Owning a cat can be an incredible experience. However, caring for a cat can be a lot of work and time-consuming. Cat owners need to know of the responsibilities that come with having a feline. Thankfully, the following article will tell you all you need to know. Read on and learn.

Check your local animal shelter if you have plans to get a cat. Shelters usually have many cats who need a home, and the fees typically include their shots and spaying or neutering. A cat gets a new chance at life and the cat population stays in check with adoption.

Regular visits to the vet will preserve your cat’s health. Your cat should always go to the vet for a check up, especially if they need shots. If your cat has any health issues or injuries, you should try and have them seen right away.

If you have an outdoor cat, make sure he is fitted with a tag and collar. A lost cat is much easier to locate if they are properly tagged. Ensure that you at least put the name of your cat and your personal phone number on this tag.

A cat’s claws can cause lots of damage to your home. Buy your cat a scratching posts to focus its attention off your furniture. Encourage them to scratch that instead. This will take some time but will be a valuable investment.

Think about putting a microchip in your pet. Even indoor cats get out sometimes. While a collar with a tag is useful, remember that your cat may be able to escape from the collar while they are away. Collars can also harm your cat if they get caught. Microchips are as small as a rice grain and have all of your important contact information. The majority of veterinarians possess scanners that can read your chips. Because these chips are placed underneath your cat’s skin, they won’t get lost.

Litter Box

Put your cats’ litter box where it is most acceptable to him. Never put the box near your cat’s food, and pick a quiet place away from areas that are heavily used. To help control odors place the litter box in a well ventilated area. Both you and your pet will appreciate that.

A cat generally spends quite a bit of time grooming itself. However, if it has a lot of hair, hairballs can occur. To fix this problem, you can try buying a new food. Some foods are enriched in fibers and vitamins to facilitate the digestion of the hairballs.

Your cat has sensitive ears, especially in the car when they’re stressed out. Although you might enjoy jamming to your music, understand that cats prefer peace and quiet. Turn down the music and let the cat rest.

Create a tablecloth just for your cat. Often cats prefer moving food from a bowl onto the floor to eat. This can lead to a big clean-up. The best thing for you to do is to have a place mat underneath the cat’s bowl.

Try and figure out why kitty is meowing. After living with your cat for long, it’s easier to interpret its meows. She will let you know when her demands are for food or when you need to let her out. When you pay attention to the cat’s actions and cues, then may grow to understand the cat all the more.

Talk to others when you have a problem with your cat. Though you want to handle problems on your own, you may require advice from others who own cats. You can find online cat forums to ask questions, or you can speak with your vet.

Brush your cat’s coat often. This helps to stimulate blood flow and circulation, and it will also help to evenly distribute the natural oil your cat’s fur has. It will also remove loose hair. This can keep hairballs at bay because this can choke up a cat and also build up in its stomach.

You cat needs to get used to being in a carrier. You have to take a different approach to training a cat rather than a dog. Cats learn well when they feel encouraged. Place a blanket or favorite toy inside the carrier to make your cat more acclimated to the carrier. Over time, the cat will feel comfortable and go inside the carrier. Let it happen naturally or with only mild coaxing. Do not get angry. This will make getting the cat inside easier later.

Make sure that your cat has a collar on with ID tags on it. This is very important for indoor cats. The lure of an open door or window is very attractive to your curious cat. They should wear a tag with your vet’s info as well as your telephone number. Obviously, this is particularly important for pets who have special health concerns.

Keep your cat on a diet of dry food if at all possible. Kittens need wet food more than adult cats because it’s easier to chew. When the adult teeth develop, dry, hard food will help make teeth stronger. Your cat might enjoy eating more if you mix dry and wet food.

Health Issues

Avoid overfeeding your cat, as it can lead to many health issues. An obese cat is at a high risk for health issues. Therefore, ensure you provide the proper food portions to your cat, and keep its diet healthy and well balanced.

Do a safety check to make sure there are no places where your cat could potentially get trapped. Cats are able to fit into gaps that are tiny. This especially applies to kittens. This is essential when you purchase a new cat. Any holes that are found should be repaired.

As you can now see, cats can bring you much joy. However, you must properly care for your cat in order for both of you to be happy. Apply what you’ve learned here, if you’re thinking of adding a cat to your life.