Cats are wondrous creatures and are fantastic pets. Cats are so independent, which works out great for you if you’re not home all the time. The tips below will ensure your cat is as happy as it can be.

Drape Cords

TIP! Cats will be up during the night more often than not. It is likely that they will want to play while you are sleeping.

Keep your drapery cords out of the reach of your cat. Never let your cats play with drape cords, as they could seriously injure themselves. This could kill them. It is highly recommended that you keep all drape cords pinned in such a way that the cat can’t see them so as to prevent any accidents.

Keep your cat properly groomed. Regular combing and brushing is usually all that is required. If you do this frequently you’ll be able to help the cat have clean fur. Also, this can eliminate the constant shedding that you will deal with. Keep your cat looking at its best by grooming it well.

Taking your cat to the vet is part of being a responsible pet owner. Your cat should always go to the vet for a check up, especially if they need shots. If you notice that your cat appears to be experiencing some sort of illness or injury, do not delay a trip to the vet.

TIP! Be careful as small kids may treat kittens too roughly. Teach your children how to handle a cat.

Spray electrical cords with some bitter apple to prevent cats from getting electrocuted. Cat can sometimes chew on cords, and they should be covered to prevent this. Any loose cords should be bundled up and placed in things like paper towel rolls. Put away electronics that have tempting, thin cords when you’re not using them.

Your cat can devastate your furniture with its claws. If your cat is ripping up and shredding your home, invest in a kitty tower or scratching post. They can scratch this instead. It doesn’t happen overnight but with some patience, you should be able to save your house from the claws.

Check prices online for your cat’s medication to see if they are cheaper than at your vet’s office. If it’s an emergency, buying online may not be an option. However, for standard medications, like flea medications or heart worm pills, online sources offer a substantial savings to pet owners.

TIP! You cannot teach a cat to use a litter box. This comes naturally – you can’t teach it.

Do you have a cat and a dog? Dogs love to eat cat food! Consider placing the cat food on a location away from where the dog can reach. This can also prevent unnecessary arguments between your pets over the water supply, once the food has been consumed.

Cats love heights. Your cat will appreciate being on top of a cupboard, fridge or anywhere they can surrey their environment. If you’d rather not invest in a cat tree, simply use a large shelf or bookcase without any breakable items. Make sure that this area is comfortable for your cat.

Discuss any issues you have with your pet with others. Although you may want to go it alone, it can be helpful to seek advice from other people that have experience owning cats. You can locate forums about cats online if you search for them. On these forums you can ask for advice, or you can just speak with a vet.

TIP! Use a brush on your cat regularly. This helps to stimulate blood flow and circulation, and it will also help to evenly distribute the natural oil your cat’s fur has.

Brush your cat’s coat often. This will spread all of their natural oils around and help their blood flow. It also gets rid of shedding hair. Loose hair causes hairballs, a common problem for cats. The hair enters the pet’s stomach and they later cough it up.

Consider getting your cat a fountain to drink from. A cat will always drink from running water if possible. Streaming water is your best bet. In fact, many cats like to drink from a running faucet instead of drinking from their water bowls. A fountain will give them the same effect, and it is more environmentally friendly.

Feed canned food to your cat. While dry food is less expensive, canned food is healthier. That’s because this type of food provides your cat with more protein, good fat and water. As a cat ages, it has a harder time chewing. You should listen to what your vet recommends, though.

TIP! It would be a good idea for your cat to get used to a pet carrier. You have to take a different approach to training a cat rather than a dog.

Keep a breakaway collar and tag on your cat. Even indoor cats should have identification on them. Cats love to explore, and if they see an opportunity to go outside, they will take it. Tags that list your contact number and vet’s name need to be worn. This is very critical if your feline has specific medical issues.

It’s important that cats get play time. In fact, play is a common activity for all mammals, including people and cats, no matter their age. Although older cats won’t be as active as younger cats, they still need a little exercise. Enjoy some playtime with your cat.

Litter Box

TIP! Don’t toss an older scratching post just because it looks worn. This is the time when your cats actually most prefer it.

Your cat’s choice to potty outside the litter box could signal something more worrisome than misbehavior. Many feline health conditions can cause a cat to urinate and defecate in random places outside of their litter box. This is especially true if the cat has kidney or bladder problems. If your cat stops going in the litter box, a call to the vet is in order.

Cats are perfect pets for houses and condos. If you are responsible, you should educate yourself about caring for your kitty properly. Use what this article has taught you if you want to be the owner of a cat that does well in life. This can help your cat enjoy a greater life.