoors, ensure you have a room with plenty of natural light in it for your cat to enjoy.

You now are aware of some excellent cat-care tips. All these tips can only make living with cats much easier. A loving cat will improve your quality of life. Apply these tips, and you can't go wrong.

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Tips And Advice Or Raising A Healthy Cat

If you're familiar with how to take care of them properly, cats are great pets. If you own a cat and want to give it a great life, you need to do your research. You will love the amount of cat advice that has been provided to you here.

Drape Cords

TIP! If you have drape cords in your home, keep them away from your cats. It is easy for the cat to get his head caught among the cords when playing with them.

Don't let your cats play with drape cords. If the cat becomes caught in a loop, they could choke to death. This could hurt or kill them. To prevent this from happening, keep any drape cords pinned away from any eyes.

If you own a female cat, you should have her spayed when she is old enough. Whether or not she typically goes outside, she may escape while in heat and you might have kittens! If your cat has been spayed, however, you won't have to worry about this happening.

You should get your cat a tagged collar, even if it is not legally required. Cats can range far from your home and the tag will help them find their way home. Be sure that the pet's name and also your home number are on the tag.

TIP! Taking your cat in for regular check-ups at the veterinarian's office is part of being a responsible pet owner. In addition to checking the health of your cat, a vet can give him any needed shots.

Keeping your cats away from the counters can be hard. After all, cats prefer to stay high so that they can keep an eye out on everything. You may mitigate the problem by providing designated heights for them to use. A cat tower near your kitchen can give them a place to watch you that is out of the way.

When your cat is riding with you in your car, ensure you keep their ears in mind. You may love belting out your favorite tunes as you drive on the freeway, but your cat probably enjoys softer sounds. Turn down the music and let the cat rest.

Put your cat's food on a tablecloth. Cats often like to remove food from their bowl to eat it off to the side. This habit means you will end up with cat food on the floor to clean up. Simply place a cloth placemat that will grab at the food under their plate and then shaken out over the trash. You can put a vinyl one underneath that can be picked up wiped down easily if you prefer.

TIP! Cats enjoy finding small spaces to fit into. There are ways to make sure that their collar does not get stuck.

Try and figure out why kitty is meowing. After living with your cat for long, it's easier to interpret its meows. Possibilities include that she is hungry or wants to be let outside. When you pay attention to the cat's actions and cues, then may grow to understand the cat all the more.

Litter Box

If your cat relieves itself away from its litter box, do not spring into action with punishment. Many times, this is caused by failure to properly clean or place the litter box. If your punish your car, he or she is just going to become scared of you.

TIP! If you'd like to make an elderly cat's bed more comfy, stick a heated tile beneath its bed. Just get a tile and heat it up in the oven for a while to place under the cat's bed.

Keep old, worn scratching posts. This is the condition that cats most appreciate. If you throw it away too soon, that cat may look to your furniture for some clawing while it slowly breaks in a new scratching post.

If adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a couple of weeks to get comfortable with each other. They might have conflict, hide from each other or swat one another. After the initial period though, they should start to settle and begin to get along like old friends.

Understand that all cats need exercise and play time. Playing is a very common activity shared by most animals. An aging cat may not have as much energy as a kitten, however it will still enjoy a little light playtime. Playing with your cat will help you to form happy and cherished memories to look back on.

Litter Box

Pay attention if you cat does not use the litter box. There are many health conditions that can cause your cat to use the restroom in places other than their own litter box. Kidney or bladder infections may be the reason. If your cat stops going in the litter box, a call to the vet is in order.

Put a collar your cat with your contact information on it. The cat may get out if it has a chance to, even house cats do this. It that is the case, you should make certain they have the ability to get back home.

TIP! Never use something that is intended for a canine on your feline. Cats are known to have severe negative reactions when exposed to products designed for dogs.

Never allow your cat to be exposed to phenol chemicals. Lysol, Pine-Sol and many other products contain this chemical. Cats hate the smell of phenol, and for good reason. Long term exposure to it can cause cats to have live issues.

Sticky Tape

Put sticky tape on furniture. A bit of sticky tape on your cat's favorite scratching spot can quickly make the act less enjoyable for them. Check a pet store for this kind of tape. You should also give your cat a favorable alternative by purchasing a scratching post.

TIP! Spray bitter apple on electrical cords to keep cats away from them. If your cat happens to be a champion cord-chewer, you'll need to use cord covers to protect your cords.

Cats get sick from many of the same things as humans. Because your pet is a family member, you are around them enough to know when they are not feeling very good. Always take your cat to the vet if you suspect illness. It can be dangerous to avoid taking your cat to the vet when it is sick because there may be serious conditions that need checking. A vet can check for these.

Cats are wonderful pets, but must be properly cared for. If you want your cat to thrive, take the advice here to heart. Keep the tips most important to you in a place you can find later. With the love and care that you provide it, you will make sure that your cat has a happy and healthy life.

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