Cats are interesting creatures that are great pets. Cat owners need to learn proper cat care and learn all that they can so that their companion can live a fulfilling and healthy life. Keep reading to learn more about cat care.

Keep your drape cords away from your cats. Keep the cat away from these cords as they tend to form loops when the cat is playing around, and it could accidentally go around their neck and strangle them. This could even choke them to death. Therefore, ensure that drape cords are pinned away from your cat’s reach.

TIP! Prevent your cats from playing with drapery cords. Cats should not be allowed to play with these cords, as they can get parts of their body stuck in the cord loops.

It is not safe to use dog products for your feline friend. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs. Flea products can be especially harmful. Using dog flea products on your cat can kill them. In fact, it is a good idea to separate your cat and dog for a few hours after your dog has taken flea medication.

If you have an outside cat, you need to give it a collar and some identification tags. Cats sometimes travel a bit when outside, and a tag prevents any mishaps due to your cat being lost. The tag should have at least the pet’s name and the number where you can be reached.

Spray bitter apple on electrical cords. If your cat likes to chew cords, hide the cords as best you can. Loose cords can be bundled and tucked inside old paper towel rolls. Store electronics when they are not in use rather than leaving them plugged in.

TIP! Make sure your cat sees a vet regularly to maintain their good health. Your cat should always go to the vet for a check up, especially if they need shots.

Make sure your cat is not too bored. Cats require physical activity. 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. Provide them with space to exercise and lots of toys to play with. A scratching post is a valuable toy to put in your home.

Put your cats’ litter box where it is most acceptable to him. Never put the box near your cat’s food, and pick a quiet place away from areas that are heavily used. You’ll want to place the box in a spot with good ventilation to avoid unpleasant smells. Your cat will appreciate it and so will you.

Always provide your feline with special attention and affection. They give us love, and we need to return it to them. Like humans, cats want to feel wanted and needed. Make them feel at home.

TIP! Don’t use items on a cat that are meant for a dog. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs.

Crystals form in urine from male cats. This can be prevented with good food choices. The cat is in pain passing the crystals, and the correction for this is costly. Choose a low magnesium food. Look over the label. You will notice that fish-based foods and products are higher in levels of magnesium than anything sourced from poultry.

Cover the area around your cat’s bowl with a cloth. Sometimes cats like to take food out of the bowl and eat it to the side of the bowl. This can result in a mess that needs to be cleaned up. Simply place a cloth placemat that will grab at the food under their plate and then shaken out over the trash. You can put a vinyl one underneath that can be picked up wiped down easily if you prefer.

Be very careful about allowing children to be alone with a kitten. Children under 5 years of age should not be alone with the pet. 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. When they mature, they can spend alone time with the kitty.

TIP! Think about having a microchip inserted in your cat. Even though a cat may live inside, you never know if it will run out the door to escape.

Cats love to be high up. Your cat will be truly happy if you provide a place for him to view his surroundings. You can give your cat on a shelf to accomplish this. Make sure that this area is comfortable for your cat.

Use a brush on your cat regularly. This will help spread the natural oils within their fur while stimulating their skin’s blood flow. As an added bonus, it cuts down on loose fur. Loose hair causes hairballs, a common problem for cats. The hair enters the pet’s stomach and they later cough it up.

As was mentioned in the opening paragraph of this article, cats make great pets. However, in order to enjoy your cat, you need to educate yourself on how to best care for it. Keep this information handy, so that you can refer back to it from time to time. It is very likely that your feline companion will be very thankful.