Making Sure You’re Taking Great Care Of Your Cats

TIP! Don’t let your cat near drape cords. Cats can potentially strangle themselves on these cords so it is important to protect your cat from this potential danger.

Cats have no competition in the animal kingdom and are easily the best pets to keep around the home for several reasons. In addition to being fun and entertaining, having a cat will prevent rodents and other pests from getting in your home. People often underestimate how helpful a kitty can be, and how much one can do to get rid of pests.

TIP! Cats sometimes will spend hours grooming themselves to perfection. If your cat has hair that’s long it could get hairballs.

A lot of cat owners have a hard time keeping their cats off the counter. They love being above everything so that they can watch it all. One way to deal with this issue could be to devote certain high spaces for your feline friend to sit in. An excellent tool for preventing your cat from jumping on the counter is a cat tower that is in the kitchen.

TIP! When your cat is riding with you in your car, ensure you keep their ears in mind. You cat is used to being at home and it might shock him to hear you singing at the top of your lungs.

Cats are usually more active during the night. This means that they will be the most active at night time. Close the door to prevent the noise from getting to you. This will keep the cats away while you’re trying to sleep because they won’t be jumping all over you.

TIP! Cats are great family pets, but small children might be too rough. It is important to show your child how to approach and handle a cat.

Crystals in the urine, an issue many male cats have, can be avoided with the proper food. Passing crystals is very painful for your cat, and the vet’s bill will be painful for you. To stop this from happening, make sure your cat’s food doesn’t have much magnesium in it. Check the label. Products including fish have a higher magnesium content then poultry based products.

TIP! When purchasing a tiny kitty as gift for the kids, it’s best to establish boundaries well ahead of the arrival. Let your children know what rooms you will allow the cat to go into.

Cover the area around your cat’s bowl with a cloth. Some cats like removing food from their bowl and eating it beside their bowl. Sometimes this will make the area around the bowl messy, and you’ll have to clean it. 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! Do you own a dog and a cat? Dogs often take advantage of dining on the cat’s food. You should create a feeding space for the cat that is much too high for a dog to get to.

Do you own a dog and a cat? A dog will take any opportunity they have to eat your cats food. That’s why you should place your cat’s food in a place which is hard for your dog to reach. This also makes sure that the two don’t fight over water.

TIP! Understand that leaving a small kitten together with small children can be dangerous to both. If children are younger than five years old, pets ought not be left with them.

Speak to your peers about your cat issues. You won’t have the knowledge to handle every cat issue properly, so take advantage of the experiences of others. There are a number of message boards for cat owners on the Internet, or you can go to your vet with problems.

TIP! If you are experiencing an issue with your feline friend, seek advice from others. You may think it’s something you can take care of on your own, but other people that own cats could help.

Get your cat accustomed to a carrier. You cannot train a cat the same way you train a dog because they react differently to punishment. They prefer encouragement instead. Put the carrier in a comfortable place and fill it with treats and toys. Over time the cat will not be stressed about the carrier and will enter it voluntarily. This will make it easier to mobilize your cat.

TIP! Never reprimand your cat for missing the litter box. Check out the box instead and see if it has been neglected; this is often a cause of accidents.

Feeding your cat different types of food helps ensure they don’t get finicky. If you feed them only one type of food, they may refuse to eat anything else. However, stick with the same brand, and just vary the flavors because cats can have stomach problems if you vary the food too much.

TIP! Feed your cat a few different varieties of food. This can help him not get too finicky.

Splurge on your cat’s food. Read the ingredients, and make sure a source of protein, like fish or chicken, is near the top. Try to avoid foods that consist of corn, or other non-protein elements. Understand that your cat needs a lot of animal protein to stay healthy.

TIP! You need to buy some quality food for your cat. Ensure that the food your cat eats is very high in protein.

Get a drinking fountain for your cat. Cats who are in the wild prefer to drink from running water, and this holds true for domestic cats, as well. Your cat, if its like most, will really respond to this running water. Actually, certain cats like to drink right from the sink faucet as it runs. Fountains keep the water cool and clean.

TIP! Keep a collar with ID on your cat. Even if your cat is a house cat, this is still a good idea.

Your cat needs good play time. Play is important for all mammals, even people, regardless of their age. Kitties who are senior citizens may not be super energetic, but they still enjoy playing. Make sure you play with your cat at least once a day.

Litter Box

TIP! Use a cat collar that gives name, address, and phone number info. Even if you have a house cat, there is a chance that he or she may get out.

If kitty stops using its litter box, pay attention. Lots of cat conditions will make it difficult for a cat to defecate or urinate in their litter box. Infections and problems with the kidneys and bladder may be the culprit. If your cat stops using the litter box suddenly, get him to a vet for a visit.

TIP! Be on the lookout for panting. Dogs pant as a way to release heat from their bodies.

If you have a cat who is pregnant, make sure that you give her a private spot that is closed away from other animals and has room for her to move in easily. Understand that a female cat will require three or four hours in order to give birth to every kitten. If you suspect that there are more kittens inside your cat and it has been six hours of labor or more, you should take your cat to the veterinarian immediately.

TIP! Hairballs can definitely be a problem. Brushing your cats fur should be your first step, but if that doesn’t help, here are a few additional tips.

Some human foods you enjoy often are not good for your cat. Common foods that are poisonous to cats include: garlic, grapes, onions and tomatoes. Your cat can get very sick from eating these foods. Milk can also upset your cats’ stomach.

TIP! Just like humans, being overweight can harm a cat’s health, so do not feed him too much. Overfeeding your cat may cause it to become obese and develop serious medical issues.

While you might not consider a cat a great hunter like a guard dog, the cat eliminates smaller pests, has the motivation and is much more family-friendly. Cats are effective mouse-hunters, but they are also cunning and inquisitive. This makes them fascinating pets. With all of these useful attributes, it’s no surprise that cats are so popular.