Famous poet T.S Elliot. Eliot once described cats as a creature on which a household depends, and there’s definitely some truth in his words. A well-behaved, healthy kitty is a dream to your household. Sadly, cats can be temperamental. Consider these tips for how you can coexist with your pet.

Keep your drape cords out of your cats reach. It is easy for the cat to get his head caught among the cords when playing with them. They could be seriously hurt or even killed. Therefore, ensure that drape cords are pinned away from your cat’s reach.

TIP! Make sure your cat is always groomed. Regular combing and brushing is usually all that is required.

Good grooming is important for cats. Cats require frequent brushing or combing. Do this often in order to aid in keeping your cat’s outer coat clean and healthy. It also stops hairballs. Regularly grooming your cat will help keep it and your home looking great.

Take your cat in for regular vet exams. Cats need yearly shots and overall health assessments. Try keeping the same vet throughout your cat’s life. This also allows the vet to become more familiar with your cat’s unique health needs and personality.

Older cats will appreciate a heated bed; you can use a heated tile to create one! Simply heat a terra-cotta tile in a 200 degree oven for 20 minutes. Place it in an older towel and place it underneath of the feline’s bed. If you want, change it now and then so the warmth continues.

TIP! If your cat is getting older, you can increase it’s comfort by placing its bed over a heated tile. Use a 12″ terra cotta tile and heat it by putting it in a 200ºF oven for 20 minutes.

You should take your cat to the vet on a regular basis to maintain optimum health. Your cat should always go to the vet for a check up, especially if they need shots. Cats should go to a vet immediately if they have any conditions, health problems, or injuries that need to be tended to right away.

Just because your family did it when you were a child, does not mean allowing your cat to go outside is a wise decision. This can be very unsafe for your cat. There is a chance your cat can contract fleas or perhaps something much worse. Your cat might be injured by people, other animals and even vehicles on the road. If you must let your cat outside, do so in a very small area of your backyard or lawn.

Talk to people you know about any cat problems you’re having. You may think it’s something you can take care of on your own, but other people that own cats could help. Your local veterinarian can be a valuable source of information, but there is also help available online by joining user forums geared toward cat owners.

TIP! Part of caring for your cat is taking it to regular veterinarian checkups. Your cat should have a health check yearly, but should go in more if your cat needs shots.

Never punish the cat if he or she causes a mess outside the litter box. It might be happening because you aren’t caring for the box good enough. Punishment can make your cat fearful in your presence.

Your cat should be acclimated to a carrier as a kitten. Cats never respond to punishment the way that dogs do. Encouragement is a better way to get your cats to perform. Place a beloved blanket or item inside the carrier and let it stay open near the cat’s usual haunts. The cat will eventually get into it and feel comfy. This will make it easier to mobilize your cat.

Rotate the variety of food you feed your cat. This will ensure that your cat gets a taste of many different foods.

TIP! Some cats like to scratch up floors and furniture. You need to get a scratching post or a cat tower to prevent your cat from ruining your furniture.

Use canned food for your cat. Dry food is less expensive, but there are added benefits to be had in canned cat food. Your cat will get extra protein and fats from canned food along with some of the water it needs every day. It’s easier for older cats to chew as well. Discuss this with your vet, who may tell you to feed your cat canned food.

As soon as you adopt your cat, fit him with identification tags attached to a collar. This applies even to indoor cats. A naturally curious cat will readily wander out an open door or window. Tags that list your contact number and vet’s name need to be worn. This is particularly important if you have a cat with medical needs.

Aired Cat

TIP! Grooming is something that most cats do all the time. Long hair encourages hairballs.

Think about the extra work before buying a long-haired cat. While long, silky hair is beautiful on a cat, the same fur appears far less beautiful covering your floor, dark clothing, and furniture. You should only get a long-haired cat if you are prepared for the extra grooming and cleaning. Long-haired cats are also more prone to hairballs.

If you’re dealing with a cat that won’t use the litter box, you should place it somewhere else. Just like humans, cats can be sensitive to where they eliminate, so choose a private location if possible. Low-traffic areas like basements and laundry rooms are great places to put the litter box.

Caring for a cat can be difficult, but it is very gratifying. Whether you have a cat that has high energy or low, this advice will help you to better your relationship with your kitty. Those meows will be replaced with purrs in short order.