Cats provide endless hours of companionship and entertainment. However, caring for a cat can be a lot of work and time-consuming. There are a few things that every person who owns a cat needs to know. Thankfully, the following article will tell you all you need to know. Read them to keep your cat strong and happy.

Make sure your cat is always well groomed. Regular combing and brushing is usually all that is required. This will keep them sterile and aesthetically pleasing. Also, this can eliminate the constant shedding that you will deal with. A well groomed cat, then, is a happy and healthy cat.

TIP! Keep your drape cords out of your cats reach. Cats love to play with hanging cords and this poses the threat of your cat hurting themselves or becoming entangled.

Take your cat in for regular vet exams. Cats need to get shots so they don’t get sick and a vet can help you make sure your cat is okay. Try using one veterinarian consistently. They will learn your cat’s history best.

Cats love to play on kitchen counters, and it can be hard to break them of the habit. Cats like to be up high, where they can watch everything going on. Give them an alternative. Putting a cat tower in or near the kitchen can help keep the cats from laying on the counter.

You may want to have a microchip implanted in your cat. One day, your indoor cat might leave through an open door or get outside through an open window. Collars and tags can help get your cat home, however cats are experts at wiggling out of these, not to mention the risk they pose if they were to get snagged on a bush or tree branch. Microchips are very small, and you can note your name, address and phone number in there. Most organizations that deal with animal care can scan your cat for microchips, and because they are implanted, they won’t get lost.

TIP! Keep your cat from having a shocking experience by spraying electrical cords with bitter apple. Most office stores sell a tube that you can stick all of your wires and cords through if the spray doesn’t work.

Avoid the chance that your male cat will develop crystals in his system that will come out in his urine by feeding a high quality diet. These crystals can cause your cat pain to pass, and your vet bill can be expensive. Choose foods low in magnesium for your cat. Just as in the grocery store, take the time to read the labels. Poultry products will tend to have lower amounts than seafood based products.

Cover the area around your cat’s bowl with a cloth. Some cats prefer removing their food from the bowl and eating it on the side. If this occurs, you will have a mess on your hands. There are two ways to do this. You can either put a placemat under the food bowl or use some stray fabric that you have lying around. Either way, you can easily get rid of debris by dumping them in the garbage.

Reconsider having an outdoor cat. There are many dangers to your cat outside. Your cat may get fleas or something even worse than that. Additionally, your cat is likely to be injured by cars or other animals. Let your cat go out in your backyard and play on your lawn.

TIP! 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.

Be very careful about allowing children to be alone with a kitten. If a child is under the age of five, you should not leave the pet alone with them. Their immaturity prevents them from understanding how easily they could hurt the kitten. When they mature, they can spend alone time with the kitty.

You may find it is helpful to talk to others about challenges you have with your cat. Although you may want to go it alone, it can be helpful to seek advice from other people that have experience owning cats. 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.

You don’t want to punish a cat if they do their business outside of their litter box. If this happens, it may be because you have not kept the box as clean as you should. If the cat is punished for this, they may become afraid of being around you.

TIP! Feeding your male cat the proper food can help prevent crystals from forming in his urine. Just like kidney stones, these crystals are painful and vet bills are pricey.

Train your cat to tolerate a pet carrier. Dogs and cats will respond differently to punishment. Most of the time, it is better to use positive reinforcement. Place the open carrier in an area that your cat visits often and outfit it with a favorite toy and blanket. Over time the cat will not be stressed about the carrier and will enter it voluntarily. In the future, your cat will not get scared when you put him in the carrier.

Make sure your cat always wears identification tags on their collar. This is essential, even for indoor cats. Cats can be very curious and they may escape out of a door or a window. The tag should have your phone number on it. This will be important especially if you have a cat with medical issues.

If you just own one cat but are considering obtaining another one, then you should ensure you allow a few weeks for your old cat and new one to become familiar with each other. They might have conflict, hide from each other or swat one another. Give them a bit more time to begin to get used to each other face to face, too.

TIP! Put your cat’s food on a tablecloth. A lot of time cats will take their food from their bowls to eat it on the food bowl’s side.

If your cat is urinating a lot or in areas away from the litter box, they may need to see the vet. For instance, it may be a sign the cat has a problem with its urinary tract. It could be the sign of other issues as well. Often this problem is quickly and inexpensively cured with a common antibiotic.

As mentioned earlier, you benefit from having a cat. In order to provide a home that a cat will find comfortable, stable, and healthy, you need to be prepared to take responsible steps. Using the information provided here will be a big step in making your cat a happy addition to your life.

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