Best Healthy Cat Tips
If you have a pet cat then you already know how independent that they can be. Unlike their dog counterparts, cats very rarely go out in a pack and simply prefer that they get to do things the way that they want to do them, which is more than likely going to be by themselves. On top of that, they are also very fastidious, always cleaning their fur by using their tongue to get the job done, almost as if they are putting on a good coat of Brylcreem. With all that being said, the truth of the matter is that cats actually do not have the ability to fully take care of all their health needs.
When out in the wild, it is possible for them to survive solely on hunting, but your pet cat is not out there living in the wild. This means that your cat is going to be very dependent on certain things. If these needs that your cat has are not properly met, your cat may start displaying some behavioral problems. Obviously, you more than likely do not want your pet cat to start having cat problems around the house. With that said, here are some of the top ways that you can keep your cat perfectly happy and healthy at the same time.
#1 – Help Your Cat with Their Grooming Needs
Unless you simply do not pay attention to your cat, you have probably noticed that they are in love with keeping themselves clean and tidy. Fortunately for them, their saliva just happens to contain a variety of different natural deodorants that have an excellent cleaning property in them to help keep their fur relatively clean. But if you would like to help your cat out once in a while and give them a bath, feel free to do so. If your cat isn’t one for an occasional bath from you, be sure that you are brushing their fur coat on a daily basis. This will help to remove any excess hair and help prevent hairballs from occurring. When you brush their hair on a regular basis, it will help to eliminate the loose hairs that they have.
#2 – Don’t Overfeed Them Dry Kibble
Since your cats’ natural diet is composed of high-quality meats that are normally found by hunting, this is not necessarily going to be the case for your cat. That is actually the reason why dry kibble was originally recommended by pet owners and even veterinarians. However, this was before there was very much known about the anatomy and physiology of cats. Now, most veterinarians will recommend against giving your cat dry kibble as they are oftentimes loaded with carbohydrates, which your cat is not able to digest, meaning that they can potentially lead to some serious problems over time. So be sure that you are limiting the amount of dry kibble that your cat is eating.
#3 – Keep Them Hydrated
As with every living organism, staying hydrated is a critical part of being healthy. With that in mind, be sure that you are allowing your cat access to plenty of water throughout the day, not just when it is feeding time.
#4 – Consider Neutering or Spaying Them
While this may sound like an inhumane thing to do to your cat, it will help to decrease the growing number of kitties that go homeless every year. In fact, in many of these homeless cat situations, the cat is actually put down as they are simply not wanted by anyone. As for the health of the matter, it can actually help prevent your cat from developing feline leukemia, or even transmit feline immunodeficiency virus, which is considered to be the feline HIV.
#5 – Have Multiple Litter Boxes Around the House
Have you ever gone into a public restroom, looked around, and then decided that you don’t need to go anymore? The same is true for your cat’s litter box when it is dirty, and they need to go. The solution is to simply have multiple litterboxes throughout your home and make sure that they are constantly cleaned out.
#6 – Visit Your Veterinarian Regularly
When it comes to visiting your veterinarian, it is always best to not wait until your cat is sick to do so. In fact, regular checkups by your vet are going to make sure that your cat is up to date with all their vaccinations and other immunizations, as well as helps to prevent the occurrence of more serious health problems later down the road.
#7 – Play with or Exercise Your Cat
If your cat becomes bored, they will become dull and frustrated. If this does happen, it can lead to some potential behavioral problems that can become annoying and frustrating for you. So be sure that you are spending some time with your cat or if you are unable to, that they have the appropriate toys so that they are able to keep themselves entertained.
#8 – Train Them with a Scratching Post
Cats are going to scratch, it’s just what they do. With that being said, get your cat a scratching post and teach them how to use it. If not, be prepared for some serious damage to your favorite couch.
#9 – Keep the Litter Box, Food Bowl and Water Dish Separate
Be sure that you separate the litter box from the food and water as they will not eat or drink when it stinks, and the food from the water as they will not be enticed to drink if they are in the same area. Keep them separate and your cat will be happy.
#10 – Shower Your Cat with Affection
All pets are going to require lots of love and affections. Cats are going to be no different. They love to be cuddled and played with, and yes, showered with as much affection as they are able to get. If you can do this, you will not only have a happy cat but a cat that will love you for a very long time.
