Cats are very loving and fun animals. Adopt one and you should soon find yourself spending many happy hours playing with it. However, if you decide to own a cat, you need to educate yourself on proper cat-care ideas. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot to keep them busy, though. Keep these tips in mind as you care for your cat in the best way possible.

Visit your local shelter if you’re thinking about getting a cat. Shelters are filled with beautiful cats, and the fee for adoption will basically cover the needed vet care. When you bring home a shelter cat, you will be saving its life and you will be doing your part to help out.

Cats need a certain amount of grooming to stay healthy and presentable. Brush your cat’s fur often to help it be shiny and healthy. If you brush cats on a regular basis, it will keep their coats clean and attractive. It will reduce shedding, which means that they won’t be experiencing a ton of hairballs. A cat that is well-groomed is one that looks the best at home.

To safely help an old cat feel comfortable, place a heated tile under its bed. Bake a one-foot tile made from terra cotta in the oven at 200 degrees F for around 15 to 20 minutes. You should wrap it with a towel and place it under the bed your cat uses. You can even switch it out every few hours.

Never let a cat become bored. Cats require plenty of exercise. The unfortunate thing is that many owners of cats don’t realize this. Bored cats are more prone to depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, as well as many other behavioral issues. Therefore, ensure your cat has enough space for exercising and playing. You need to provide your cats with something they can climb and scratch.

Cats appreciate all the affection you can give. Cats need just as much companionship as they give out. Cats have a need to communicate with others to show they are part of the family. They probably would like to feel as though they are a wanted part of the family.

Cats are usually great for kids, but smaller kids may be too rough with them. Teach your kid how to properly handle a cat. Teach them what are appropriate activities and how to gently touch it. The bones of a cat are weaker than a dogs, therefore, they should be handled with care.

Create a little tablecloth for your cat. Sometimes cats like to take food out of the bowl and eat it to the side of the bowl. This can result in you having to clean up food outside its bowl if you don’t use a tablecloth. An easier way to do that is to either buy a placemat and put it underneath the cat bowl, or to cut a bit of fabric to use as a tablecloth that you can pick up and wash or shake over the garbage can.

Do all you can to figure out what’s causing your cat to meow. By paying attention, you should eventually learn why your cat is meowing. She will let you know when her demands are for food or when you need to let her out. Watch their cues to learn more about them.

Don’t think that you can teach a cat to use its litter box. This is a natural instinct for felines, and it need not be taught. Some thing that rubbing a cats paws in litter is smart, but it can actually cause them mental trauma.

To avoid having a picky cat, switch up the kinds of foods you give him. By feeding the cat the same kind of food over and over again, they become used to that specific food. Good luck getting it to try something new!

A battered appearance isn’t a good reason to discard a beloved cat condo or scratching post. While it doesn’t appear clean and new, your cat probably thinks otherwise. For a cat, it is comfortable and familiar. When you bring in a new post, the cat may ignore it.

Go pick yourself up one of those water fountains for cats. When cats are out in the wild they like to drink running water, and this is true in your home as well. Streaming water is your best bet. Cats often like the running water more than their own bowl of water. A fountain will allow your cat to have the happiness of drinking from running water.

Stay current on your cat’s exams and vaccinations. Your cat needs to get some shots regularly to prevent different illnesses and parasites. Your kitty is a member of your family, so you need to treat him like one.

Some foods are not permissible to serve to your cat. Never allow your cat to nibble on garlic, onions or green tomatoes. Grapes, which seem harmless enough, are also a no-no. These items can make your cat very ill. Even a commonly fed food, milk, can make your kitty ill.

If you have chemicals that contain phenol, make sure that you do not use these around your cat. Lysol, for example, has many harmful agents that can harm your cat. Cats hate the smell of phenol, and for good reason. Long term exposure to it can cause cats to have live issues.

It is best to keep cats indoors, near you and treated as part of your household. Indoor cats live longer and stay healthier. While cats can get their exercise roaming the neighborhood and squaring off against other cats, they can also get diseases and injuries this way. Vigorous indoor play with an owner is a preferable way to get exercise.

You ought to be enjoying your cat at this moment. As you can see, relating to your cat is really not that difficult at all. This can help them become happier and live longer.