Cats are playful and fun animals, and you’ll soon waste whole afternoons playing games with your cats. To keep your cat happy and active, introduce new toys and games often. Money isn’t something that you need to have a good time with your feline friend. These tips make for much better days.

Don’t let your cats play with drape cords. If your cat plays with looped drape cords, they could get caught around its neck, which presents a suffocation hazard. This could kill them. To prevent this from happening, keep any drape cords pinned away from any eyes.

TIP! Keep drape cords away from cats. Keep the cat away from these cords as they tend to form loops when the cat is playing around, and it could accidentally go around their neck and strangle them.

Groom your cat. Brushing is a very important component towards taking care of your cat. Such practices help keep cats’ coats clean. It will also cut down on shedding and hairballs. Keeping your cat nicely groomed will keep him and your home looking their best.

Cats are known for spending inordinate amounts of time grooming themselves. Your cat can get hairballs in the event that their hair is too long. There are special foods that can ease this issue. There are foods on the market for cats that specifically deal with the hairball problems and are good for the cat.

Crystals in the urine, an issue many male cats have, can be avoided with the proper food. If they have to pass the crystals it can cause the cat a lot of pain and paying a vet to help with this can cost you a lot of money. Let your cat have food that doesn’t have a lot of magnesium in it. Go over the label carefully. Poultry products are typically lower in magnesium than fish products.

TIP! Dog products shouldn’t be used on cats. Some can be quite dangerous, and even deadly, when used on a cat.

If you get a cat for your kids, make sure to set clear boundaries in advance. Make sure your children are aware of rooms that are open to your cat. If you want to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that they cannot let it go outside. Establishing these boundaries ahead of time prevents any confusion.

Do you happen to own both a dog and a cat? A dog will probably end up eating the cat’s food if it gets the chance. That’s why you should place your cat’s food in a place which is hard for your dog to reach. This will also prevent squabbles between them.

Cat Owners

TIP! The litter box for your cat needs to be kept in a good place. Don’t put it in a busy area, and keep it away from your cat’s food.

If your cat experiences major problems, don’t be afraid to talk to other cat owners. It can really help to get advice from fellow cat owners. You can find online cat forums to ask questions, or you can speak with your vet.

You should brush your cat very regularly. This will help stimulate blood flow. Brushing will also help to remove loose hair. 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.

Don’t toss your cat’s scratching post just because it’s starting to look haggard. Your cat will enjoy the post most when it has been well used. If you throw it away and replace it too quickly with a new one, they may shun the new one and go after your carpet and furniture.

TIP! A cat generally spends quite a bit of time grooming itself. When the cat’s hair is longer, this could lead to hairballs.

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 may be leery of each other at first and fight. Cats usually learn to enjoy having a companion or at least put up with another one in their home.

Make sure your cat stays inside as much as it can, near to both its home and its owner. It is shown that cats trained inside that then spend the majority of their lives inside tend to live longer than cats free to roam the neighborhood. If you want to give your indoor cat some outdoor time, exercise with them. That way, your cat gets some fresh air, sunshine and outdoor scenery without the risks of free-roamers.

Place a sticky style tape on your furniture. Cats naturally like to claw things and often your furniture is what they use. The tape will help prevent this. Certain pet stores sell this kind of tape. Get your cat out of this bad habit by doing this and supplying a scratching post.

TIP! When you get a kitten for kids, you have to set up a few rules first. Make sure your kids know where the cat can be.

Cat’s are susceptible to many of the illnesses humans are. Since your furry friend is part of the family, you should be aware when something is wrong with his health. Take your cat to the vet at the first sign of a problem. Your vet will be able to notice the signs of an illness and give your cat preventive shots.

If you worry about your cat getting rabies, fleas or getting exposure to fungus, don’t allow them to go outside. While it is true that even an indoor cat can contract illnesses, they are more prevalent with cats who frequently go outdoors.

Cats often do best indoors where they can be kept safe. Cats allowed outside have statistically proven shorter lifespans, and are more prone to sickness. Your family, in turn, could get sick from your cat. To fill your cat’s need for the outdoors, give him a window in a sunny spot to sit at.

TIP! Don’t think that you can teach a cat to use its litter box. Cats instinctively understand what to do and teaching is not required.

Do you love playing with your cat? Not every cat is the same, so that means you may have to pick and choose some of the tips you read to try on your cat. Your cat will live much longer when they are healthy, happy and active.

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