Cats make wonderful pets, however, they can also be a bit finicky. You have many issues to consider when you have one, ranging from different diets to having their nails clipped at the vet’s office. The article below offers tips you can use to offer your cat whatever it needs.

Make sure your cat is always well groomed. Brush your cat’s fur often to help it be shiny and healthy. 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. Regularly grooming your cat will help keep it and your home looking great.

TIP! Check your local animal shelter if you have plans to get a cat. Shelters around the country are overflowing, and the cats there need more humans to help.

It’s crucial that your pet gets checkups from your vet regularly. Cats need yearly shots and overall health assessments. Always use the same veterinarian if possible. That way, the doctor will be familiar with the history of your cat.

Put a collar on any cats which go outside. Cats can go far from home and without a tag they could become lost forever. The tag should contain the pet’s name, your phone number and your name as well.

It can be hard to make your cat stay off the counter. Cats instinctively want to be at a high vantage point so they can survey their surroundings. One way to combat this behavior is to proved your cat with an elevated place it is okay to climb on. An excellent tool for preventing your cat from jumping on the counter is a cat tower that is in the kitchen.

TIP! You can make your old cat feel better thanks to a hot tile placed under its bed. Simply heat a single foot cotta tile at 200 degrees between 15 and 20 minutes.

Cats are great pets, but little ones may not understand that they are fragile. Make sure your child knows how to treat a cat. Show them to pick up kitty gently and the types of activities which are appropriate. Cats need to be protected, too. Their bones are much more susceptible than dogs.

When purchasing a tiny kitty as gift for the kids, it’s best to establish boundaries well ahead of the arrival. Let your kids know where the cat can go. If you want the cat to be an inside cat, let the children know he cannot go outdoors. If your children know the rules beforehand, mishaps are less likely.

Cats generally will meow for a reason. After living with your cat for long, it’s easier to interpret its meows. The cat may want something to eat or to get let out. Look for the cues and you’ll be much more in tune with your pet.

TIP! If you own a female cat, make sure the cat is spade when she’s old enough. You may keep your cat inside, but she could still slip outside and become pregnant.

Think hard before allowing your cat outside. This could be harmful and unsafe. You cat can get fleas and contract diseases. Cats can be gravely injured or killed by eating poisonous plants, flowers or chemicals, hit by a car or even harmed by neighbors who are irritated with your cat on their property. If your cat must go outside, try to confine them to the backyard.

Be very careful about allowing children to be alone with a kitten. Under five, the child needs to be watched. Younger children cannot fully understand how to properly handle a small pet. As your child matures, carefully consider whether a small pet is safe with them.

Caring for a cat may seem easy, and if you are lucky it is, but many needs lots of attention from regular check-ups at the vet. Use what you have learned in the article above and you’ll be a great cat owner who enjoys their pet. The more you know, the happier both of you will be.