Cats are fun animals that will always surprise you. When left to their own devices, cats will scratch up your belongings and climb on your furniture. This can be prevented by offering cat toys. Learn more about this and many other tips in this article.

When considering a new pet, make sure you visit the area shelter first. Shelters have lots of great cats available, and your adoption fee often covers key veterinary services. A cat gets a new chance at life and the cat population stays in check with adoption.

Spray electrical cords with some bitter apple to prevent cats from getting electrocuted. Cat can sometimes chew on cords, and they should be covered to prevent this. Hide those loose cords and keep them out of sight in no longer needed paper towel rolls. Put away electronics that have tempting, thin cords when you’re not using them.

Enticing kitty to stay off the kitchen counter is sometimes challenging. Cats like to climb on things and a counter can look very inviting. It helps to provide your cat with certain high spaces where it is allowed. Placing a cat tower near the kitchen will help the cats to not lay on the counter.

Use a tablecloth underneath your cat’s dish. Certain cats prefer removing their food from their bowl and putting it on the side to eat it. This makes quite a mess. To make clean up a breeze, use a place mat underneath the bowl or a piece of fabric. You’ll be able to pick it up easily and shake the excess food into the trash.

Try to figure out why your cat makes meowing sounds. After some time, you’ll understand why your cat purs or meows based on what she wants. Possibilities include that she is hungry or wants to be let outside. You should pay attention to these cues and you will eventually learn to decipher them.

If you’re thinking about raising an outdoor cat, you should strongly reconsider. This can compromise your cat’s safety. Cats can become infected with fleas, ticks and ringworm. It could be injured via a vehicle or another animal. If you think your pet needs to go outside, think about enclosing a back patio with metal mesh or some type of heavy screen to keep your cat inside, yet allow them to experience the outdoors.

Cats feel safest in an elevated location. Providing a safe environment for your cat is key to its happiness. If you’d rather not invest in a cat tree, simply use a large shelf or bookcase without any breakable items. Putting a soft cat bed on the shelf can help to add a little comfort.

Cats may make a small mess outside their litter box. Most of the time when this happens, it is because you are not taking proper care of the box. If you punish the cat, it may shy away from you at future times.

Although your cat’s old scratching post may look very worn out, you shouldn’t throw it away. When a post is worn, your cats may enjoy it more. If you throw it away and replace it too quickly with a new one, they may shun the new one and go after your carpet and furniture.

It may be time to take your cat to see the vet if it begins urinating more frequently and in places besides its litter box. This may be a symptom of an infection of the urinary tract or another health problem in your cat. Some cheap antibiotics can resolve potential risks for your cat.

If you are considering a long-haired cat breed then you should also consider the extra maintenance required. That hair will truly get everywhere! Don’t adopt a cat with long fur unless you’re sure you can handle the extra cleaning. Hair balls are also more prevalent in long haired cats.

If you have a pregnant cat ready to birth her babies, be sure she has enough space. It could take 3-4 hours for every kitten to arrive, so be patient. When six hours passes, get to the vet immediately.

Don’t give a cat human medications. Only use medicine that has been prescribed or recommended by a vet. When you make the mistake of giving any type of human medication to your cat, it can kill them or cause them some other type of grave medical misfortune.

If your cat has frequent hairballs, and extra brushing hasn’t helped, here are some other tips that may help. Put 1 tsp of pumpkin puree in their food. You may also use some tuna packing water to mix with your pumpkin. There are also cat foods that contain an anti-hairball component, usually extra fiber, that may solve the problem.

Avoid overfeeding your cat, as that may lead to health concerns in the long-term. Overeating can cause obesity in your cat, which can cause serious illness, similar to people. Keep an eye on how much your pet is eating, and be sure that their diet is balanced.

Cats often do best indoors where they can be kept safe. Cats that spend time outdoors generally don’t live as long, probably because they are more likely to get sick or get into an accident. Some diseases that outdoor cats acquire can also be passed along to humans. Let your cat rest in a room with a lot of light; this will help satisfy his or her outdoor needs.

Cats are very complex animals; therefore, you need to be knowledgeable on their behaviors. The more you know about cats, the better your cat will be. Use the advice in this article to help pick out toys for your cat so that they don’t become bored and bother your own personal items.