Given the chance to do so, would you like to save the life of a cat? There are millions of cats out there who are in need of a good home. You only need to adopt one and take care of it, which is easy with the information provided in this article.

Make sure that your cat is well groomed. Just like dogs, cats require regular brushing and de-tangling. 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. Keeping a cat groomed properly can help them and your home look great.

Make sure you keep all the recommended appointments with your cat’s veterinarian. Understand that cats require vaccinations in order to stay healthy, and the veterinarian needs to regularly check for any health problems. Your cat will be more comfortable if you continue using the same vet. This one vet will be aware of the cat’s history.

Cats enjoy getting into spaces that are small. If they have a collar on, this might prove to be a safety risk if they happen to get stuck. A collar that is a breakaway model will detach itself if it gets pulled on. This kind of collar can turn a potentially-dangerous situation into a merely exasperating one.

You may want to have a microchip put into your car. You never know when your cat could get away from you. Cat collars are a great thing to have in case your cat gets lost, but they also pose a risk if they get caught on something. A microchip, on the other hand, is inserted near your cat’s shoulder blades, takes only a second to do, and all of your current contact info can be read through the chip. Almost every vet and shelter has a scanner these days, and they can retrieve your contact information should they find your pet.

Be attentive to your cat and give them your love and company, often. Cats give us a lot of love, and they deserve to be loved back. Cats have a need to communicate with others to show they are part of the family. They want to know they are a valuable part of the family too.

Cats frequently groom themselves. Long hair encourages hairballs. One way to alleviate this condition in your cat is by feeding him special food. The are specially formulated cat foods that help reduce the instances of hairballs, which is not only good for your cat, but also good for you and your feet in the middle of the night.

Prevent crystals from forming in the urine of male cats with the right diet. Just like kidney stones, these crystals are painful and vet bills are pricey. Make sure your cat’s food is not high in magnesium. This means you should pay attention to labels on food. Poultry-based foods are generally lower in magnesium than fish.

Little kids shouldn’t be left alone near cats. Teach your kid how to properly handle a cat. Teach them which activities are good and how to properly pick your cat up. Tell them that a cat’s bones need to be handled more gently than those of a dog.

Put a cloth down in your cat’s eating area. Cats will sometimes pluck food from the bowl and enjoy it straight off the ground. 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.

Make sure you are cautious about leaving a young child alone with a small kitten. If the child is younger than 5, don’t leave them alone with a kitten. They simply lack the maturity to comprehend the harm they can potentially do to kittens. Once the child is older and more mature, decide if they are ready for the responsibility of handling animals.

Keep your cat’s vaccinations and checkups up to date with the vet. Just like children, a kitten needs to have immunizations and wellness checks periodically to avoid disease and other health problems later in life. Treat your cat as if it were a member of the family.

If kitty won’t use the litter box, try moving it. Make sure to put it in a quiet spot in your house. Low-traffic areas like basements and laundry rooms are great places to put the litter box.

An indoor cat is a healthy, happy cat. Cats that stay indoors tend to live a lot longer because they’re not exposed to the elements outside of the home. Outdoor cats face numerous predators and are at a higher risk of disease.

Human Medications

Don’t give a cat human medications. If your cat has any health problems, you should take them to the vet and administer whatever he provides. Giving cats human medications can cause serious problems and may even be fatal.

Cats have an extremely sensitive sense of smell which makes it difficult to change anything in their environment without their knowing about it. This is good but can cause issues when you introduce something new to the home, like a new cat bed or scratching post. You shouldn’t be disappointed if your cat avoids new items at first. As the new items starts to smell like your house, your cat may give it a try.

Caring for a kitty is something that is enjoyable and rewarding. You are offering your love and your home to an animal desperately in need of it. As a pet owner, you can bond with your new cat in a mutually beneficial relationship. If you give your cat love, you will get it in return.