Learn Everything You Want To Know About Cats

Cats make great animal friends, but they are expensive to take care of properly. Vet bills, toys, food and litter all add up to a significant amount.This article has ideas you can use to make living with a cat while saving money.

Regular veterinary checkups are important for the health of your cat. Cats need to get shots so they don’t get sick and a vet can help you make sure your cat is okay. Make sure you keep the same veterinarian for your pet throughout its life. This ensures that your vet will have an excellent understanding of your pet’s medical history.

TIP! Dog products shouldn’t be used on cats. Cats often have negative reactions to dog products.

You must always bring your cat to a vet to make sure everything is okay. Cats require special shots and overall health assessments. Try to stay with one vet during the life of your pet’s life. This also allows the vet to become more knowledgeable on your cat’s unique health needs and personality.

You shouldn’t ever use products designed for other animals.Cats will have a reaction that’s negative reactions to dog products. This is especially true when it comes to flea treatments. Your cat may die if you use a dog flea products on it.

If your cat goes outside, it is important to have a collar with a tag. Cats love to roam, so you need to give someone who finds your cat a way to contact you. Be sure that the pet’s name and also your home number are on the tag.

TIP! You may want to have a microchip put into your car. Even indoor cats get out sometimes.

Prevent your cat from chewing on electrical cords by coating exposed wires with bitter apple on them. If the cat likes to chew on cords, try to cover as many of them as possible. You can hide away any cords inside the rolls that are used for paper towels.

Don’t allow your cat get frequently bored. Cats need play and get regular exercise. Bored cats tend to develop depression and other harmful health conditions. Give them exercise space and a large number of toys. Indoor cats will appreciate having a structure they can climb on or a dedicated scratching posts.

Do you own both a dog and a cat? Dogs will eat a cat’s food any time they’re given the chance. You should keep your cat food away from the dog. This also makes sure that the two don’t fight over water.

TIP! Use care if you have kids and a cat. A child under five should not be left alone with a pet.

Create a little tablecloth for the feline. Cats often take food from their bowl to eat it off to the side.This creates extra work since you need to clean up the leftover loose food.

Think over whether or not you should let your cat outside. This isn’t safe for a cat. Your cat could get fleas or even worse than that.Your cat may be targeted by another animal, other animals and even vehicles on the road. If your cat really wants to go outside, try to confine them to the backyard.

When something seems amiss with your feline friend, speak with other cat owners. Though you want to handle problems on your own, you may require advice from others who own cats. Use the Internet to share tips with other cat owners and ask your questions or talk with your neighbors, friends or veterinarian.

Cats enjoy high up. You can also add a small bed or blanket to give your kitty some comfort.

You should talk to other pet owners if you’re having problems with your pet. You may try to handle it yourself, but you might benefit from the experience of others.

Don’t toss your cat’s scratching post just because it’s starting to look haggard. Cats love them! Your cat might not want to use the new scratching post and start ruining your furniture instead.

TIP! Provide your cat with a drinking fountain. Most cats will prefer drinking water that is running over drinking water in a bowl.

Take the time to train your cat to go into a car carrier. Cats do not respond in the same way dogs are. They respond better with encouragement. Place a beloved blanket or favorite toy inside the carrier to make your cat more acclimated to the carrier. The cat will feel comfy.This will make getting the hassle out of traveling with your cat in its carrier.

Frequent urination outside the litter box may indicate a trip to your vet’s office. Cats sometimes behave like this if they have a urinary tract infection or other medical problem. Some inexpensive antibiotics can resolve potential risks for your cat.

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. However, if you hide it from your pet he might not try very hard to find it when he needs to go to the bathroom. Understand that cats are extremely picky. If its litter box is not in a convenient location, then your cat might not use it. For example, a rug or mat is a good way to make a litter box placed on a concrete floor more attractive to your cat.

TIP! If kitty won’t use the litter box, try moving it. Cats know that during the elimination process they are left somewhat vulnerable, so moving the box to a more private area should help.

Think about the extra work before you take home a long-haired cat. The hair looks good, but it will require a lot of maintenance.Don’t adopt a cat unless you can handle the extra cleaning.Long-haired cats also more prone to hairballs.

Litter Box

If your cat has frequent hairballs, and extra brushing hasn’t helped, here are some other tips that may help. You can try adding a teaspoon or so of pumpkin to your cat’s food. You can also mix in a little water from a tuna can with the pumpkin. Many cat foods have extra fiber or other items that solve this issue.

TIP! It’s important to only feed your cat the amount of food that it should have to ensure a healthy life. It can lead to obesity, diabetes and other health related problems.

Think carefully about where you want to put the litter box for your cat. You may really want to hide it away. The cat must have easy access the box. If you are going to put the litter box in a room without carpet, put a mat or rug down underneath it.

Cats can be a very expensive animal to take care of. There are a lot of responsibilities that you will have. Fortunately, now that you are more informed by the knowledge presented here, you can save money and enjoy a better cat.

Never let your cat venture outside if something like rabies, fleas or fungus makes you nervous. While it is true that even an indoor cat can contract illnesses, they are more prevalent with cats who frequently go outdoors.