Cats are great animals and intelligent pets. If you have a cat, you need to learn more about the proper way to care for your beloved pet to make sure it has a long and healthy life. Read here about some ways to achieve your goals as a good cat owner.

Check with your shelter before you purchase a cat. They have tons of amazing cats who desperately need a home. By choosing a cat from an animal shelter, you can do your part to help with overpopulation. Also, you become a lifesaver!

Put a heated tile beneath the bed of an older cat. Put a square foot of terra cotta tile into your oven heated to 200 degrees. Keep the tile in the oven for about 15 minutes. Put it inside a cloth and place underneath your feline’s blanket or bed. This should be changed a few times a day to maximize comfort.

Towel Rolls

Spray bitter apple on electrical cords to keep cats away from them. If your cat plays with cords, put them up and out of the way, or you can hide them in old paper towel rolls. Hide those loose cords and keep them out of sight in no longer needed 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.

Cats can use their claws to destroy furniture and other parts of the house. If your beloved feline friend is shredding and damaging parts of your home, try investing in a cat tower or a scratching post. Redirect your cat to the scratching post when they start to go after your furniture. Catnip can be put in the posts or on the tower to help train the cat to use it. Your cat will eventually understand they should only use the post or tower for scratching.

You can also consider outfitting your cat with a chip so you can monitor its whereabouts. Even cats who live completely indoors may someday decide to bolt out the door or escape out of a window. Although they provide the information needed to find your beloved pet, they can also accidentally get caught or even be wiggled out of. Microchips are as tiny as a piece of rice and will tell people where the cat belongs. The chip will never be lost because it is under the skin and it can easily be read by any shelter or vet.

Avoid the chance that your male cat will develop crystals in his system that will come out in his urine by feeding a high quality diet. Passing stones or crystals hurts and can cost you a ton in vet bills if they don’t come out naturally. Choose a cat food with low magnesium content. Read the label on any food you choose. Poultry products will tend to have lower amounts than seafood based products.

You can often find better deals for cat medicine online rather than buying them from the veterinarian. There may be times when you cannot purchase medication online, such as in an emergency; however, monthly medication, such as flea medicine, can be bought online. Most of the time, you will get great discounts if you purchase on the web.

You should try your hardest to figure out the reason that you are hearing your cat meow. If you live with a cat for any amount of time, you will soon start to understand what your cat wants when she meows. Possibilities include that she is hungry or wants to be let outside. By giving her the proper amount of attention you can better attend to her needs.

There is no need to spend hours trying to litter train your cat. This comes naturally – you can’t teach it. Many people think rubbing a cat’s paws in litter will teach them to use the litter box, but it might actually traumatize them.

Think about getting a drinking fountain for your cat. When cats are in the wild they tend to prefer water that is running when they are thirsty, this applies to cats at home. Your cat, if its like most, will really respond to this running water. Actually, certain cats like to drink right from the sink faucet as it runs. Drinking fountains are more environmentally-friendly and they let your cat drink naturally.

When your cat starts urinating often or in odd places, it may be time to see the vet. Many cats develop these behaviors in response to a health problem, such as urinary tract infections. In many cases, cheap antibiotics will resolve the problem and keep your cat healthy.

It’s important for your cat to get plenty of playtime. It is pretty normal for all different types of species to have an inner desire to play. An aging cat may not have as much energy as a kitten, however it will still enjoy a little light playtime. Make sure you play with your cat at least once a day.

Are you getting overwhelmed with all the cat hair in your home? Brushing your cat regularly can fight the constant shedding that often can occur. If your cat sheds often, you will need to brush him more often. It’s also a great aid to keeping the cat’s coat as pristine as possible.

As previously mentioned, cats are great pets. However, in order to enjoy your cat, you need to educate yourself on how to best care for it. Read back over the advice again, then start applying the knowledge to your home environment. Your cat will love you for it.