Cat Advice On Caring For Your Furry Friend

TIP! Any drape cords should be hidden so the cat cannot grab hold of them. Cats can potentially strangle themselves on these cords so it is important to protect your cat from this potential danger.

It is easy to spend time playing with your cat, if they will let you! To distract them from you for awhile, give them a new game or toy. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot to keep them busy, though. Take advantage of this advice, and happy times are ahead of you.

TIP! If you’re thinking of getting a cat for a pet, you should look to the local shelter. Shelters are filled with beautiful cats, and the fee for adoption will basically cover the needed vet care.

If you have drape cords in your home, keep them away from your cats. 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 is incredibly dangerous as it could be fatal for your cat. Make sure drapery cords are kept back to avoid this.

TIP! A vet trip should happen for your cat yearly. Your cat should have regular well visits, as well as all the recommended vaccinations for his age.

Regular vet checkups for your cat are very important. There are shots and vaccinations that are standard and necessary for your cat. When you find a vet you like, stick with them. This person will be more knowledgeable on your cat’s history.

TIP! Cats enjoy finding small spaces to fit into. If they have a collar, this can be a safety issue if they get stuck.

Take your cat to the vet every year. A routine check-up should happen annually, and more often if necessary shots are due. If your cat has any health issues or injuries, you should try and have them seen right away.

TIP! If your cat is older or sick, a heating pad may provide comfort. You can heat a terracotta tile in the oven at 200 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.

If your cat is an outdoor cat, then you should ensure it wears a tag collar. Cats love to roam, so you need to give someone who finds your cat a way to contact you. At least put your phone number and pets name on the tag.

Scratching Post

TIP! Cats can have nocturnal tendencies. They are often active at nighttime.

Nice furniture and cat claws don’t get along very well. 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. 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. Your cat will eventually understand they should only use the post or tower for scratching.

TIP! Location is key when placing a litter box. A cat’s litter box should be in a quiet spot in the house, away from where your cat eats.

Do you own both a dog and a cat? Dogs love to eat cat food! Consider placing the cat food on a location away from where the dog can reach. This can prevent squabbles over water when their food is gone.

TIP! Are you a cat and dog owner? Dogs will always try to eat a cat’s food. This is why it is necessary to have two separate feeding areas.

Make sure you are cautious about leaving a young child alone with a small kitten. Children under 5 years of age should not be alone with the pet. Their immaturity prevents them from understanding how easily they could hurt the kitten. Once the child grows up a little, he might be more able to handle the kitten.

TIP! Cats have a love affair with heights. A happy cat is one that has a safe living environment.

Don’t try and teach your kitty how the litter box is supposed to be used. They will do it on their own and don’t need to be taught. 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.

TIP! Seek the advice of others if you have a cat that’s giving you problems. Although you may want to go it alone, it can be helpful to seek advice from other people that have experience owning cats.

Feed your cat several different kinds of food if you want to the lower the chances of them becoming finicky. If you feed them the same cat food every day, they may not accept anything else. This makes it difficult to find food they’ll eat when a store runs out of a certain brand, or you are traveling.

TIP! Provide your cat with high-quality cat food. Your cat needs a lot of protein from meat, so read the labels before you choose a food.

Don’t scrimp when it comes to your pet’s food. Carefully look over ingredients, and be sure that a quality protein source like chicken, fish, or beef is at the beginning of the list. Look for foods that do not have corn or elements that aren’t protein. Cats are naturally carnivorous. If you want to keep them healthy and happy, you need to feed them plenty of animal protein.

TIP! Prior to adopting any long-haired cat, make sure you understand the extra work involved. Although it may look nice, it will look much worse when it sheds all over your home.

Getting a second cat is usually beneficial to both, but you have to give the two cats a few weeks to get acclimated to each other. In the early days, you may see a lot of posturing from the cats including hissing and swatting at each other. Eventually they are going to get used to each other, and they may even end up becoming best friends.

TIP! There are things you can eat that your cat cannot. Common foods that are poisonous to cats include: garlic, grapes, onions and tomatoes.

Make sure your cat gets plenty of opportunities to play. All animals of all ages need to play and a cat is no different. An older cat may not be as energetic as when it was younger, but still enjoys light play. Have as much fun time with your cat as possible.

Litter Box

TIP! You want to be watchful regarding panting. For dogs, panting is completely normal.

Think about where you want to put the litter box. You are surely tempted to put it where the smell will affect your surroundings the least. It is equally important that the litter box is readily accessible to your cat, though. Felines can be finicky. This means you must give them the right location and make sure it is inviting. If you keep the litter box on a cold cement floor, put a mat or rug down underneath it.

TIP! If you were home all the time when you first adopted your cat and are now going to be out of the home, your cat might get lonely without you there. If your goal is to keep boredom at bay, then you might consider getting them a playmate in the form of another cat.

Keeping your cat up to date on vaccinations and annual check ups can keep your cat in good health and provide a longer life. As with children, cats have to be immunized. Wellness checks are important to avoid diseases and health issues. Your cat is a family member, so treat them like anyone else you love in your home.

TIP! Dry food is great for cats. When cats are young, they require wet food due to the fact that their teeth have not grown in yet.

You could enjoy your cat more using these tips. As you can see, relating to your cat is really not that difficult at all. The healthier your cat is, the longer it is likely to be around in your life.