TIP! Make sure your cat is regularly visiting the vet for checkups. Your cat should have regular well visits, as well as all the recommended vaccinations for his age.

There’s nothing quite like the company of a cat, but only if you are a responsible pet owner. After paying for shots, toys, cat food, litter and grooming, you may feel like reconsidering your choice to own a cat. With the solid advice below, you will find ways to keep your pet and save some money too.

Drape Cords

TIP! If your cat is an outdoor cat, then you should ensure it wears a tag collar. Cats can get lost, and they need a tag to be found.

Keep your drape cords away from your cats. You should not allow your cat to play with drape cords since they could end up with the cord wrapped around their neck. This could even choke them to death. To prevent this from happening, keep any drape cords pinned away from any eyes.

TIP! Cats are usually more active during the night. The result is that cats prefer to be more active during the night.

Visit your local shelter if you’re thinking about getting a cat. Many shelters are overcrowded with lovable and adoptable cats. Besides, adopting a cat from an animal shelter means you are saving this cat’s life.

TIP! Male felines tend to get crystals in the urine that can be prevented with proper diet. Passing stones or crystals hurts and can cost you a ton in vet bills if they don’t come out naturally.

If your cat goes outside, it is important to have a collar with a tag. This can help if your cat becomes lost while wandering in the great outdoors. You have to be sure you have your pet’s name and number written on the tag.

TIP! Remember that very young children can be a bit too rough with a cat or new kitten. It is important that you teach children how to properly interact with a new cat.

Kitty claws can be quite destructive to fabric and furnishings. If you have problems with a cat that shreds furniture, invest in a durable scratching post. This can encourage cats to scratch something other than things that are off-limits. Sooner or later, they’ll love to use it.

TIP! You can tap fellow cat owners for advice if you’re having problems with your pet. Although you may want to go it alone, it can be helpful to seek advice from other people that have experience owning cats.

You can also consider outfitting your cat with a chip so you can monitor its whereabouts. Even a house cat may end up lost outside, no matter how careful you are. Although collars and tags are beneficial, some cats may even wiggle out of them. Your name and the best way to contact you can be encoded on the chip, which is tiny. Every shelter and most veterinarian offices have microchip scanners that can read the chips, and best of all, they chips can’t be lost.

TIP! Avoid spending too much time trying to train your cat to utilize its litter box. This comes quite naturally to them and is not something that is learned.

Set a tablecloth under your cat’s food bowl. It’s a common practice for cats to eat their food on the side of their bowl. This means food spillage that you will have to clean later. Simply place a cloth placemat that will grab at the food under their plate and then shaken out over the trash. You can put a vinyl one underneath that can be picked up wiped down easily if you prefer.

TIP! Get your cat used to a carrier. Cats can’t be punished like dogs.

Try and figure out why kitty is meowing. When your cat is a member of the family, their sounds start to become familiar to you. This makes it easy to determine what various meows might mean. The meows may indicate hunger, happiness, or a desire to go exploring. Getting to know your cats cues will help you to interpret her meows.

TIP! Mix up the food you feed your cat to avoid them becoming a picky eater. If your cat only eats one brand of cat food from the beginning, he will probably not like any other brand.

If you’re thinking about raising an outdoor cat, you should strongly reconsider. Cats come to harm outside every day. You cat can get fleas and contract diseases. Your cat may be targeted by another animal, or get injured by a vehicle or another person. If your cat really wants to go outside, let it out into a small area in your yard.

TIP! Don’t buy cheap cat food. Look at the ingredients and make sure protein like fish, chicken, or beef is near the top.

Feed canned food to your cat. Yes, dry food is cheaper, but canned food really has a lot more benefits. That’s because this type of food provides your cat with more protein, good fat and water. For older cats, canned food chew easier. Ask your vet, though canned food is often better for your cat.

TIP! Use canned food for your cat. While dry food is less expensive, canned food is healthier.

Your cat should always wear a collar and ID tag. This is very important for indoor cats. Cats are endlessly curious and may head out an open door or window. Include your vet’s info as well as your own on the tags. This will be important especially if you have a cat with medical issues.

TIP! If you are bringing home a new cat, make sure to give him time to adjust to your current cat. It usually takes about three weeks.

Cats are a wonderful creature to share your space with, though they can be pricy. There are a lot of responsibilities that you will have. These tips make it clear that you can care for your cat appropriately while spending less money.

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