It’s a new year and for many people that means setting new goals for work and play. After all, having a plan is a good thing. But, in your 2015 goal setting and planning, have you thought about your feline friends? As a pet owner, you don’t want to overlook your furry friends and miss out on ways to make them happy and keep them healthy. If you have not thought about how to make 2015 the best year ever for your cat, then you may want to consider adding some of these steps to your weekly (or monthly) schedule of cat care. Even better is that doing them won’t only make your pet happy, but some of that pleasure will benefit you, too.
- Grooming is something that most cats do for themselves; however, for larger and sometime the older cats, this is not always easy. Although it is in a cat’s nature to keep clean, sometimes it is helpful to help by bathing or even clipping them around the under-the-tail.
- Don’t overlook the value of the annual examination by a vet. Of course, if your cat already has a few health concerns or is an older cat, then visits that are more frequent may be necessary. Cats often develop arthritis that can lessen their quality of life. However, cats are not the type of animal to “complain” so without frequent checkups, your furry friend could be hurting and you would be unaware, until the pain has reached a seriously uncomfortable level.
- Cold days, as well as rainy days, can often mean that your cat doesn’t get to spend time outdoors getting exercise. Consider an indoor pet playground or toys that encourage movement. If your cat already has a weight problem, then adding activities that require more moving will help them.
- You have heard it said, but it bears repeating, be sure your cat(s) are all wearing proper identification. You may choose to do this through a collar and tag or go more high-tech and have them microchipped, but be sure that in the event that you and your cat get separated, your cat can be brought back home. Just because your cat is an indoor cat, it doesn’t exclude the need for ID. In the event of a fire, flood or other natural disaster it is possible that you may get separated from your cat(s) and the ID can help someone get them back to you.
- Does your cat have some bad habits? Perhaps they are destroying your furniture or refusing to use the litter box, regardless of the various attempts you have made to make them more comfortable. If so, then why not consider talking to an animal behavior specialist or your vet to get some input. Oftentimes, there are stressors you had not considered and having an outside perspective will be beneficial. It may be that 2015 can be end of unwanted cat behaviors.
- Be sure your cat is getting the type of food that will help them grow, while staying fit. Ask your vet about foods that will meet your cat’s physical and medicinal daily requirements. Keep in mind that dry cat food is higher in carbohydrates, so you want to avoid using this on a regular basis. Also, be sure that your cat’s food bowl and water dish are kept clean, as cats don’t like to eat from dirty dishes.
- Cats do not brush their teeth, and consequently can develop dental disease as early as 3 years old. However, this does not mean feeding your cat dry cat food as this will not improve their dental health. Rather, new studies have found the canned food is the best choice for health feline teeth. Also, adding water or milk to dry foods is not enough.
- Learn about your cat’s particular species. This will make you a better cat owner.
Being a cat owner is a great deal of fun and but comes with some responsibilities. Taking the time to incorporate activities, applying the proper dental care, learning more about what makes your cat tic and finding ways to break bad habits will make both you and your cat much happier. If you have additional questions about cat care, then talk to your vet so you can be sure your cat receives the best.
Of course, we are always happy to hear from you. If you have suggestions regarding cat health and care, then feel free to share them below.
Looking forward to a wonderful 2015!
