If you are seeking an excellent house pet, then a cat is an excellent choice. Those who have never owned a cat before would be wise to read the following article. Below are some great tips and tricks that every cat owner needs to know in order to live happily with their new feline friend.

Check your cats ears frequently for ear mites. You may notice your cat shaking their head or scratching their ears a lot if they have them. They are tiny parasites that look like coffee grounds in your cat’s ears. If you have more than one cat, they can also travel from cat to cat. See a vet before using any medication on them since their ears need properly cleaned first.

Keep an eye on early warning signs of health issues in cats. Cats usually display warning signs if they are struggling with health issues. Some common signs to look out for include eating habit changes, sleeping habit changes, not being able to groom properly, changes in eating habits, changes in sleeping habits, depression, sneezing, increased thirst, watery eyes, changes in behavior, hiding, and vomiting. If they display these symptoms, take them to a vet right away. The sooner you take, them the better.

Give cat box liners a try. These may not work for everyone, but they can be helpful if they work for you. Line the litter box with one of these liners, and then put cat litter in as usual. If it works correctly, you should be able to gather the liner and dispose of the litter. Unfortunately, sometimes cats just scratch the liner to pieces as they are doing their business.

There are a lot of cats that are overweight. An obese cat can end up developing health problems such as arthritis or diabetes. If your cat could stand to lose a pound or two, try cutting back their food a little bit at each feeding. You can also buy some toys and encourage your cat to play and exercise.

Most veterinarians recommend that you feed your cat food that is in the can as opposed to the dry varieties in the box or bag. This is because the canned food contains more water, fat and protein than the dry variety. It is also easier to consume for cats with dental issues.

Consider buying your cat a special drinking fountain. Cats like running water for drink more than water that is just sitting there. Streaming water is your best bet. Really, there are many cats that would much prefer to drink from a running sink faucet as opposed to their own bowl. A fountain will allow a cat to drink naturally and is better for the environment.

If you have ever given your cat a bath, then you know how much they shiver when it is over. This is because their wet fur provides them with no insulation. You can help your cat out by using your hairdryer to dry the hair fast. Just remember not to hold it too close and burn your cat.

You should think carefully before getting a long-haired cat. While long haired cats are soft and look great, understand that there will be a lot more fur around the rest of the house. You should not get a cat with long-hair unless you are ready to do a lot of cleaning. Long-haired cats also often have hairballs.

If you have more than one cat, you need more than one litter box. Ideally, each cat should have its own box. This prevents the box from becoming overfilled or crowded. An unappealing shared litter box sometimes causes cats to take their bathroom business elsewhere in your house. As you can imagine, this can be quite a nasty surprise!

If you suspect that your cat is pregnant, make an appointment with the vet as soon as you can to make sure that is really the case. There are a few serious illnesses that can mimic pregnancy, so you want to make sure that none of these has affected your cat.

Make sure to provide your cats with toys. Many people consider toys a need for dogs, but they do not feel the same about cats. Cats need stimulation throughout the day to remain healthy both mentally and physically. Toys can provide this. Keep your cats from boredom by remembering this tip.

To keep your cat using the litter box, always keep it clean. No matter what kind of scented or special formula litters you may use, nothing is a substitute for removing clumps and used litter several times a day. Keep your litter box in a quiet area of your home.

Most cats are drawn to houseplants. This presents problems, especially if the plant is poisonous. You may find your cat uses the pot to defecate in, too. Stowing plants on shelves or ledges won’t keep cats away. Instead, hang the plants from your ceiling away from bookshelves or other launching pads.

Take the time to play with your feline friend on a daily basis. Cats love attention and need exercise. They can get both when you spend a little time playing with them. Ask your kitty to chase a feather, throw a small, soft ball so that he can bat it with his paws or just spend a little time rubbing his belly to see what happens. You will have fun and entertain your pet too.

Obviously, cats like water. But, did you know that running water is particularly interesting to them? Cats are generally dehydrated most of the time, so a fountain is more likely to get them to drink enough water to stay healthy. As they age, your cat will be healthier and happier as a result.

Becoming a cat owner is a terrific idea. They bring great comfort to their owner. Having said this, in order to actually enjoy your cat, you need to be aware of how to properly care for for your cat. Apply what you’ve just learned, and you and your cat will enjoy each other for years to come.

You may have trained several dogs in the past, but nothing can prepare you for raising your new feline friend. Cats are nothing like dogs. They require more attention during their growing years and more personal time playing with their owner. This article will highlight some of the main differences between the two.

Keep your drapery cords out of the reach of your cat. It is easy for the cat to get his head caught among the cords when playing with them. This may harm or kill them. Make sure that the cords are completely out of sight.

If your cat is misbehaving, you can influence its behavior in a safe and humane way by using water. Fill a small squirt gun or a spray water bottle with plain water. Give your cat a few light squirts of water when you catch it misbehaving and it will soon learn to stop doing the unwanted behavior.

To keep your cat healthy and strengthen its bond with you, always set aside lots of play time. Kittens especially need lots of attention, which you can easily give to them through play. Pull a piece of string around for a fun and gentle way to keep a cat entertained for hours!

If your cat kicks litter all over the floor, simply use a bigger container. A large, roomy tote with high sides makes a good litter box. A big round tub also makes a good litter box. A restaurant size bus tub is a capacious litter box. Providing higher sides and more space will solve your cat’s litter kicking problem.

Wash your cat’s bed at least once a week to remove all of the bacteria from it. Even if the bed looks like it is clean, it will usually have toxins in it that can cause your pet to become sick. Replace the bed every six months to keep your cat in a sanitary environment.

Attend cat shows for tips about your cat. A cat show only costs a few dollars to attend. But when you attend one, you see vendors selling cat items, and show pet owners that give their cats the best of everything. You can get ideas for best brands to feed your cat, as well as ideas for grooming and caring for your cat.

Get your cat a breakaway collar. Make sure it has tags that reflect a phone number, even if you are uncomfortable with an address. Cats can run outdoors or slip away, and you don’t want to worry that you’ll never see your cat again. Make sure that there is adequate information so you can be reached.

Give your cat a good brushing regularly. This will help spread the natural oils within their fur while stimulating their skin’s blood flow. It also gets rid of shedding hair. This is a good way to avoid hairballs, which are a serious health problem since they can cause choking.

If you’ve just met a cat, don’t look at them in their eyes. Cats do not like being stared at by people they don’t know. That’s why they are more comfortable if you are not looking at them. They are more likely to approach you that way, and more likely to kindly regard you in the future.

When you bring home a new cat for the first time, the experience can be overwhelming for both of you. Instead of granting access to your entire home, introduce your pet to its new environment one room at a time. For example, you might place your cat’s carrier in your study or den. As long as the carrier door is open, you should be in the room with the animal.

Make sure your cat has routine check ups and vaccinations to ensure longevity and good health. Just like children, a kitten needs to have immunizations and wellness checks periodically to avoid disease and other health problems later in life. A cat is a member of the family, and therefore, is entitled to the same treatment as other loved ones.

If you have a female cat that is in the process of giving birth, make sure you provide her a spacious area. The birth of the kittens will take approximately four hours, so use a little patience. Once 6 hours have passed, if all the kittens have not been delivered you should seek the help of a vet.

You should not let your de-clawed cat outdoors. The cat won’t be able to fight back if other animals attack it and that could get it hurt or killed. Indoor cats are the only ones who should be considered for declawing. Only take out the front claws. Don’t cut the back claws because they won’t scratch up your furniture or floors.

You do not have to spend a bunch of cash on fancy toys for your cat to play with. Simple things like feathers and string are great for them to play with, and they are very economical. While you can still buy fancy toys if you like, you may get more benefit from them than your cat does.

Once your cat starts to age, they may have to go to the vet more often than they did before. To make sure that your senior cat is in optimal health, you should take him to see the vet at least twice a year. Make sure that you follow any advice given to you during the visit.

Make sure that your cat wears a collar with a tag on it at all times. Cats are smart and will try to get out whenever they get the chance. When they have a collar on with a tag, or a microchip, they’ll easily be returned to you.

While both animals are great to have and can peacefully exist with one another under one roof, don’t take adopting a new kitten too lightly. Plan ahead and have enough resources in reserve like cat food and such. If you are going to train your cat indoors, don’t forget to buy extra litter for the first few months because they can get messy.