Cats are absolutely wonderful. To distract them from you for awhile, give them a new game or toy. You don’t always have to spend money to have fun with your cat. Keep these tips in mind as you care for your cat in the best way possible.

If you’re thinking of getting a cat for a pet, you should look to the local shelter. Shelters have lots of great cats available, and your adoption fee often covers key veterinary services. When you adopt a cat from a shelter, you save a life and help keep the cat population under control.

TIP! A microchip will allow you to find your pet if it is lost. Even indoor cats can decide to run away at a moment’s notice, escaping through an open window.

Deter cats from shocking themselves on electrical wires by spraying them with bitter apple. You can also cover your cords under a rug or tape them to walls. You can bundle loose cords into paper towel rolls that are old. All thin cords should be put up when you’re not using them.

Keep your cat active and entertained to avoid boredom. Every cat needs exercise time and play! Sadly, this is overlooked by many cat owners. Bored cats can really be a problem. They can have health issues, OCD, and even depression. Therefore, ensure your cat has enough space for exercising and playing. If they’re an indoor cat, get them an object to climb on or a scratching post.

Anytime you travel with a cat, their ears should be monitored. While you may like some good tunes, your cat is going to appreciate other things. Therefore, try to turn down your music or keep if off altogether so your cat has a better trip.

TIP! Make sure your cat gets lots of love. Cats are by nature companion animals, but that companionship goes two ways.

When getting a little kitty for your kid, set boundaries beforehand. Let them know which rooms and areas your cats should not be in. If you want your cat to stay indoors, then the children must understand the seriousness of never letting it out. Knowing the rules ahead will help your child understand.

Try figuring out why the cat is purring. By paying attention, you should eventually learn why your cat is meowing. It could be she’s hungry or needs to go outside. Know what your cats cries mean so that you’re able to understand the cat more.

Regularly brush your cat’s hair. Brushing can help to spread the natural oils and stimulate the skin’s blood flow. You will also decrease the amount of fur throughout your home. This prevents hairballs, which can cause choking, and builds up in the cat’s stomach from self grooming.

Litter Box

You don’t want to punish a cat if they do their business outside of their litter box. When this occurs, it is probably just a sign that the litter box wasn’t properly taken care of. If you punish your cat for this, it will fear you later in the future.

Do not throw away your cat’s scratching post because it is starting to look very old and worn. It may not look as nice, but cats love a scratching post with some wear and tear. If you replace it with something new, your pet might seek out something a little more worn to scratch – like your furniture.

TIP! Create a tablecloth that your cats can use. Sometimes cats like to take food out of the bowl and eat it to the side of the bowl.

Provide your cat with a drinking fountain. Cats normally look to drink from running water. This is true in the wild or at home. The drinking fountain will look more inviting than a water bowl. You could even consider turning on your sink a few times a day to let your cat drink from the faucet. A fountain will allow your cat to drink like he or she is in the wild.

Your cat should always wear a collar and ID tag. This applies even to indoor cats. Cats are curious creatures and an open door or window is likely to be explored. Make sure the collars have tags with your contact information and your veterinarian’s information as well. Include medical issues if appropriate.

Pay attention if your cat won’t use their litter box. Using the bathroom outside of the litter box is linked to a number of cat health issues. A urinary infection or a kidney problem could be responsible for your cat’s behavior. If your pet stops using the litter box then see your veterinarian.

TIP! Reconsider outside time for your cat. This isn’t safe for your cat.

Some food you eat isn’t good to feed your cat. Examples of problem foods include garlic, green tomatoes, onions and grapes. If your cat eats these things, they could become very sick. Milk is something that can hurt your cat’s stomach, so beware of that too.

Cats have a great sense of smell, which allows them to be more perceptive. When you give them a new toy, bed, food or scratching post, this can be an issue. Don’t get discouraged if you find that your cat is not interested in these things right away. As the smell of your home gets onto the items, they’ll warm up to them.

A cat can get lonely when your daily routine changes and you are no longer home during the day. You can purchase another cat to keep it company when you are away.

Sticky Tape

Apply some sticky tape to your furniture. Cats will avoid scratching furniture if it is equipped with sticky tape. There is specific tape for this purpose. Taping your furniture can save you money and teach your cat not to scratch the material.

Cat’s are susceptible to many of the illnesses humans are. Because your pet is a family member, you are around them enough to know when they are not feeling very good. If you think something is wrong, visit the vet. A seemingly minor illness might really be something far more serious.

TIP! You need to buy some quality food for your cat. You should check the ingredients and make sure the food you give your cat includes a healthy source of protein, such as chicken, fish or beef.

An indoor-only cat is your best bet. Studies show that outdoor cats don’t live as long, and going outside exposes your cat to diseases and injury. Some diseases that cats get can be spread to humans. Give your indoor kitty a sunny location, like a window or sun room, to sit in daily in order to help meet his desire to be outdoors.

Do you love playing with your cat? Not all cats will like every approach, but most do. Playing with your cat will help them to not only have fun, but will give them the exercise that they need.