Helping You Improve Your Knowledge About Cats

Cats are interesting and amazing creatures. Read on to find out how to properly care for your cat healthy and happy.

Groom your cat. Brushing is a very important component towards taking care of your cat. 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! Spay your cat as soon as she is old enough. Even if she is an inside cat, you need to spay her because she could get out.

You should be bringing your pet to the vet for a check-up regularly. Cats require special shots to prevent illness and the vet can check their overall health assessments. Try using the same veterinarian throughout your pet’s life. This also allows the vet to become more knowledgeable on your cat’s unique health needs and personality.

Your cat needs attention and attention. They want warm companionship that they give to you as their owner. They should feel like feeling important and a valued family member of the family.

Be sure you have a vet that your cat sees regularly so it stays healthy. A yearly visit for a regular check-up is important, with more frequent visits for shots as required. Cats should go to a vet immediately if they have any conditions, health problems, or injuries that need to be tended to right away.

TIP! You should not use products designed for other animals. Cats will have a reaction that’s negative towards a product made for dogs.

When you get a kitten for kids, set rules and boundaries beforehand. Let your kids know what rooms you will allow the cat can go. Setting the rules in advance will ensure your kids understand better.

Be careful if you leave a kitten with your children. Children under 5 years of age should not be left alone with the pet. They don’t know what harm they can potentially do to kittens. As they grow, you can determine how much interaction they should have with the animal.

Your cat can devastate your furniture with its claws. If you want to prevent or stop your cat from scratching up your furniture, the best thing to do is buy a scratching post or kitty tower for them to climb in. When your cat scratches inappropriately, redirect him to the scratching post. It might not happen overnight, but the problem should eventually stop.

TIP! A microchip will allow you to find your pet if it is lost. Even indoor cats may get out of your home at some point.

Don’t try to show your feline how to go in the litter box is supposed to be used. This comes naturally to them and is not something that is learned. Don’t force your cat into the box or face in it.

If you feed your cat the same food all the time, he will probably not like any other brand.

Be especially mindful of your cat’s ears when you take them on a trip. You might love blasting your favorite music while driving, but they enjoy softer sounds. To ensure your cat’s trip is pleasant, turn off the music or keep the volume low.

Cats are carnivores so it is important for them to get enough animal protein to stay healthy.

If you plan to add a second cat to your household, give the cats a couple of weeks to get comfortable with each other. They may swat at each other at first and fight.

When you purchase a kitten for your child, set rules and boundaries beforehand. Let your kids know which rooms your cat is allowed in. Make sure the kids know if your cat is indoors only. Knowing the rules ahead will help your child understand.

Play is an essential to your cat’s life. Make sure you have playtime with your cat whenever you can!

Even an indoor cat may get out. If this happens, make sure that it can get home.

If you’re adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a few weeks to get to know each other. Cats usually do not like change, especially when it comes to another cat. Therefore, they may hide, hiss, or even fight one another. Eventually they are going to get used to each other, and they may even end up becoming best friends.

TIP! Play is an essential element of a cat’s daily life. Playing is an activity that is very popular with mammals of any age, and this includes cats and people.

Don’t send a cat outdoors for long periods of time. The cat won’t be able to fight back if other animals attack it and that could get hurt. Indoor cats are the only ones that you should be de-clawed. Even so, you should only declaw the front claws. Don’t cut the back claws as cats need them to stay balanced.

Be on the lookout for any small holes in your home that your cat to crawl into. Cats can fit into very small. This especially true of kittens. Keep this in mind when introducing a new cat. Make immediate repairs on any easily accessible holes or repair them if at all possible.

Is cat hair getting into everything you own? Cats do a lot of shedding, and it helps to brush them. If your cat sheds a lot, you need to brush it more often. Brushing can help prevent their fur from matting or tangling.

TIP! If your pet is expecting kittens, be sure she has a spacious area to give birth in. The kittens will arrive within three or four hours, so try to be patient.

Reconsider before you let your cat have table scraps. The way human food may not agree with your cats’ digestive system.However, if you’re feeding your cat the right food, his diet should be nutritionally complete.

Cat owners do like to keep their cat. This definitely isn’t a fun task, though. Cats do a good job of their time cleaning themselves. Cats actually care about the way that they look!

Move the litter box if your cat won’t use it. Just like humans, cats can be sensitive to where they eliminate, so choose a private location if possible. A basement or laundry area might be a good option.

TIP! Do not use chemicals around your cat that contain phenol. Lysol, Pine-Sol and many other products contain this chemical.

Make sure your cat frequent flea medication. There are a few different medications that work really well. These types of medications prevent harmful parasites that can draw blood from your companion and possibly cause disease. Make sure to get a brand which is specifically for use on cats in order to keep your friend safe.

Don’t leave a cat go outside during inclement weather. This means you should keep them out of the cold, rain, and the rain. Cats are going to need a place to get away if there is bad weather and they may hide under vehicles or even in dangerous places.

Keep your eyes open for any signs of panting in your cat. Panting in dogs is perfectly normal. While excessive panting may be a symptom of anxiety, it may also be a symptom of something more serious. If your cat is panting, and has a history of breathing problems, call your vet for advice.

TIP! Don’t offer table scraps to your cat as a treat. Human food is not good for cats, due to the additives and ingredients used and the ways we cook food for humans.

Watch out for your cat around Christmas tree during the holiday seasons. Cats will get curious and climb your tree, and that can hurt your cat and your family. Keep all ornaments up high and the cat sick or uncomfortable.

Cats are great pets to have around the home if you know what you’re doing when you’re caring for them. This is why it’s important to learn all you can about caring for your pet. Take the time to absorb the insights you have learned here. Put the information to good use for your kitty friend so that you can have them in your life for many years to come.

Cats often do best indoors where they can be kept safe. Cats that go outside tend to live shorter lives and often contract illnesses. You may even catch their disease yourself. Indoor cats love to have a sunny place to lounge and be comfortable.