Cats have been beloved pets for many centuries. Cats have inspired the songs, poetry and visual arts of many cultures. Cats are the boss, after all. This article is packed with tips and tricks to improve your relationship with your cat.

Keeping cats from a counter really can be tough. A cat will naturally want to be high enough to view everything around them. It helps to provide your cat with certain high spaces where it is allowed. If you don’t want your cats to jump on your counters, you can put a cat condo in or around the kitchen.

TIP! Groom your cat. Cats require frequent brushing or combing.

Never let your cat experience frequent boredom. Cats need play and exercise like other pets. Many owners just don’t have time. Bored cats can develop depression and other harmful health conditions. Give them toys they can play with, play with them yourself, or at the least give them room to exercise. If your cats are kept inside, set up a carpet lined scratching pad or post. There are many climbing structures that can be purchased or made for cats who enjoy heights.

Cats love to be clean. Your cat can get hairballs in the event that their hair is too long. There are foods which help combat this problem. Some cat food brands have formulations to prevent or reduce hairballs, which will make life easier for your cat and you.

Be especially mindful of your cat’s ears when you take them on a trip. They don’t want to hear you singing at the top of your lungs. Spare your cat’s sensitive hearing by keeping the volume down at all times.

TIP! You need to take your pet to the vet on a regular basis. Your cat should receive shots regularly to prevent health issues.

When you purchase a kitten for your child, set rules and boundaries beforehand. You can then teach your kids which areas your cat can go into. Make sure that your children know if the cat is strictly an indoor cat. It’s important to remind them as often as necessary, and when you plan ahead of time to teach your children, you will less likely to have issues.

Don’t leave a kitten with small kids. Particularly if the children are younger than five, they need supervision. Most of them simply aren’t mature enough to grasp the concept of danger to themselves or the animal. As children get older, decide when they show the maturity to handle a small pet.

Litter Box

TIP! You shouldn’t ever use products designed to be used on dogs on your cat. Your cat will have a bad reaction to anything that has been specifically formulated for a dog.

If kitty won’t use the litter box, try moving it. Instinctively, cat’s will search out a safe place to eliminate, so try relocating the litter box to a quiet and secluded area. Try rooms that are less used, such as a basement or utility room.

There are certain human foods that you should never feed to cats. Some of these foods are green tomatoes, grapes, onions and garlic. These foods can make your cat very ill. Milk can too. It can give your cat stomach pains.

A cat usually believes it is in charge of your house. However, if you utilize the advice above, you can show your cat who’s really in charge. People enjoy cats because they’re great as pets, and you can use the above advice to make sure you’re giving your pet a great life.