Like people, cats require balanced diets with good nutrition. If you do not feed your cat properly, they may become malnourished. This article will give you advice on how to properly feed and care for your cat.

Cats often view small spaces as a fun challenge. If your cat wears a collar they might get hurt, and stuck. Breakaway collars will “break” if they’re pulled too tight. Purchasing one could be the difference between whether your cat lives or dies when he gets stuck.

TIP! Remove the drape cords from visibility when a cat is in the house. Never let your cats play with drape cords, as they could seriously injure themselves.

Don’t give a cat a dog’s product. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs. Flea products can be especially harmful. Dog products that are flea related can kill a cat. In truth, your cat needs to be kept a distance from any dog just flea-treated for the first few hours.

Crystals in the urine, an issue many male cats have, can be avoided with the proper food. Passing stones or crystals hurts and can cost you a ton in vet bills if they don’t come out naturally. Feed your cat food that is low in magnesium. Be sure to read the ingredient label. Avoid fish products.

Cats are great pets, but little ones may not understand that they are fragile. It is important that you teach children how to properly interact with a new cat. Children need to know how to hold a cat and what sorts of play a cat likes. A cat’s bones can be quite fragile and they need to be treated gently.

TIP! If you want a cat to feel like it’s more comfortable, a heated tile may be able to help. Just get a tile and heat it up in the oven for a while to place under the cat’s bed.

Create a tablecloth that your cats can use. Some cats like removing food from their bowl and eating it beside their bowl. Sometimes this will make the area around the bowl messy, and you’ll have to clean it. You can also use any type of mat underneath your cat’s eating apparatus to reduce the mess.

Litter Box

Make sure that you do not instruct your cat on using the litter box. They will do it on their own and don’t need to be taught. A lot of people think that rubbing a cat’s paws in its litter box may help them, but in reality, it can be damaging to them.

TIP! Cats can really scratch up your home. If your kitty is doing this, one way to redirect his behavior is to purchase a scratching post or cat tower.

If your cat dirties the space near his litter box, don’t punish them. The major cause of such accidents is usually because the litter box hasn’t been given the proper care. Punishing the cat will only make him afraid to be around you in the future.

You should not get rid of your cat’s old scratching post. Cats tend to enjoy a scratching toy more after they’ve gotten comfortable with it and made it their own. By removing the old item and replacing it with a new one, your cat may try to find another item to scratch. This could end up being furniture.

Cats Prefer

TIP! It can be hard to prevent your cat from jumping on the counter. Cats have a natural predilection for staking out a nice elevated place where they have a good view of their surroundings.

Consider buying your cat a special drinking fountain. When cats are in the wild they tend to prefer water that is running when they are thirsty, this applies to cats at home. Cats prefer to drink water that is streaming. Many cats prefer running water over their water dish. Drinking fountains are more environmentally-friendly and they let your cat drink naturally.

Give your cat canned food. Food that is dry is cheaper but canned food is better for your cat’s health. Canned food will give your cat more water, fat and protein. Aging cats will find it easier to chew. Ask your vet for more info, bun in general, canned food is much better for a number of reasons.

If you want to buy a second cat, prepare for some time where the cats will be familiarizing themselves with each other. They may seem like they’re fighting all the time. However, if you allow them to slowly get used to each other, they will eventually become friends.

TIP! Cats can have nocturnal tendencies. This means that they’re going to be running around more when it gets dark.

Pay attention if your cat won’t use their litter box. There are many health conditions that can cause your cat to use the restroom in places other than their own litter box. These conditions include kidney and bladder problems. You should take your cat to the vet if you think there is something wrong with your pet.

When your cat is due to deliver babies, ensure that she has a comfortable area with some space. The birth of the kittens will take approximately four hours, so use a little patience. If you suspect that there are more kittens inside your cat and it has been six hours of labor or more, you should take your cat to the veterinarian immediately.

It is possible that placing the litter box in a new part of the house will help your cat to bond with it. A cat knows that when it’s going to the bathroom it’s in a vulnerable situation, so you should make sure the box is in a calm, secure location. Some good places would be basements, laundry rooms, and any other place that doesn’t have a lot of noise and people going in and out.

TIP! The litter box for your cat needs to be positioned in the right place. Do not place it in a busy area or close to where your cat eats meals.

Diet is a very significant factor in the health of your cat. If your cat has a poor diet and does not eat enough good food or eats too much bad food, their life span can be decreased. Treating your cat to everything it wants and needs is the only responsible thing to do as a pet owner.