Cats are great animals and they can be a fantastic member of the family. It is essential to educate yourself on how to properly care for your cat. Read this article and follow the suggestions it contains.

Cats need a certain amount of grooming to stay healthy and presentable. You can regularly brush or comb your cat. If you do this often, their coat will stay clean. It also reduces their shedding and hairballs. Regularly grooming keeps cats looking well and keeps your home neater.

TIP! Cats often view small spaces as a fun challenge. Cats that wear collars are at risk should they become stuck somewhere cramped.

Do not use dog products on your cat. It is possible that a dog’s product could cause a serious adverse effect on a cat. Flea products can be especially harmful. Your cat can die if you use a dog flea product on it. If you treat your dog for fleas, make sure you keep the cat away for several hours following the application.

If you have an outdoor cat, be sure he or she has a tagged collar. This way, if your cat gets lost and is found by a stranger, that person will know how to contact you. At least put your phone number and pets name on the tag.

Scratching Post

TIP! If your cat is a female, be sure to get her spayed when she is old enough. It is best to spay your cat, even if you want to keep it as an indoor pet.

Your cat can devastate your furniture with its claws. 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. When your cat scratches inappropriately, redirect him to the scratching post. It may take some time, but will be worth the effort and expense.

Do not allow your cat to be bored frequently. Cats need play and exercise. But many cat owners ignore that need. Bored cats can suffer from depression, extreme compulsive disorders, and other harmful issues that can negatively impact their overall health and well-being. Make sure your cats have a wide variety of toys and plenty of room for active play. If you have an indoor cat, offer him a variety of toys, scratching post or objects he can climb on.

Your cat needs lots of affection and love. They give us love, and we need to return it to them. Like people, cats like to socialize and need to feel like they’re an essential part of your life. A cat can feel that he is a valuable, cherished part of their household.

TIP! If your cat ventures outdoors, it’s key to get your cat a collar which has a contact tag. This way, if your cat gets lost and is found by a stranger, that person will know how to contact you.

Your cat most likely spends quite a bit of time grooming. Your cat can get hairballs in the event that their hair is too long. There is a special food on the market that does help out with hairball issues. Certain cat foods are made just for decreasing hairballs, benefiting both your cat and yourself.

If your cat is traveling with you, remember their ears. You may like music loud and booming, but a cat will prefer lower volumes as their ears are more sensitive. Try turning down your tunes or keeping it off to make your cat’s trip better.

If your cat is excessively meowing, try to figure out why. After some time, you’ll understand why your cat purs or meows based on what she wants. The cat might want something to eat, or just to go outside. When you understand what each type of behavior indicates, you can improve your relationship.

TIP! Use bitter apple on your electric cords to keep your kitty away from them. Keep your cords covered if you feel like your cat is hellbent on chewing them.

Do you have both a cat and dog? 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. In doing so, you prevent spats and spitting over competition for water.

Cats like to be up high. To make your cat really happy, give it a place to safely survey its area. If a big cat tree is not something that can easily fit in your home, get a sturdy shelf that can be used as a perch. For an additional treat, put a little bed or blanket in there, too.

Keep old, worn scratching posts. While it doesn’t appear clean and new, your cat probably thinks otherwise. For a cat, it is comfortable and familiar. 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.

TIP! Think about getting a microchip implanted in your cat. You may not have had trouble with your cat getting loose previously, but it can happen at any time by accident.

Cats can make fantastic pets. You need to know all you can about cat care to ensure the happiness of your pet. Use all the tips you read in this article and find more sources you can use to learn more about cats. Your cat will love you more for this!