A cat can be the most wonderful pet you ever have. Many people are surprised by that, since you can find so many stories of cats being snobby or too independent. However, the simple truth is that cats can be quite a wonderful addition to any home. Below are a few tips to look after your cat.

When looking for a new cat for the home, contact a local animal shelter. Many shelters have more cats than they are able to handle and the fees connected with adoption look after vet visits. Adopting a cat this way really helps to save their life and cut down on unwanted animal births.

If your dog and cat are close friends, make sure you keep them separate after flea treatment. Your dog's flea products are very hazardous for cats. Cats that come in contact with dog flea products often die. Be sure to use only cat products on your cat and only dog products on your own dog.

Make sure your cat is properly hydrated. Like humans, cats need to drink lots of water. Should they don't get enough water, they are able to get dehydrated, develop various health issues, or die. Make certain they always have a bowl of fresh and clean water. The bowl itself also needs to be cleaned and refilled every day. It's also advisable to keep this bowl in one location.

A cheap rubber welcome mat helps keep cat food off your floor. This is also a great tool to keep your cat from tracking litter out from the box. Black rubber mats cost about three dollars at dollar stores. Put your cat food dish using one and your kitty litter box on another.

Cats are hunters by nature. They want to chase mice along with other small animals and insects. Buying little fuzzy mice filled with catnip and batting them around with your cat is a good idea. Your cat will feel as though they are really hunting prey. This can also help you to connect with your cat better.

Learn how much food you are supposed to be feeding your cat. While cat food containers give general information, find out from your vet how much food your cat ought to be eating. Many owners usually do not do this, and find yourself overfeeding their cats. Take the time to find out the correct amount so you don't end up with an overweight kitty.

If you going to be gone for greater than a day, you ought to have someone look in on your cat. Leave out plenty of food, but have someone arrived at make sure it doesn't run out. If you do not have a neighbor or family to look in on your cat, it is possible to usually look for a cat sitter for some dollars each day.

Cats are pretty low maintenance pets. They do not need just as much attention and one-on-one time as dogs do. Cleaning the kitty litter box is probably the most dreaded chores in the house. Investing in a good self-cleaning litter box can help reduce the quantity of times you will need to clean it out.

You should do regular checkups of your cat between veterinarian visits. A good time to do this is if you are petting the animal. Check the complete body for things like scabs and lesions. Also try and around the ears for just about any discharge, which can be a sign of ear mites. Check the cat from check out tail.

When something seems amiss with your feline friend, consult with other cat owners. It is possible to work out the issue yourself, but help from others could be invaluable. Your vet is a great source of advice, or you can find forums on the Internet for connecting with other cat owners.

Cats may make a small mess outside their litter box. Check out the box instead and see if it has been neglected; this is usually a reason behind accidents. The cat will be fearful of you in the event that you punish it.

Help your cat become accustomed to the carrier. Cats usually do not respond in the same way dogs do to punishment. Encouragement is more likely to get them to respond. Put a common toy and blanket in a carrier. Leave it somewhere they always go to. Soon that cat will head into the carrier alone. It's a much easier solution to get the cat in.

Cats can brighten the life of most people, but only if the person knows how exactly to properly take care of their cat. This article has hopefully given you ideas about how you can certainly do that. If you apply these tips to your own cat, viewers your cat is the greatest friend you ever had.
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