Cats spend a lot of time napping, but when they are awake, you will need to keep them busy to keep them out of trouble. When left on their own, cats can climb all over your furniture and scratch everything up. If you want your cat to be good and mind you, you have to know a few things first. Learn from this article about how to properly care for your feline friend.

Check out the shelter when adopting a cat. Shelters have tons of great cats and their adoption fee will generally cover necessary vet care. By choosing a cat from an animal shelter, you can do your part to help with overpopulation. Also, you become a lifesaver!

TIP! Cats need a certain amount of grooming to stay healthy and presentable. They need to be brushed every day.

Brush and trim your cat’s fur often to keep it looking sharp. A cat requires regularly brushing and combing. This will help them maintain a clean and healthy coat. This will also reduce things like shedding and hairballs because it keeps them from having extra hair. Regularly grooming keeps cats looking well and keeps your home neater.

Older cats will appreciate a heated bed; you can use a heated tile to create one! Bake a one-foot tile made from terra cotta in the oven at 200 degrees F for around 15 to 20 minutes. Cover with a small blanket or towel, then place it beneath your pet’s bed. Change it regularly if you need to.

If your cat is female, you need to get it spayed at the proper age. Even if she stays inside all the time, she could get out when in heat and end up pregnant. Your best bet is to have your female cat spayed.

Flea Products

Don’t use items on a cat that are meant for a dog. Cats will react very negatively to any products intended for dogs. When it comes to flea products this is particularly true. Your cat may die if you use dog flea products on it. If you treat your dog for fleas, make sure you keep the cat away for several hours following the application.

You can keep your cat away from electrical cords by spraying them with some bitter apple. If your cat still prefers to chew on cords, then you have to make sure they stay covered. You can bundle loose cords into paper towel rolls that are old. If you own electronic devices with thin cords, you should keep them out of your cat’s reach when you’re not using them.

TIP! Crystals form in urine from male cats. This can be prevented with good food choices.

Your home furnishings can fall victim to your cat’s sharp claws. Purchase a scratching post to stop your cat from destroying your home. Entice them to scratch those items rather than your belongings. This approach takes time, but it usually works.

It’s not easy convincing your pet that the kitchen counter is a no-cats zone. One thing they like about it is they enjoy being high up. One good way to beat this problem is by giving your kitty some safe, high perches throughout the house. Putting a cat tower in or near the kitchen can help keep the cats from laying on the counter.

It is likely that your feline friend enjoys grooming his fur. If your cat is long haired, this may cause hairballs. Special food can help. Certain cat foods are formulated to lower the amount of hairballs.

TIP! Before you consider buying a kitten for your children, make sure clear boundaries are set before you bring the kitten home. Make sure the children know where the cat is and is not allowed to roam.

You can often find better deals for cat medicine online rather than buying them from the veterinarian. You can’t always get it online. However, if you buy meds for your cat on a regular basis, you can save huge amounts by getting medication via the Internet.

If you have to travel with a cat you should remember their ears. You may like music loud and booming, but a cat will prefer lower volumes as their ears are more sensitive. To keep your cat calm and collected over the course of your trip, keep the stereo low – or perhaps off entirely.

Place a “tablecloth” under your cat’s food bowl. Cats often like to remove food from their bowl to eat it off to the side. That can mean a bigger mess for you to clean. You can also use any type of mat underneath your cat’s eating apparatus to reduce the mess.

Litter Box

Never try to teach a cat how to work a litter box. This comes quite naturally to them and is not something that is learned. While many pet owners try to introduce their cats to a litter box by rubbing their front paws in the sand, this can sometimes traumatize your furry friend.

Brush your cat’s coat often. It really helps move natural oils around the cat’s fur, and it improves blood flow. Additionally, brushing helps to expedite hair shedding. Doing so reduces the occurrence of hairballs, which are a choking risk. It also benefits the cat’s stomach by reducing the animal’s need to clean itself.

TIP! Make sure that you do not instruct your cat on using the litter box. This is natural to them and does not need to be taught.

Cats can be rambunctious, and there’s no better way to address that than with toys. Learning tips like this can keep your cat from destroying your home. Use the recommendations from this article and others to help keep your cat and home happy.