Poets and songwriters have often spoken of the importance of a cat in a home. He said households depend on cats, which is sort of true. A cat is often a valuable member of the family, especially if it is healthy and happy. If you’ve spent any amount of time browsing the Internet, you probably know that cats aren’t always that agreeable. Here’s some advice for building a healthier relationship with your pet.

If you want to add a cat to your family, go to the shelter first to see what is available. Shelters always have plenty of cats available and adoption fees are usually very affordable. Adopting from a pet shelter benefits the cat population.

A vet trip should happen for your cat yearly. There are shots and vaccinations that are standard and necessary for your cat. If you can, stick with one vet for your cat’s entire life. This way, the vet will be very familiar with your cat and its history.

Cats can get into even the tiniest of spaces. 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 can make your old cat feel better thanks to a hot tile placed under its bed. Allow a terra cotta tile to heat in an oven for 15 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Wrap it tightly in a towel and place it under the cat bed. If you want, you can change it for a newly warmed tile a few hours later.

If your cat is a female, be sure to get her spayed when she is old enough. Even though your cat stays indoors all the time, there might be that one time she slips through the door when she goes into heat, which results in a litter of unexpected kittens. If your cat has been spayed, however, you won’t have to worry about this happening.

Electrical Cords

Spritz a little bitter apple on electrical cords to protect your cats. If your cat plays with cords, put them up and out of the way, or you can hide them in old paper towel rolls. An inexpensive way to hide electrical cords is to thread them through used paper towel rolls. Put away electronics that have tempting, thin cords when you’re not using them.

Keep your cat active and entertained to avoid boredom. Cats need to exercise and play. Unfortunately, many owners do not realize this important part of ownership. Boredom can beget illness. Give them room to play and a large number of toys. Indoor cats will be happier if you provide them with climbing resources and practical things such as scratching posts.

Make a tablecloth that your cat can use. Often, a cat will remove food from his bowl to eat on the side. That means you will have to tidy up the food left beside the cat bowl. Place a piece of fabric or a place-mat under your cat’s bowl and then simply shake it over a garbage can for quick and easy clean up.

You need to establish some boundaries if you are getting a cat for your children. Let your children know which rooms their cat can be in. If you want to have an indoor cat, explain to your children that they cannot let it go outside. By getting these rules into place before having a cat, you’ll be sure that your children can understand.

Don’t try to show your feline how to go in the litter box. This comes quite naturally to them and is not something that is learned. You may have heard that rubbing your cat;s paws in litter will help them learn, but that may have a traumatizing effect.

Brush your cat at regular times. It really helps move natural oils around the cat’s fur, and it improves blood flow. You will also decrease the amount of fur throughout your home. This is a good way to avoid hairballs, which are a serious health problem since they can cause choking.

Do not punish your cat if they make a mess in the area outside of the litter box. Usually this is a sign that you haven’t cleaned the box recently. If your punish your car, he or she is just going to become scared of you.

Keep an eye on your cat if he or she is panting. Dogs pant and that is the norm. While panting can be a sign that your cat is overheated or anxious, it can also be a sign of something much more serious. It is wise to consult your vet, especially if the cat has past respiratory problems.

If you have been at home with your cat for an extended period and then return to work, it is quite possible that your cat will show signs of loneliness. To help avoid boredom, consider bringing another cat into the household.

Nothing about being a pet owner is simple. Whether a cat jumps all over the house or sleeps all day, these tips can better your bond with them. If you have a happy cat, you will probably be happy too!