Cats are magical critters. They are intelligent and independent, while being loving. But, it’s not so simple to take proper care of a cat. Keep reading to find out how to learn more about taking good care of your cat.

Check-ups are an absolute must for any pet cat. Understand that cats require vaccinations in order to stay healthy, and the veterinarian needs to regularly check for any health problems. For the most consistent pet care, choose one veterinarian and stick with them. This way they will know your cat’s history the best.

Give your cat lots of attention and love. Cats give us a lot of love, and they deserve to be loved back. Cats need social time with the family just like people do so that they know that they are valued. Make them feel at home.

Often, the best cat medicine deals are found online. When an emergency strikes, however, you may not have the option of buying medications on the Internet. Most of the time, you will get great discounts if you purchase on the web.

If you’re traveling with your cat, take care to remember their ears. You might love blasting your favorite music while driving, but they enjoy softer sounds. If your cat seems upset or agitated, turn down the music and speak calmly to him.

Though cats make great pets for kids, younger kids may be too rough with them. Make sure your child knows how to treat a cat. Demonstrate how to pick up the animal and how to play with it as well. Cats don’t have strong bones like dogs do, so they need to be treated gently.

Think hard before allowing your cat outside. The outside world is very dangerous for cats. Your cat may get fleas or have other problems. Other animals, cars and people can hurt your cat. If the cat must go outside, set aside a small part of the backyard or front lawn as a place where they can go.

Be careful if you leave a kitten with a young child. Children under five years of age should not be left alone with a kitten. You may not have noticed a problem when you see them together, but very kids do not really understand they can accidentally harm or kill a kitten. As your children get older, you can decide when to teach them about handling a pet.

If a cat urinates often or in odd places, it should probably go see the vet. This sort of behavior is common among cats with UTIs and other health problems. You can solve this problem thanks to some very affordable antibiotics.

A cat’s life isn’t complete without play. Actually playtime is very common for all animals, especially cats and people despite their age. Even older cats like to play. Take the time to play and have a little fun with your kitty.

Prior to adopting any long-haired cat, make sure you understand the extra work involved. While long, silky hair is beautiful on a cat, the same fur appears far less beautiful covering your floor, dark clothing, and furniture. Unless you have time to dedicate to cleaning up their fur, don’t get long haired cats. Also, cats with long hair tend to have frequent hairball issues.

When a dog wags it’s tail, it’s telling you that it is excited or happy. Cats wag their tail as well, but have different reasons psychologically. Tail-wagging in a cat usually means a conflict or that they’re deciding to flee or pounce regarding a situation. When you hold your cat and he begins to wag his tail, put him down!

You should not let your de-clawed cat outdoors. Your cat may be seriously injured or killed because they are not prepared to defend themselves against another animal who may attack them. Indoor cats are the only ones that should ever be declawed. If you do choose to have your cat declawed, only the front claws should be removed. The back claws should remain as they will not scratch furniture or floors.

Never make the choice of giving your cat human medication. When your cat has health issues, they should be taken to their vet, who will give them any medication they need. Giving your cat your medication can actually cause your pet serious harm.

Cats have an extremely sensitive sense of smell which makes it difficult to change anything in their environment without their knowing about it. This applies to new pets and food in the home. You should give your cat time to adjust to new items in his world. You cat will adjust as the smells of the new items as they become a regular part of his daily routine.

Dry food is great for cats. Kittens need some wet food because they have very small teeth. As an adult, the harder texture of dry food keeps their teeth strong. Dry food and wet food can also be mixed together for a really finicky cat.

Sticky Tape

Try using sticky tape if you own a cat. A bit of sticky tape on your cat’s favorite scratching spot can quickly make the act less enjoyable for them. Certain pet stores even sell this type of tape for this reason. By protecting your furniture and providing a scratching post, you can break this type of habit.

Some cat owners are tempted to bathe their cats to keep them clean and well-groomed. This is totally unnecessary unless your cat has got into something absolutely filthy. Cats have barbed tongues, which are very effective at removing oil and dirt from their coats. Cats actually care about the way they look!

Cats make amazing pets for you and your family, as long as you know how to take care of them. Use the things you’ve learned in this article to help you out. Take what you learn and apply it to your situation.