Is there a feline member of your family? Cats are a very popular pet, loved all over the world. Cats are animals that require lots of care and affection. Luckily, you can do all of this. This article will discuss some great cat care ideas.

Keep your drapery cords out of the reach of your cat. If the cat becomes caught in a loop, they could choke to death. This accident could trap or injure your cat, or even be fatal. Hang your drapery cords out of your cats’ sight to avoid this.

TIP! If you plan on getting a cat for a pet, try looking into a local shelter. There are so many great cats at shelters.

Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. Brushing is a very important component towards taking care of your cat. If you brush cats on a regular basis, it will keep their coats clean and attractive. In addition, it helps decrease shedding, which results in less hairballs. A well groomed cat will be much more pleasant for everyone and will also help you keep your home clean.

Be sure to show your cat affection as much as possible. Cats are by nature companion animals, but that companionship goes two ways. Your cat needs to socialize and get plenty of attention from everyone in your family. They want nothing more than to be an integral part of your family.

Find cat medicine online if you want to get discounts. In an emergency, however, this might not be possible. If you regularly need to buy pet medication, you can get a savings of up to 50 percent online.

TIP! If you have an old cat, you can help make its bed more comfortable by placing heated tiles underneath it. A terra cotta tile heated in your oven on about 200 degrees and for 15 minutes will do.

Younger children can be a little rough with cats sometimes. Make sure your kids understand how cats should be handled. Children need to know how to hold a cat and what sorts of play a cat likes. Keep in mind that a cat’s bones are much more fragile than a dog’s.

Do you own both a dog and a cat? A dog may enjoy eating your cat’s food when he has the chance to do so. Try locating your cat’s food in an area where the dog cannot go. That also means they don’t fight about water after eating the food.

Litter Box

TIP! Pick a good spot for the cat’s litter box. Try and put it in an isolated area away from the cat bowl.

You cannot teach a cat to use a litter box. Using the litter box is instinctual for cats, and they require no training. Some individuals believe they should carry their cat to the litter box and rub paws into the litter. This actually can be quite traumatic for a cat.

Never punish the cat if he or she causes a mess outside the litter box. Usually this is a sign that you haven’t cleaned the box recently. Punishment can make your cat fearful in your presence.

To help avoid a finicky cat, feed your cat different brands of cat food. By feeding the cat the same kind of food over and over again, they become used to that specific food. Good luck getting it to try something new!

TIP! Cats can spend hours keeping themselves and their fur clean. If your kitty is a long-haired breed, the result of this might be hairballs.

As soon as you adopt your cat, fit him with identification tags attached to a collar. This is necessary even for an indoors pet. Cats can slip out a door in a flash. Include your vet’s info as well as your own on the tags. This is also essential if they have specific medical needs.

If you notice your cat is urinating a lot or at improper places, you should take it to the vet. Many cats develop these behaviors in response to a health problem, such as urinary tract infections. Take the cat to the vet if it stops using the litter-box and let the vet diagnose the problem.

If your cat is pregnant, make sure she has plenty of room to give birth. The birth will take place over the span of several hours. If it has been more than six hours and you believe more kittens are still inside your cat, you need to get her to the vet right away.

TIP! Find cat medicine online if you want to get discounts. There may be some cases in which you cannot buy online, such as in an emergency.

Never give your pet any drugs that were designed for use by humans. If they have health issues, see a vet and give them what they provide. You can kill a cat by giving them human grade medications.

Your cat is part of your family, and you would do anything for it. This article has provided you with the knowledge needed to properly care for your pet. Use what you have read here so that you can have a cat that’s in good shape and happy. Give love to your cat, and the love will be returned.