Cats are one of the most popular pets in the world, loved by millions of people. These cats are abandoned and make up almost half of the whole cat population. Use the information from this article to help guide you along your pet care journey.

Put a heated tile beneath the bed of an older cat. Put a square foot of terra cotta tile into your oven heated to 200 degrees. Keep the tile in the oven for about 15 minutes. Put the tile inside a towel and place it under the cat’s bedding. Change it every couple of hours if desired.

TIP! Make sure you purchase medicines and treatments specifically for cats. Cats are not the same as dogs, and products meant for dogs can make cats very ill.

Do not allow your cat to get an electrical shock. Spray them with bitter apple, and they will stay away. If your cat happens to be a champion cord-chewer, you’ll need to use cord covers to protect your cords. You can bundle loose cords into paper towel rolls that are old. Whenever you aren’t using any thin, electronic cords, you should store them away.

Don’t allow your cat to get bored too often. Cats need to exercise and play. Sometimes, cat owners don’t realize this. A bored cat may fall victim to depression, compulsive disorders or issued that can be harmful to their health. Give them toys they can play with, play with them yourself, or at the least give them room to exercise. If they stay indoors make sure they have a scratching post for climbing.

Litter Box

TIP! Most cats are very nocturnal. It is likely that they will want to play while you are sleeping.

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. It is also advisable to keep the litter box area ventilated to control odor. Your cat and you will prefer this in the end.

Be sure to show your cat affection as much as possible. Cats give us a lot of love, and they deserve to be loved back. Similar to people, cats like to socialize and feel as if they are important to their family. Your cat wants to be as much a member of the family as anyone else.

Cats enjoy high places. A happy cat is one that has a safe living environment. If you don’t wish to have a big cat tree inside your house, try a sturdy shelf made of breakables. Make it extra comfortable by adding a blanket or cushion.

TIP! A cat generally spends quite a bit of time grooming itself. When the cat’s hair is longer, this could lead to hairballs.

Seek the advice of others if you have a cat that’s giving you problems. Although you may feel like you don’t need help, other owners may be able to give you good advice. Participate in online discussion boards for cat owners, or pick up the telephone and speak with your vet.

You don’t want to punish a cat if they do their business outside of their litter box. If this happens, it may be because you have not kept the box as clean as you should. Your cat will become afraid of you if you punish it or scold it too often.

To avoid having a picky cat, switch up the kinds of foods you give him. When you give the same thing day after day, it becomes boring.

Scratching Post

Don’t toss your cat’s scratching post just because it’s starting to look haggard. It may not look as nice, but cats love a scratching post with some wear and tear. If you throw it away too soon, that cat may look to your furniture for some clawing while it slowly breaks in a new scratching post.

Be patient with your pets when you introduce a second cat into your home. There will be an inevitable adjustment period as your two cats get to know each other. They may still hiss and growl when they are in the same room together. Eventually, they become used to each other and are comfortable together.

TIP! Place a “tablecloth” under your cat’s food bowl. Some cats prefer to remove their food from the dish and eat it off to the side.

It is important to designate a big and comfortable area for your cat to deliver her kittens. The process generally takes about three hours, so you must exercise patience. If the birth takes an excessively long time or you believe a kitten is stuck inside, an immediate visit to the veterinary hospital is essential.

When a dog wags it’s tail, it’s telling you that it is excited or happy. When a cat wags its tail, it’s for a completely different reason. A cat wags its tail when it is upset. If you’re holding the cat and their tail begins wagging, they should be put down so that you don’t get scratched or hit.

Don’t use chemicals near your cat that have phenol. This chemical is present in many household cleaners, such as Pine-Sol and Lysol. These chemicals can have a devastating impact on your cat’s liver.

TIP! Be very careful about allowing children to be alone with a kitten. Never leave a pet alone with a child who is any younger than five.

To the greatest extent possible, you’ll want to keep your cat close to you and your house. Free-ranging cats who spend most of their time outdoors have a shorter lifespan than those that are raised and accustomed to indoor living. Roaming around the house doesn’t cause as much risk as roaming the wild.

Place a sticky style tape on your furniture. Cats naturally like to claw things and often your furniture is what they use. The tape will help prevent this. There is tape available that is specifically designed for this. By booby-trapping your furniture and putting up a scratching post, your cat will get out of the habit in no time.

Now you know how to care for your cat properly. Cats can get unruly and ruin many things we love. Of course, cats are still sensitive animals and should be handled with care! You might even surprise yourself and decide to take a member of the feral litter home with you!