Cats are very witty, cunning, and graceful. You get this when you get a cat. They can be a tricky pet, which means this article is for you. In this article, you will find some useful tips for owning a cat that will make your life together with your cat a happy one. You should keep reading to make sure you are properly taking care of your cat.

You never want to leave the cords of your drapes dangling down. You should not allow your cat to play with drape cords since they could end up with the cord wrapped around their neck. They could be seriously hurt or even killed. All drape cords should be fastened and kept away from any harm that might come to the cats.

TIP! If your cat is female, you need to get it spayed at the proper age. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands.

Cats love to get into tight, small spaces. If they have a collar, this can be a safety issue if they get stuck. If your pet is wearing a breakaway collar, it’ll detach if it’s pulled too hard. Using this collar will prevent your cat from injuring itself.

To help your aging cat feel cozy, place a warmed tile under his bed. Heat a fabric covered heating pad in the microwave for a couple of minutes, making sure that is not too hot to the touch. You should wrap it with a towel and place it under the bed your cat uses. If possible, re-heat several times throughout the night.

Dog Products

TIP! Avoid using dog products on cats. Your cat will have a bad reaction to anything that has been specifically formulated for a dog.

It is not safe to use dog products for your feline friend. Cats often have negative reactions to dog products. Flea products for dogs are one of the worst products to give a cat. Flea treatments made for a dog can be fatal to a cat. In truth, your cat needs to be kept a distance from any dog just flea-treated for the first few hours.

Cats spend a ton of time grooming themselves. However, if it has a lot of hair, hairballs can occur. There is a special food on the market that does help out with hairball issues. Some cat food out there has a special formula in it that reduces hairballs. This benefits your pet and you.

Crystals in the urine, an issue many male cats have, can be avoided with the proper food. The cat is in pain passing the crystals, and the correction for this is costly. Feed your cat food that is low in magnesium. Check the label. You will notice that fish-based foods and products are higher in levels of magnesium than anything sourced from poultry.

TIP! An outdoor cat must always wear a tag on its collar. The collar and tag will make it easier to find the cat if it gets lost.

It’s often cheaper to buy medicine for your cat on the Internet instead of through your vet. Online prescriptions are not the best choice if you do not have the time to wait on a mail order, such as in a medical emergency. But if you have to regularly buy pet medicine, you can save 50% or more on some medicines by buying online.

Litter Box

When your cat makes a mess somewhere other than their litter box, don’t get mad. The major cause of such accidents is usually because the litter box hasn’t been given the proper care. If your punish your car, he or she is just going to become scared of you.

TIP! Keeping your cats away from the counters can be hard. One thing they like about it is they enjoy being high up.

If the cats scratching post is looking tired and worn out, never throw it away. This is the time when your cats actually most prefer it. Ditching the structure may alienate your cat, making it more likely to turn elsewhere in your home for its scratching needs.

You eat quality food, and if you want your cat to stick around a long time, they need quality food, too. Always look at the ingredients first. You want to see either fish, chicken or beef noted. The foods to avoid are those with a large amount of corn and low amounts of protein. Cats are carnivores and must have a lot of animal protein for proper nutrition and better health.

Let your cat take its time when you add a new cat to your home. They may still hiss and growl when they are in the same room together. Eventually, they will come to tolerate and actually enjoy being together.

TIP! Cats spend a ton of time grooming themselves. If your cat is long haired, this may cause hairballs.

Cats need to have play in their life. Play is necessary for all mammals no matter the age or species. Kitties who are senior citizens may not be super energetic, but they still enjoy playing. Make sure you and your cat are thoroughly enjoying each other.

Take note if the cat ceases using its litter box. Health problems may be causing your cat to urinate in places other than their litter box. A variety of infections and kidney disease can cause your cat to stay away from the box when they suddenly associate it with pain due to their medical condition. If your cat stops going in the litter box, a call to the vet is in order.

After reading this article, you have some ideas that you can put into practice. This will help you to become a better cat owner. You now have the right tools to care for your kitty. Keep up with these tips, and you’ll definitely see the difference.