Like humans, cats require many things, even a proper diet. Cats suffer when their owners do not follow proper dietary recommendations or give the cat proper attention. This article will give you advice on how to properly feed and care for your cat.

Shop at your local pet shelter for your next cat. Shelters have tons of great cats and their adoption fee will generally cover necessary vet care. Adopting a cat this way helps to save their life and cut down on unwanted animal births.

Have your cat see a vet frequently to keep good health. Cats need routine annual check-ups and possibly additional ones as well for vaccinations. Make vet appointments immediately if your cat has a medical condition or has become injured.

Scratching Post

Your home furnishings can fall victim to your cat’s sharp claws. If you are having problems with your cat clawing up furniture, then purchase a scratching post or kitty tower. 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. It may take some time, but it should eventually work.

It’s not easy to keep cats off counters. A cat will naturally want to be high enough to view everything around them. You can get your cat to quit doing this if you make areas that it can climb up to. If you place a cat tower around the kitchen area, they may be less likely to lay on your counters.

Make sure your cat gets lots of love. Cats need companionship as much as we do. Like humans, cats want to feel wanted and needed. They want to feel like a valuable, happy family member, too.

Your cat can take lots of time to groom themselves to what they consider “perfect.” In long-haired cats, hairballs can result from excess grooming. If your cat needs assistance with this problem, consider a special diet. Certain cat foods are formulated to lower the amount of hairballs.

You can sometimes find better prices for cat medication online than getting it from your veterinarian. Sometimes, you may need the medicine immediately though. For ongoing medical issues, you can buy ahead and save a substantial amount of money online.

Little kids shouldn’t be left alone near cats. Spend time instructing your children on cat care. Demonstrate how to pick up the animal and how to play with it as well. Cats have weaker bones than dogs do, and must be treated accordingly.

Cover the area around your cat’s bowl with a cloth. Sometimes cats prefer to remove food from their bowls and eat it from the floor. This may make a big mess that you need to clean up. Something as simple as a place mat can help make cleanup easier.

Cats enjoy high places. A happy cat is one that has a safe living environment. If a cat tree is not your style, clear off a sturdy shelf that he can jump up on. Make it extra comfortable by adding a blanket or cushion.

Seek the advice of others if you have a cat that’s giving you problems. You may wish to deal with it alone, but you may need advice from other cat owners. There are also forums on the Internet which cater to cat parents.

If your cat does not use the litter box, do not use punishments to try to discipline him. Usually, this sort of thing happens when the box isn’t being tended to properly. Punishing your cat may cause him to become afraid of you or their litter box.

Give your cat a wide array of foods in order to prevent pickiness. If you feed them the same thing day in and day out, it will be the only thing that they are able to eat later on down the road.

Give your cat a water fountain. Cats like their water to move. Cat usually respond well to streams. In fact, some cats prefer running sink water to their own water bowls. A fountain will allow your cat to have the happiness of drinking from running water.

If adding an additional cat to your home, give the cats a couple of weeks to get comfortable with each other. Do not expect an instant friendship. Instead, look for them to hide frequently, hiss and possibly even become physical with each other. Over time, though, they will learn to tolerate each other and eventually form a close bond.

When dogs are excited their tails wag from side to side. Cats wag their tail as well, but have different reasons psychologically. When a cat wags its tail, it can mean that it is conflicted or that it is trying to decide if it should run away from a situation or attack. If while being held by you your cat’s tail begins to wag, you may want to put him down so that you are not scratched or hit.

Dry food is a good choice for your cat. Small kittens do well on wet food, since their teeth are small. As they develop adult teeth, the harder dry food helps to keep their teeth strong. Try combining both dry and wet food together should you have a finicky feline.

Don’t offer table scraps to your cat as a treat. Human food isn’t great for cats because of the ingredients, additives, and cooking methods. If you want to give your cat a treat, a spoonful of chicken or some egg is okay. Abiding by feeding instructions for your cat’s weight and age completes the diet.

Diet is a huge factor in any cat’s health. If your cat has a poor diet and does not eat enough good food or eats too much bad food, their life span can be decreased. Do right by your cat and make sure it has a healthy diet.