Cats are very curious. They might appear to be independent, but they really do enjoy your company. They may be a confusing animal at times, but you will love it when they jump on your lap and purr. The following article has some great tips for caring for your special friend.

Groom your cat. Brushing is a very important component towards taking care of your cat. This will keep them sterile and aesthetically pleasing. It will reduce shedding, which means that they won’t be experiencing a ton of hairballs. Keeping a cat well groomed basically helps keep them looking their best, along with your home.

Do not allow your cat to get an electrical shock. Spray them with bitter apple, and they will stay away. If your cat still insists on chewing your cords, try to cover as many of them as possible. You can take loose cords, bundle them up, and stick them inside the tube from an old roll of paper towels. If you have rarely used electronics, put them up when you aren’t using them.

Pick a good spot for the cat’s litter box. You shouldn’t keep it near your pet’s food, and you shouldn’t keep it in an area people walk through a lot. The area should also be well ventilated so that it doesn’t smell too badly. Your cat will appreciate it and so will you.

Be sure you think about your cat’s ears when traveling. You may be tempted to blast your favorite songs at top volume. Cats, on the other hand, would probably prefer that you didn’t. To ensure your cat’s trip is pleasant, turn off the music or keep the volume low.

While usually cats make great pets for kids, younger kids may be too rough with them. Always train your child the proper way to handle a pet. Show them how to gently pick kitty up and what kinds of activities are appropriate. Cats have weaker bones than dogs so should be treated carefully.

Make a tablecloth for your cats. It’s a common practice for cats to eat their food on the side of their bowl. This can result in a mess that needs to be cleaned up. 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.

When getting a little kitty for your kid, set boundaries beforehand. Let your kids know which rooms your cat is allowed in. If you’re planning on keeping your kitty inside full time, make sure your kids know their pet shouldn’t go outdoors. It’s important to remind them as often as necessary, and when you plan ahead of time to teach your children, you will less likely to have issues.

Regularly brush your cat’s hair. Brushing spreads natural oils throughout a cat’s fur, and also helps stimulate blood flow in their skin. It’ll also remove all that loose hair. This helps to stop hairballs and their associated medical problems.

When your cat makes a mess somewhere other than their litter box, don’t get mad. Check out the box instead and see if it has been neglected; this is often a cause of accidents. If you attempt to punish your pet, you may cause fear and resentment–and more accidents!

Feeding your cat different types of food helps ensure they don’t get finicky. Cats who eat the same food day after day either grow tired of it, or it becomes the only food that they will eat.

Keep you cat’s old scratching post even if it is beginning to look worn. Cats tend to enjoy a scratching toy more after they’ve gotten comfortable with it and made it their own. Removing the post could cause your cat to look for something else scratch, possibly damaging your furniture.

Your cat needs to always wear some tags on a collar. This is necessary even for an indoors pet. Cats love to explore, and if they see an opportunity to go outside, they will take it. Tags should include contact information for you and your vet. Obviously, this is particularly important for pets who have special health concerns.

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. Two cats may fight, hiss, or hide from each other until they become more comfortable. But, eventually, they will get used to the idea, and begin to tolerate, and even enjoy, each other’s company.

Make sure play time is an important part of your cat’s life. Many animals like to play, and that includes humans and cats. While older cats have less energy than their younger counterparts, they can still play a little. Have as much fun time with your cat as possible.

Litter Box

Consider the placement of your cat’s litter box. You may really want to hide that box from everyday life. Make sure your cat can easily reach the litter box at all times. Cats are quite finicky, so it is important to make their bathroom environment appealing them them or risk messes throughout the house. If the box is placed on a cold floor, place a mat under it.

Pay attention to your cat’s litter box habits. If it stops using the box, medical problems could be to blame. Many feline health conditions can cause a cat to urinate and defecate in random places outside of their litter box. A variety of infections and kidney disease can cause your cat to stay away from the box when they suddenly associate it with pain due to their medical condition. You should take your cat to the vet if you think there is something wrong with your pet.

Cats can be perplexing, but they can also be wonderful friends. The article that you just read will help you to deal with these circumstances. By properly caring for your cat, you can help ensure that he is a healthy and happy cat.