You Will Be A Better Cat Owner By Reading This Short Article

TIP! If you’re thinking of getting a cat for a pet, you should look to the local shelter. Shelters around the country are overflowing, and the cats there need more humans to help.

Agility, intelligence, and the sound of purring. These are just a few of the positive features of cat ownership. They can be a tricky pet, which means this article is for you. The following article will give you some helpful advice, to assist you in getting to know your cat better. Read on!

TIP! Older cats will appreciate a heated bed; you can use a heated tile to create one! Place a tile made of terra cotta or a similar material in an oven heated to 200 degrees for around 15 to 20 minutes. Wrap it up in a towel and place it under where your cat sleeps.

Remove the drape cords from visibility when a cat is in the house. Don’t let the cat play with them since they can jump into them or play with them and get them around their neck if they have loops. This could really hurt or possibly kill them. To stop this from happening, pin your drapes and hide them out of sight.

TIP! Deter your cat from chewing on inappropriate things by using bitter apple. Cats who love to chew need to be kept away from cords.

Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. Brush your cat’s fur often to help it be shiny and healthy. Doing this frequently can help them keep their coat clean. Having a clean fur coat helps reduce the amount of hairballs that get spit up around the house. Regularly grooming your cat will help keep it and your home looking great.

TIP! Cats are often nocturnal creatures. Thus, the bulk of their activity will occur at night.

Keep your older cat comfortable by placing a heated tile underneath its bed. Just heat a one-foot square terra cotta tile in your oven at about 200 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Use an old towel to wrap around it, then place it beneath the cat’s blanket or bed. Switch towels every few hours if you need to.

Scratching Post

TIP! If you give your kids a kitten, provide them with firm boundaries at the same time. Make sure your children are aware of rooms that are open to your cat.

Your cat’s claws can wreck havoc on your furniture. If your beloved feline friend is shredding and damaging parts of your home, try investing in a cat tower or a scratching post. 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. It may take some time, but it should eventually work.

TIP! Why is your cat meowing? Once you become familiar with your cat and its needs, it will become easier to determine what he needs when he meows. Your cat might need food or might want to go out.

Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. You never know when your cat could get away from you. Collars and tags can help get your cat home, however cats are experts at wiggling out of these, not to mention the risk they pose if they were to get snagged on a bush or tree branch. Microchips are extremely small, but they can hold all the same information as an identification tag. Most shelters have a scanner that can pick up the facts located inside the chip.

Litter Box

TIP! If your cat dirties the space near his litter box, don’t punish them. If this happens, it may be because you have not kept the box as clean as you should.

Pick the right location for your cat’s litter box. Never put the box near your cat’s food, and pick a quiet place away from areas that are heavily used. In addition, you should ensure you place the litter box in a well-ventilated area to minimize the smell. Both your cat and you will appreciate this.

TIP! Take the time to make your cat familiar and comfortable with a carrier. Dogs and cats will respond differently to punishment.

Cat medications can be bought affordable online. In some situations, you may not have the choice to purchase meds over the Internet, such as a health emergency. But, for routine medications, this can be a budget-saver.

TIP! Get your cat a drinking fountain. Cats normally look to drink from running water.

Set boundaries for your children when it comes to having a cat as a pet. Make sure that you let your kids know which areas of the house the cat will be allowed in. If you plan to raise an indoor cat, let your children know that the cat cannot go outside. If you make the rules ahead of time, you can be sure your kids understand them.

Pay Attention

TIP! Refrain from cleaning or using chemicals in the vicinity of your cat. Many household cleaners, like Pine-Sol and Lysol, contain this chemical.

Pay attention and try to figure out what is causing your cat to meow. By paying attention, you should eventually learn why your cat is meowing. She may be hungry, or she may want you to let her outside. Pay attention to her cues, and you can understand your cat that much more.

TIP! If your cat’s been declawed, you should never let them outside. Your cat will have no way of defending itself against other animals, which means it could get seriously injured or even killed.

A cat’s life isn’t complete without play. Actually playtime is very common for all animals, especially cats and people despite their age. Even older cats love a little play, just not as rough. Take time to have fun with your cat.

TIP! If your area is prone to rabies outbreaks, fleas, or even fungus, it is probably best to keep your cat from going outdoors. While some of these issues can affect a cat that stays in the house, they are more likely to experience this issues if they spend a lot of time outside.

Do your best to keep your cat as healthy as possible and take it to the vet regularly. Just like with having kids, young cats need to be checked on to see if they’re doing okay from time to time. It also needs its shots so that you can avoid problems later on down the road. Your cat will be a part of your home and that means it should be treated as good as you would treat a family member.

Litter Box

TIP! Cats should always be brought inside during bad weather. This is particularly true during extreme periods of cold, wind and rain.

It is possible that placing the litter box in a new part of the house will help your cat to bond with it. Just like humans, cats can be sensitive to where they eliminate, so choose a private location if possible. Low-traffic areas like basements and laundry rooms are great places to put the litter box.

TIP! Indoor cats are attracted to houseplants. It can be a real issue as many are poisonous to them.

One of the most delightful things about a dog is the way they happily greet their owners. While cats are also prone to tail wagging, they do it for very different reasons. 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 happen to be cuddling with your cat when the wagging occurs, be prepared to loosen your grip!

TIP! Don’t let your pet swat and swipe at other people. Not taking care of this now will almost certainly result in behavioral problems down the road.

With this article, you’ve got some excellent ideas that will help. This will make you an amazing cat parent. A loving cat will improve your quality of life. Try these tips and you’ll see the results.