It's Not Hard to Improve the Daily Life For Your Cat

There are legions of people who have come to love their cats. Cats make great pets. They are supportive and are great as a companion. They are cute, they love to cuddle and are incredibly soft. Coming home to your friendly cat is one of the best feelings each evening. However, your relationship goes both ways. If you want to get the most out of your relationship with your cat, you need to provide the kind of cat care it needs. 

There are dozens of aspects to cat care. However, they can mostly be boiled down to three different “H’s”. They are a cat’s health, hunger and happiness. By addressing these needs, any cat owner will be providing everything necessary for a cat to live a long and happy life. 

Keeping Your Cat Healthy

Keeping your cat healthy is an important part of cat care. The first is ensuring that your cat doesn’t get obese. Cats who just have one large bowl of food often end up binge eating. Investing in a dispenser which releases small meals throughout the day as a timed release can really help keep your cat fit.

Litter boxes are the price people pay for having a cat. Make sure the litter box is quiet and ideally gives the cat some privacy. It’s almost important to constantly clean the litter box, ideally every time it needs to be cleaned. Mechanical self cleaning litter boxes are another good investment. 

Cats have claws. Declawing is painful and is quickly becoming banned in more and more places. Make sure their claws can be sharpened and filed through appropriate scratching mats and scratching posts. This will keep their feet healthy and save your furniture at the same time. 

Finally, make sure to talk to your vet about the regular checkups your cat will need. Vaccinations and booster shots are necessary. Make sure you have a plan for dealing with fleas, ticks or your cat getting worms. Also be sure that there’s no dangerous or toxic plants in your home. They may be fine to humans, but some plants like lilies will make a cat very sick. 

Keeping Your Cat From Going Hungry

Alright, perhaps this section is slightly misnamed. It’s not hard to find food for your cat with all of the many brands that are available. Wet food, dry food, it’s all out there and ready for consumption. But which food actually will assist your cat? Which food gives them the nutrients they need?

It’s important to recognize that cats are obligate carnivores. No amount of hoping or trying to get them to eat plant protein will not make it so. Cats specifically need the nutrients that are found in animal proteins. Their diet needs to reflect their need for animal protein, fat and a smaller amount of carbohydrates. The most common food given to cats is kibble or “dry food”. Despite the appearance, these are well designed products that contain large amounts of animal protein. It’s perhaps not a cats favorite food, but they will eat it when hungry. Semi moist or canned food has a much higher water content and is typically more palatable. 

Cats are picky eaters at times. To care for your cats diet, you need to care for the surroundings. Make sure that the area around feeding is quiet and clean. Try to avoid high traffic areas, especially if you have young children. Also try to vary the food. Cats can grow bored of the same type of food over and over again. This is especially true of wet food. Try some different flavors to figure out what your cat likes. Make sure that a litter box is placed well away from the feeding area. How would you feel if your dining table was in your restroom?

Keeping Your Cat Happy

The day to day life of a cat may seem fairly simple. They eat, they sleep, they play. However, every aspect is important. Cats enjoy stimulation just like humans do. They want to be able to feel like they are stalking and exploring. Creating an area where they can do that helps. There are many products available online which create cat trees or caves which allow cats to explore small spaces in safety. If price is an issue, it’s very possible to create a great cat play area using cardboard boxes and some strong adhesive tape. Another way to keep your cat interested is ensure they can look out the windows from their own perches. They like to see what’s going on outside! 

Cats require attention or they will often act out. Most cats don’t need to be showered with it at all times, but it’s good to not ignore them when they are interested. An hour or so of attention each day dedicated to your cat will keep them happy. Proper care should be taken to give them toys and good places to sleep. Not every cat bed is created equal, but cats love to sleep in depressed areas. The elevated sides provide a natural feeling of safety and comfort.