Cats are playful and fun animals, and you’ll soon waste whole afternoons playing games with your cats. Sometimes it’s a good idea to provide some extra stimulation with a fun toy, unique game or interesting activity. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot to keep them busy, though. Take care to follow these guidelines for a better time with your cat.

Don’t let your cat near drape cords. Don’t let the cat play with them since they can jump into them or play with them and get them around their neck if they have loops. This could hurt or kill them. Keep all drape cords out of reach as a preventative measure.

If you want to add a cat to your family, go to the shelter first to see what is available. Many shelters have more cats than they can handle and the fees associated with adoption take care of vet visits. You’re literally saving their life.

Put a heated tile beneath the bed of an older cat. A terra cotta tile about a foot square is ideal. You can warm it with a 15-20 minute stop in your oven, set to approximately 200 degrees. Wrap it in an old towel and put it under your cat’s bed or blanket. If possible, re-heat several times throughout the night.

Electrical Cords

Keep your cat from having a shocking experience by spraying electrical cords with bitter apple. If your cat is especially intent on chewing cords, keep them covered as much as possible. You can bundle loose cords together and place them inside paper towel rolls. If you have electrical cords laying out that are not being used, put them away as cats can play with them and then move on to live electrical cords.

Your house can really get torn apart by a cat’s claws. If your couch is starting to look like it’s been put through a shredder, it’s time to invest in a nice scratching post or cat tower. Entice them to scratch those items rather than your belongings. Although this may take time, your cat should eventually claw the device rather than your furniture.

Give your cat lots of attention and love. They are very loving animals and deserve affection back. They are social creates which need reassurance. Your cat wants to be as much a member of the family as anyone else.

Male cats often develop crystals in their bladder that come out in their urine. This can be prevented with a proper diet. Passing these crystals is painful and the vet bill to have this corrected is expensive. Choose a cat food low in magnesium. Look over the label. Fish products can have more magnesium when compared to poultry.

Younger children can be a little rough with cats sometimes. Guide your kids in handling a feline. Demonstrate how the cat should be petted and handled and encourage your children to be very gentle. Cats should be handled more gently since their bones are more fragile than those of dogs.

Create a tablecloth that your cats can use. Often cats prefer moving food from a bowl onto the floor to eat. That can mean a bigger mess for you to clean. Use a placemat under your cat’s bowl or cut some fabric to create a small tablecloth. Shake the placemat or cloth over the garbage regularly.

You should use these tips to care for your cat and remember that your pet needs a lot of attention. These tips won’t work for every cat, but most felines will find them to be favorable. Get to know your cat and do your best to become a responsible cat owner.