If you understand good cat care, you will have yourself a wonderful pet. You have to learn all you can about how to give that cat the best life possible. You’ll pick up more than a few great tips on caring for a cat in the article below.

When considering a new pet, make sure you visit the area shelter first. There are so many great cats at shelters. The fee you will have to pay typically includes vet care. By choosing a cat from an animal shelter, you can do your part to help with overpopulation. Also, you become a lifesaver!

TIP! Drape cords should be kept distant from cats. You should not allow your cat to play with drape cords since they could end up with the cord wrapped around their neck.

Don’t use dog portions for your cat. Cats will have a reaction that’s negative towards a product made for dogs. Flea products can be especially harmful. These products can be fatal for your cat. You should keep your cats and dogs separated after using a flea treatment.

If you have an outdoor cat, make sure he is fitted with a tag and collar. Cats can get lost, and they need a tag to be found. You have to be sure you have your pet’s name and number written on the tag.

Spritz a little bitter apple on electrical cords to protect your cats. If your cat likes to chew cords, hide the cords as best you can. You can hide away any cords inside the rolls that come inside paper towels. Whenever you aren’t using any thin, electronic cords, you should store them away.

TIP! If you’re thinking of getting a cat for a pet, you should look to the local shelter. Shelters around the country are overflowing, and the cats there need more humans to help.

It’s important that you don’t forget your cat and allow them to become bored too easily. Play and exercise are both important for cats’ well-being. Sadly, this can be easily overlooked. If your cat is bored, it might develop a depression, obsessive compulsive behaviors or ruin some of your furniture. Give them plenty of room to exercise and a wide selections of toys. Indoor cats will be happier if you provide them with climbing resources and practical things such as scratching posts.

Cats are usually more active during the night. This means nighttime is an active time for your cat. Shut the door to your bedroom. This helps to muffle the sounds of nighttime play. This should help them from waking you during the night, pouncing on your feet under the covers.

Your cat needs lots of affection and love. They are very loving animals and deserve affection back. Like most folks, cats have the need to socialize to feel like part of the family. A cat can feel that he is a valuable, cherished part of their household.

TIP! Cats really enjoy squeezing into any and all small spaces. If they are wearing a collar this can pose a safety risk, in the event that your cat gets stuck.

Your cat can take lots of time to groom themselves to what they consider “perfect.” However, if it has a lot of hair, hairballs can occur. If you’ve got a cat with this issue, get it special types of food. Some food are produced specifically for hairball reduction, which will help.

Cat medications can be bought affordable online. 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.

While cats are good pets for children generally, smaller children may treat them too roughly. Show your kids the proper way to handle cats. Show them what activities are appropriate and how to pick them up. Feline bones are weaker than those of many other pets, so they must be handled with care.

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.

Do you own a dog and cat? Dogs will generally try to eat the cat’s food whenever the opportunity comes along. Because of this, you should make the place that your cat food is in higher up so that the dog cannot reach it. This will ensure they don’t fight over food or water, too.

Be careful when leaving your cat with your children. If children are younger than five years old, pets ought not be left with them. They don’t know what harm they can do. As your child matures, carefully consider whether a small pet is safe with them.

Give your cat canned food. Dry food can be less costly, but there are quite a few benefits to canned food. The moist food gives your cat water, and it usually has more protein and fat in it. Canned food is much easier to chew for older cats. Go ahead and talk to your vet, but canned food is favorable for cats.

TIP! Some male cats get urinary crystals, but this is preventable with proper diet. If they have to pass the crystals it can cause the cat a lot of pain and paying a vet to help with this can cost you a lot of money.

If you just own one cat but are considering obtaining another one, then you should ensure you allow a few weeks for your old cat and new one to become familiar with each other. The cats might hiss, swat and hide from each other at first. With enough time to acclimate themselves to the new arrangement, though, virtually any two cats will become willing, friendly, and perhaps even inseparable companions.

Cats can be awesome pets, though they do require proper care. Read this article as many times as needed. If you care for your cat properly, you are giving your cat the gift of a long, healthy life.