What You Need To Know About Owning A Cat

Feral cats are ones that wander the streets. These abandoned kittens make up nearly half of the population of domesticated felines and can be a troublesome pest if you live in urban areas. Keep reading for some excellent advice about taking care information that you crave.

Check out your local shelter if you are thinking about getting a cat. Shelters are filled with beautiful cats, and the fee for adoption will basically cover the needed vet care. When you adopt a cat from a shelter, you save a life and help keep the cat population under control.

TIP! Cats like sneaking into small spaces. Collars can be a safety risk if your kitty gets stuck.

You should always bring your cat for regular vet check-ups. Cats require special shots and overall health. Try to stick with one vet during the same veterinarian throughout your pet’s life. This will ensure they know the history of your cat’s history.

Cats really enjoy getting into small spaces. A breakaway collar will literally “break away” if pulled too tight. This will help you save your cat if it gets caught in a tight spot.

Never use a product on your cat that is intended for dogs. Cats often have negative reactions to dog products. Flea products are a great example of this. Dog flea prevention products will kill your cat. In fact, your cat should be kept away from your dog for several hours after the dog has been treated for fleas.

TIP! It’s not easy convincing your pet that the kitchen counter is a no-cats zone. If your cat is high, he can see everything that is going on.

Even if you have an indoor female cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands. Spaying a cat is the best way to prevent this from happening.

Make sure your cat has a collar if outside.Cats can go far from home and the tag they could become lost forever. The tag should have at least the pet’s name and the number as well as your cat’s name.

Keep your cat’s litter box in the right location. You shouldn’t keep it near your pet’s food, and you shouldn’t keep it in an area people walk through a lot. Also, minimize the smell by making sure it is a well ventilated area. Not only will your cat appreciate it but you will too.

TIP! Your cat needs love and attention. Cats need companionship as much as we do.

Prevent your cat from getting zapped by coating exposed wires with bitter apple on them. If your cat still prefers to chew on cords, try covering them as much as you can. You can do this by bundling them and tucking them in the rolls that are used for paper towels.

It can be hard to make your cat off the kitchen counters. Cats enjoy high places so that they can see what is happening around the house. You can try to combat this tendency a bit by making high places in the house that you feel comfortable having your cat to hang out.

Male felines tend to have a build-up of crystals that present in the urine, so you need to avoid this with proper nutrition. These are very painful and expensive to treat. Keep your cat’s diet low in levels of magnesium. The best way to find out is to read the label. Cat food with lots of fish tends to have more magnesium, while products with lots of poultry tend to have less.

TIP! Place a “tablecloth” under your cat’s food bowl. Cats often like to remove food from their bowl to eat it off to the side.

Be especially mindful of your cat’s preferences while traveling. You may love loud music, but it could be hurting your cat’s ears. To ensure your cat’s trip is pleasant, keep the stereo low – or perhaps off entirely.

Cats can be great pets for children, but little ones may not understand that they are fragile. Teach your kid how to handle a cat. Teach them about appropriate activities and how to properly pick your cat up. Cats have weaker bones than dogs so it is important to treat them with care.

You should think again before allowing your cat to go outside. This could be harmful and unsafe. Fleas can infest your cat, or something worse can happen. There is the possibility they may get injured by another animal, even people and cars too. If letting your cat outdoors is important to you, let them out in a safe fenced area.

TIP! Use care if you have kids and a cat. Children under 5 years of age should not be alone with the pet.

Take the time to make your cat familiar and comfortable with a car carrier. Cats are not as responsive to punishment as dogs do to punishment. They are much better to encouragement. Put a nice blanket and toy in the carrier then leave it open somewhere the cat frequents. The cat will eventually get into it and feel safe when it enters this carrier after a while. This will make getting the hassle out of traveling with your cat in its carrier.

If they only eat the same food, that may be the only one they’ll eat later on.

Your cat needs good play time. All mammals love to play. Although older cats won’t be as active as younger cats, they still need a little exercise. Make an effort to have playtime with your cat regularly.

Haired Cats

There is a lot of responsibility involved with a long-haired cats. The hair looks good, but it will require a lot of maintenance.Don’t adopt a cat with long fur unless you are prepared for the extra commitment they take over regular cats. Long-haired cats also more prone to hairballs.

Are you having a hard time getting rid of cat hair? Cats are big shedders, so you should brush them frequently. If your cat sheds a lot, you need to brush it more often. This will ensure your cat’s coat is tangle-free and not matted.

TIP! Keeping your cat up to date on vaccinations and annual check ups can keep your cat in good health and provide a longer life. Kittens, like children, need to have their vaccinations and wellness appointments regularly to prevent diseases and other health issues from becoming a problem later in life.

Make sure you consider where you are going to place the cat’s litter box placement is easy for your cat to get to. It’s sometimes tempting to keep it in an inconspicuous place where it won’t be seen or see it. Make sure your cat can get to its litter box at all times. If your litter box is on a cold surface, put a mat or rug down underneath it.

You should now know more about having a pet cat. Your cat will thank you for taking the time to read this article. It takes a certain level of basic preparation and know-how to handle a cat properly. It is possible to form an attachment with a feral cat and make him your pet.

One way a dog shows affection for his owner is to wag his tail. When a cat wags its tail, it’s for a completely different reason. If you see a cat’s tail moving like that, it is an indication that they are agitated or don’t know what to do. If your cat starts wagging its tail while you hold it, you might want to set it down to avoid getting scratched and swatted.