Tips To Help You Better Care For Your Cat

Cats are magical creatures. Keep reading to learn more about proper cat care so that your cat.

Grooming is an essential part of your cat’s care. You have to make sure your cat gets brushed or combed often. This can keep them clean. It also helps to reduce their shedding and can cut down on how many times they are spitting up hairballs. Keeping your cat nicely groomed will keep him and your home looking their best.

TIP! Ensure that your cat goes to the vet often so that they are healthy. Cats should go to a vet at least once each year for a check up, and more frequently for required shots.

Check out the shelter before you purchase a cat. Shelters always have a lot of cats available and their adoption fee will generally cover necessary vet care. Adopting a pet shelter benefits the cat this way helps to save their life and cut down on unwanted animal births.

Be sure your cat sees regularly so it stays healthy. Cats need routine annual check-ups and wellness checks just like people.Cats should visit the vet right away if there are injuries or health problems that don’t go away.

Do not use dog products on your cat. They can have very strong and possibly negative reactions to dog products. Be very careful with the flea products you use. Canine flea products can be lethal to a cat. Keep your cat away from your puppy after treating it with some flea products.

TIP! If your cat goes outside, it is important to have a collar with a tag. If your cat gets lost during its time outdoors, a tag makes it easier to locate the animal.

Think about having a microchip in your pet. Even indoor cats may get the urge to run out of your home at some point. A tagged collar might help get kitty home, for instance if it gets snagged in some branches. Microchips are tiny and contain all your important contact information.

Cats sometimes will spend lots of time grooming themselves. Hairballs are more common for long-haired cats. There are special foods which help with this problem. Some cat foods are specially formulated to help reduce hairballs, which will help.

It can be hard to prevent your cat from jumping on the counter. One thing they like about it is they enjoy being high up. Making a place high-up for your cat can solve this issue. Putting a cat tower in or near the kitchen can help keep the cats from laying on the counter.

TIP! Cats are great pets, but little ones may not understand that they are fragile. Teach your children how to handle a cat.

You can often find better prices for cat medicine online than buying them from the veterinarian. In some situations, in the case of emergencies, of course. If you regularly need to buy pet medication, you can usually save up to 50% online.

Be careful if you leave a kitten with a kitten. Children under five years of age should not be left alone with a pet. They don’t know what harm they can pose for the kitten.When your children age, they develop the skills needed to be around small animals.

If your cat is excessively meowing, try to figure out why. Over time, you will pick up on the reasons why your cat is making this gesture. Maybe she wants to go out, or maybe she wants to eat. Pay attention to her cues, and you can understand your cat that much more.

TIP! Think hard before allowing your cat outside. This can compromise your cat’s safety.

Don’t try and teach your kitty how the basics of using a litter box is supposed to be used. This is something that comes naturally – you can’t teach it. Don’t try to force your cat into the box by rubbing their paws or face in it.

Do not punish your cat if it makes a mess in the area outside its litter box. If your cat makes a mess, it may be because you have not kept the box as clean as you should.Punishing the cat will only make them afraid of you later on.

Be careful if you leave a kitten with a young child. Children under five years old should always be supervised when interacting with a pet. Younger children cannot fully understand how to properly handle a small pet. As your child matures, carefully consider whether a small pet is safe with them.

TIP! Talk to others when you have a problem with your cat. Other cat owners may have had experience with what you’re going through right now.

If you start them off eating the same type of food all of the time and you never change it up, it will be the only thing that they are able to eat later on down the road.

Canned food is usually the best option for cats. Dry food may cost less, but there are quite a few benefits to canned food. It’s also much easier for older teeth if your cat is getting up there in years. Speak with the vet, but know that wet food is normally much better for your pet.

Feed canned food to your cat. Dry foods are cheaper but canned foods are richer in vitamins and nutrients. There is more water, more fat and more protein in it. Older cats also find it easier to chew up. Be sure to ask your vet about your pet’s food; however, canned food is usually the best for your cat.

Play is an essential to your cat’s daily life. Take time to play and have a little fun with your cat.

Litter Box

Don’t bring home a cat with long hair without taking into account the extra care they’ll require. Even though that nice coat of beautiful silky fur looks great, it can leave a mess on your floors, furniture and clothing. You should only get a long-haired cat if you are prepared for the extra grooming and cleaning. Long-haired cats are also more prone to hairballs.

TIP! Your cat’s choice to potty outside the litter box could signal something more worrisome than misbehavior. This could be a side effect of a health problem.

Carefully consider where you will locate your friend’s litter box. 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 the box is placed on a cold floor, put a mat beneath it to keep the box warm.

Cats are neat animals. If you learn as much about them as possible, they also make great pets. Read this article again if it helps. Put the tips into practice today, then watch your feline companions thrive and grow in a healthy way.

Always keep your declawed cat indoors. The cat won’t be able to fight back if other animals attack it and that could get it hurt or killed. Indoor cats are the only type of cat that needs to be declawed. Even with that, only their front claws should be removed. Don’t cut the back claws because they won’t scratch up your furniture or floors.