Your cat probably seems like the most independent animal you’ve ever seen. They don’t seem to need your attention like a dog might, and they seem self-reliant in almost every way. That may be so, but your cat still needs some care from you. Here are some cat tips to help you give your cat the best care.

Let kittens and cat-friendly pet dogs get to know each other slowly. Put up a baby gate to keep dogs in one room while your new kitten gets used to its surroundings. Supervise carefully when the kitten ventures to the gate to meet the dogs. When the kitten feels safe, it will climb the gate. If it feels threatened, it will pop right back out to safety.

Make a free toy for your cat by placing a little dry rice or a few dry beans inside an empty pill bottle. Close the lid and roll the rattly toy across the floor. Most cats can’t resist the sound and motion. You can also tie a length of twine around the neck of the bottle to make a pull toy or a dangly toy.

Clip your cats nails regularly. Cats do have to scratch. However, when cats scratch, their nail sheaths come off and their sharp, pointy claws are exposed. Clipping your cat’s claws every two to three weeks keeps them blunt and helps keep harm to furniture, humans, and other pets to a minimum.

If you replace an old scratching post, your cat may be unhappy with the new one. Save money on scratching posts. Wrap your old scratching post with some sisal rope to spiff it up. Your cat will be happy not to lose its favorite old post. You will save a little cash.

Have your cat spayed or neutered. Pet overpopulation is a growing problem, with millions of homeless cats and kittens euthanized every year. Besides the problem of too many kittens and not enough homes, unfixed cats can have a multitude of behavior problems. Males who are not neutered at a young age often start spraying to mark their territory, and females who are allowed to come into heat yowl incessantly as they try to escape to find a mate. Kittens can begin to breed as early as 4 months of age, so get your new kitten spayed or neutered as soon as possible.

You can also consider outfitting your cat with a chip so you can monitor its whereabouts. You never know when your cat could get away from you. Tags and collars can help you cat return home, but cats can wiggle out of them or risk injury by snagging them on a tree branch or bush. Microchips are as small as a rice grain and have all of your important contact information. Scanners to read pet microchips are available in every town and they will not come out from under the skin.

A tablecloth for the feeding area can be quite useful. A lot of time cats will take their food from their bowls to eat it on the food bowl’s side. This means food spillage that you will have to clean later. You can get a pet mat or use a piece of old fabric to put under it for easy cleanup.

It would be a good idea for your cat to get used to a pet carrier. Cats don’t react to punishment like dogs do. Cats usually respond well to encouragement. Leave the door to a carrier open at all times, and make the interior enticing with a beloved toy and blanket. In time, the cat will head inside and be happy. Once the cat is comfortable with the carrier, you can transport it easily.

Reduce the chances of raising a finicky cat by feeding them several brands of food while they are young. Keeping the same kind of food around most of the time makes it to where they only want that specific food.

Keep a collar with ID on your cat. This is even true for indoor cats. Cats can slip out a door in a flash. The identification tags should contain your home phone number and the number for your veterinarian. This is very important if your pet is likely to get lost or has some medical needs.

Where did you put the litter box? It is temping to put it someplace where the odor will not be noticed. It is equally important that the litter box is readily accessible to your cat, though. Cats tend to be finicky so you need to give them an environment that isn’t off-putting or inconvenient. The area around the litter box should be comfortable and warm to walk on, so make adjustments as needed.

There are lots of cats out there that do not have homes. Consider adopting one from your local pet agency before heading to the pet store. They usually provide the cat with all of the necessary shots before you adopt them. The cats are also spayed or neutered to prevent pet overpopulation.

If your cat is nursing a litter of kittens, it is vital that she have plenty of food and water near her nesting area. Mother cats are very protective, and do not want to leave their kittens for long lengths of time. Your cat can become dehydrated or malnourished just because she does not want to leave her kittens to eat and drink.

Caring for your cat can seem like a thankless job most of the time, but any cat owner is happy to do it. You just need to use the information in this article to be sure you are doing all you can for your independent feline companion. If you follow these tips, you might hear more purring!