Cats are great animals and they can be a fantastic member of the family. If you have a cat, you need to learn more about the proper way to care for your beloved pet to make sure it has a long and healthy life. Read this article carefully if you want great advice on cat care.

Cats enjoy finding small spaces to fit into. If you keep a collar on your pet, getting stuck in one of these spaces can be very dangerous. If your pet is wearing a breakaway collar, it’ll detach if it’s pulled too hard. This can make the difference in whether your cat have nine lives or only a couple of them.

TIP! Taking your cat to the vet is part of being a responsible pet owner. Cats need routine annual check-ups and possibly additional ones as well for vaccinations.

To help your aging cat feel cozy, place a warmed tile under his bed. Just get a tile and heat it up in the oven for a while to place under the cat’s bed. Keep the temperature of the oven at 200 degrees. Wrap the tile inside an unneeded towel and place it under your kitty’s favorite resting spot. Change it frequently if you like.

Spritz a little bitter apple on electrical cords to protect your cats. You can also cover your cords under a rug or tape them to walls. You can bundle loose cords together and place them inside paper towel rolls. All thin cords should be put up when you’re not using them.

A cat’s claws can do significant damage to your home and belongings. If you want to prevent or stop your cat from scratching up your furniture, the best thing to do is buy a scratching post or kitty tower for them to climb in. Give them some encouragement and let them know it is okay to scratch that. Although this may take time, your cat should eventually claw the device rather than your furniture.

TIP! Dog products shouldn’t be used on cats. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs.

Cats love to be clean. If the cat has longer hair, it can be the cause of hairballs. Special food can help. Some cat food brands have formulations to prevent or reduce hairballs, which will make life easier for your cat and you.

You must take caution when leaving your cat with any children. If the child is younger than 5, don’t leave them alone with a kitten. You may not have noticed a problem when you see them together, but very kids do not really understand they can accidentally harm or kill a kitten. Once the child grows up a little, he might be more able to handle the kitten.

Cats enjoy being in high places. Your cat will appreciate being on top of a cupboard, fridge or anywhere they can surrey their environment. If you’re averse to cat trees for some reason, a shelf without breakable items will work. Make it extra comfortable by adding a blanket or cushion.

TIP! Keeping your cat off of the counter can be difficult. After all, cats prefer to stay high so that they can keep an eye out on everything.

If your cat does not use the litter box, do not use punishments to try to discipline him. When this occurs, it tends to be because the box is not being maintained properly. If you punish the cat, it may shy away from you at future times.

Purchase high quality food for your cat. Look at the ingredients and make sure protein like fish, chicken, or beef is near the top. If the food uses fillers like corn and other things that are not protein, that’s not a sign of the good nutrition a cat needs. This type of food should be avoided. You have a carnivorous cat, and a diet consisting of animal proteins is essential.

Provide your cat with canned food rather than dry. While dry food is less costly, the canned food has added benefits. They have more water, protein and fat too. As a cat ages, it has a harder time chewing. Ask your vet, though canned food is often better for your cat.

Litter Box

Where did you put the litter box? Many cat owners feel inclined to hide the litter box. It is equally important that the litter box is readily accessible to your cat, though. Your cat will use the litter box if it is placed in a quiet place and away from smells your cat does not enjoy. If the box is placed on a cold floor, place a mat under it.

Keep your cat healthy, and ensure him a longer life, by keeping him up-to-date on his vaccinations and health check-ups. Immunizations can prevent your cat from attaining viruses or diseases. Your cat is a member of your family, so treat them like any valued member of your home.

TIP! Your cat can take lots of time to groom themselves to what they consider “perfect.” Long-haired cats often develop hairballs.

Make sure your cat stays inside as much as it can, near to both its home and its owner. It has been proven that indoor cats have a much longer life span than cats that live outdoors. Exercising every day with the owner doesn’t come with the risks of disease or attack that other cats face roaming the wild.

Keep your cat indoors if you want to protect them from fleas and bugs. Even though a cat can still get those conditions from being indoors, outside is where it is most likely to occur.

Stay your hand if you’re tempted to feed your cat leftovers from your own meals. Human food is just that, meant for humans. It contains ingredients that aren’t meant for cats. A good treat for your cat from time to time can be a small piece of cooked beef, egg or chicken. But, simply by adhering to the weight and age recommendations on cat food packaging, you will ensure a proper diet.

TIP! When getting a little kitty for your kid, set boundaries beforehand. Make sure your children are aware of rooms that are open to your cat.

As was stated earlier, cats are a wonderful choice for a pet. You have to work hard to keep them healthy and entertained. Read back over the advice again, then start applying the knowledge to your home environment. You will be thanked by your cat.