haired cats

Cats Are Worth It! Find Out How Much With These Tips!

TIP! Cats love to squeeze into tiny spaces. If you keep a collar on your pet, getting stuck in one of these spaces can be very dangerous.

Cats make wonderful pets, but they are expensive to take care of properly. Vet bills, toys, cat litter and food add up. The following tips can help you maximize your happiness without breaking your wallet.

TIP! Keep your older cat comfortable by placing a heated tile underneath its bed. Simply heat a single foot cotta tile at 200 degrees between 15 and 20 minutes.

Keep your cat groomed. A cat’s fur must be brushed or combed on a regular basis. This helps them keep their precious coat properly clean at all times. Removing excess hair also reduces shedding and can prevent hairballs. Regularly grooming keeps cats looking well and keeps your home neater.

TIP! You shouldn’t ever use products designed to be used on dogs on your cat. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs.

Regular visits to the vet will make sure that you cat is as healthy as he can be. Your cat needs to get a checkup about once every year, or more if there are issues that come up. Cats should go to a vet immediately if they have any conditions, health problems, or injuries that need to be tended to right away.

TIP! It’s often cheaper to buy medicine for your cat on the Internet instead of through your vet. Naturally, some stuff won’t be available online.

Don’t allow your cat become bored. Just like dogs, cats need playtime and physical exercise, too. Unfortunately, many owners do not realize this important part of ownership. Bored cats can develop depression and other harmful health conditions. Provide them with space to exercise and lots of toys to play with. Give them a cat tree to play with.

TIP! Cats are generally great with kids, though small kids may be too rough. Make sure your child knows how to pet a cat.

Adore your cat! A cat’s companionship should be returned with the same. Like humans, a cat has to be around people in order to feel special. They also like feeling important and a big member of the family.

TIP! Try and figure out why kitty is meowing. After some time, you’ll understand why your cat purs or meows based on what she wants.

Be sure you think about your cat’s ears when traveling. You may prefer loud music as you drive down the freeway, blasting your stereo, but your feline friend likes softer sounds better. If your cat seems upset or agitated, turn down the music and speak calmly to him.

TIP! Is there a dog in your home, as well as a cat? Dogs will generally try to eat the cat’s food whenever the opportunity comes along. Therefore, your cat’s food bowl should be placed in a high location that is out of your dog’s reach.

You cannot teach a cat to use a litter box. This is a natural instinct that cannot be taught. It’s not a good idea to rub your cats paws in litter. Some people think this is the way to train. It isn’t.

Litter Box

TIP! If you are experiencing an issue with your feline friend, seek advice from others. Although you may want to go it alone, it can be helpful to seek advice from other people that have experience owning cats.

If your cat relieves itself away from its litter box, do not spring into action with punishment. Many times, this is caused by failure to properly clean or place the litter box. Punishing your cat will just make them afraid of you later on.

TIP! Don’t teach the basics of using a litter box. This is natural to them and does not need to be taught.

You eat quality food, and if you want your cat to stick around a long time, they need quality food, too. Carefully look over ingredients, and be sure that a quality protein source like chicken, fish, or beef is at the beginning of the list. Any foods with non-protein sources, such as corn, should be avoided. Since cats are carnivorous, they require animal protein to stay in the best health.

Haired Cats

TIP! Although your cat’s old scratching post may look very worn out, you shouldn’t throw it away. It may not look as nice, but cats love a scratching post with some wear and tear.

Prior to adopting any long-haired cat, make sure you understand the extra work involved. Although it may look nice, it will look much worse when it sheds all over your home. Long-haired cats can be very high maintenance over the course of the year. Be prepared to deal with hairballs, which are a problem for long-haired cats.

TIP! Feed canned food to your cat. Dry food is less expensive, but canned food provides more benefits.

If your feline friend is having kittens, make sure to give her lots of room to birth in. The kittens will arrive within three or four hours, so try to be patient. If the birth takes an excessively long time or you believe a kitten is stuck inside, an immediate visit to the veterinary hospital is essential.

TIP! Make sure you consider where you are going to place the cat’s litter box. It’s sometimes tempting to put the box somewhere that you don’t have to smell or see it.

Pets can be pricy to care for and cats aren’t an exception. Cats require so much attention and care you would swear they are as needy as human children are. Fortunately, now that you are more informed by the knowledge presented here, you can save money and enjoy a better cat.

Some Things You Need To Know About Caring For Cats

TIP! Check with your shelter before you purchase a cat. Many shelters are overcrowded with lovable and adoptable cats.

Popular poet T.S. T.S. Eliot once called cats a crucial element to a home, and this statement rings true today. A cat that is healthy, well-mannered, and happy can make an excellent addition to your home. Sadly, cats can be difficult to live with sometimes. Here’s some advice for building a healthier relationship with your pet.

TIP! Spray bitter apple on electrical cords to keep cats away from them. If your cat likes to chew cords, hide the cords as best you can.

If you have a female cat it is important to have her spayed once she becomes old enough. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, if she escapes while she is in heat you might end up with a lot of kittens on your hands. Getting your cat spayed is the best in regards to prevention.

Flea Products

TIP! Cats will often devote most of their time to grooming. Hairballs are more common in long-haired cats.

You should not use products designed for other animals. Cats have very strong, negative reactions to products formulated for dogs. This particularly applies to flea products. When used on your cat, flea products for dogs can be lethal. If you own a dog, and they’ve been given a flea treatment, you should separate them from your cat for a few hours.

TIP! Male felines tend to have a build-up of crystals that present in the urine, so you need to avoid this with proper nutrition. Just like kidney stones, these crystals are painful and vet bills are pricey.

Never let your cat experience frequent boredom. They need exercise and they get it through play. A lot of cat owners do not keep their cats busy. Bored cats are more prone to depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, as well as many other behavioral issues. Provide them with space to exercise and lots of toys to play with. An indoor cat needs a good scratching post.

TIP! You will often find ways to save money on medication for your cat on the Internet instead of getting it from your vet. Online prescriptions are not the best choice if you do not have the time to wait on a mail order, such as in a medical emergency.

Children usually take well to cats, but if you have a small child, you may need to provide some instruction. Guide your kids in handling a feline. Spend some time showing them how to lift a cat and how they can interact with the cat. Cats don’t have strong bones like dogs do, so they need to be treated gently.

TIP! Children usually take well to cats, but if you have a small child, you may need to provide some instruction. You need to show your children how the cat should be treated.

When you buy a small kitty for your children, set the boundaries ahead of time. Make sure your children know where in the house the cat is permitted to be. Be sure that your children understand that an indoor cat must never be allowed outdoors. Creating rules and boundaries will help the children learn what is allowed.

TIP! Never reprimand your cat for missing the litter box. If your cat makes a mess, it’s probably because their litter box is not properly cared for.

Moist, canned food can be a very good option for your cat. Dry food is usually cheaper, but canned food boasts a number of benefits. They have more water, protein and fat too. Aging cats find it makes it much easier to chew. Canned food is usually a great option for your cat, but talk with your vet.

TIP! Take time to train your cat to go into a car carrier. The same response to punishment that you would expect from a dog does not apply to a cat.

Make sure your cat always wears identification tags on their collar. Even if it’s an indoor cat, this is important. Cats are naturally curious and a door or window that’s open invites exploration. Those tags can help if someone finds your kitty. Make sure your info and your vets info is on it. Include medical issues if appropriate.

TIP! Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat. Your cat will prefer drinking from running water since this is a natural behavior.

Cats need to play! It is pretty normal for all different types of species to have an inner desire to play. Even older cats like to play. Make sure you play with your cat at least once a day.

Haired Cats

TIP! You need to carefully consider where you put the litter box for your cat. You may believe that the litter box should be kept in a small place so that you won’t smell it.

Long-haired cats require more care than their short-haired comrades. Long-haired cats are beautiful animals, but keep in mind that they will shed everywhere in your home. Do not choose a long-haired cat unless you can commit to the added cleanup. Additionally, consider that longer-haired cats are more likely to have issues with hairballs.

TIP! If you have a pregnant cat ready to birth her babies, be sure she has enough space. The birth process can last up to four hours, which means you must exercise patience.

Take your cat for checkups and vaccinations on a regular basis to keep him healthy and strong. Kids need shots, and so do cats. When you have a cat, it becomes a member of your family, so you’ll want to ensure that it’s as healthy as possible.

TIP! If your cat is spitting up hairballs frequently, and extra grooming does not help, these handy tips may help. Use pumpkin in your cat’s food to help with digestion.

Owning a cat can be hard at times, but it is worth it. You need to get to know your cat better so you can focus on the kind of attention it needs the most. You’ll better your relationship in no time.