After getting their first cat, many families encounter unexpected issues. It is a serious mistake to bring a pet home without first preparing yourself and your home. However, it is impossible to anticipate every problem that can arise when you bring home a frisky feline. Using these tips is a great solution to help you get prepared for what to expect in owning a cat.

If your cat suddenly goes off its feed for no apparent reason, try tempting treats such as jack mackerel, tuna, or cream of chicken soup in small amounts. These are not complete foods and shouldn’t be fed long term, but they are extremely tasty to cats. A finicky cat may start eating again and keep on when given one of these treats.

Do not assume that because a medication is okay for you to take, that it is safe for your cat as well. Many medications made for humans are lethal to cats, such as acetaminophen containing drugs and aspirin. Always check with your veterinarian before you give your cat anything.

Keep the litter box clean. Cats are naturally very clean animals, and a dirty litter box will have your cat looking for alternative places to relieve himself. Cats also value their privacy, so try to locate the box in an area that does not get a lot of foot traffic.

Cats are often nocturnal creatures. They get very active at night. Close the door to prevent the noise from getting to you. This can keep them from waking you up at night and from pouncing on feet under the blankets.

If your cat has a tendency to eat your plants, you can stop him. You can either purchase bitter apple spray and spray the pot, or you can put a bit of clove oil on a cotton ball and bury it a bit in the soil. Your cat will avoid both.

When bringing a new kitten home, take it slow. It is tempting for children to want to play with the new addition to your home immediately. But the young cat will likely be scared. Give the cat time to acclimate itself to your home and to get comfortable with everyone.

You should do regular checkups of your cat between veterinarian visits. A good time to do this is when you are petting the animal. Check the entire body for things like scabs and lesions. Also look in and around the ears for any discharge, which can be a sign of ear mites. Check the cat from head to tail.

Speak to your peers about your cat issues. You may wish to deal with it alone, but you may need advice from other cat owners. There are a number of message boards for cat owners on the Internet, or you can go to your vet with problems.

You cat should get cat food that is of a good quality. Look over the ingredients in the food, and be sure there is some kind of a protein source in the food. Some foods contain a lot of fillers like corn products, don’t buy those. The main part of a cat’s diet should be meat protein, so his cat food should be mostly real meat.

If you’ve just met a cat, don’t look at them in their eyes. Cats do not like being stared at by people they don’t know. That’s why they are more comfortable if you are not looking at them. They are more likely to approach you that way, and more likely to kindly regard you in the future.

Cats love to climb trees. This is a natural tendency, that can be hard for some indoor cats to control. If you find that your cat is literally climbing up your curtains, it is time to invest in a cat tower. This will provide your cat a place to climb, in a safer and less destructive way.

If possible, clip your cat’s toenails once weekly. If the nails grow too long, your pet cannot retract the claws. This causes your pet to experience discomfort. Regular trimmings also prevent the claws from snagging carpet fibers, clothing, and other fabrics. If you cannot do this, you should at least provide scratching toys and posts for your cat.

When introducing a new cat to your home, make sure that your other pets have time to adjust. You will want to give the new cat extra attention, but it is important to keep up established routines with your other pets. Allow the new cat to explore its new home while you care for your other pets.

Line your furniture with sticky tape. If your cat is ruining your upholstery, tape can be a good way to stop your cat from doing so. There is specific tape for this purpose. The tape throws the cat off when it starts to scratch the furniture. In addition, buy a scratching post to satisfy the cat’s instinctual need to scratch.

If you have a cat that goes outdoors, consider having him micro chipped. A micro chip will help someone to locate you if they ever find your pet. This is especially important if your pet lands in a shelter, as shelters give pets a limited time if they cannot locate the owner easily.

Much like people, cats have been known to develop food allergies later in life. Any time you introduce a new type of treat or food into your pet’s diet, watch them closely for signs of an allergic reaction. These include shortness of breath, hives, and erratic behavior. If possible, determine which ingredients are the culprit and ask your vet for recommendations.

The tips you just read will help you care for your cat, regardless of its age or breed. These are key concepts you must know when raising a cat, but each person will make individual variations based on tastes and needs. Remember to enjoy your new kitten because that’s the most important part of the process.