As a cat lover, you would naturally want to know as much as you
can about your kitty's health! Your little bundle of fur can be
practically considered as part of the family, so why wouldn't
you make sure that he is happy and healthy?
In this article we will look at a few starting points for your
cats health.
Cat health is strongly affected by what kitty eats. Obesity is a
major factor in heart disease particularly as your cat gets
older. Choose a pet food for your cat that is right for it’s age
but feed it regularly. If in doubt get your veterinarians advice
as your cat can have completely different nutritional needs to
what you would expect!
Longhaired cats should be groomed regularly for optimum cat
health. Use a pet brush and groom no less than once a week. This
is a great way to bond with kitty!
The litter box can be a danger to both cat health and human
health if it isn’t cleaned regularly. Change your pet’s litter
no less than once every four days or more remembering to clear
the tray of faces as since cats are very clean animals and can
smell up to 10 times better than humans! Your kitty will just
love you for it! Also be careful as some litter can be very
dusty, which can irritate kitty's asthma.
If choosing to declaw your kitty, this can be a major factor in
Cat health. If you choose to declaw your pet it is important to
remember to keep them inside at all times! Although I would
never recommend to declaw kitty as this is taking away what
makes him a cat! Also sometimes declawing can be very painful
for your cat and he may become resentful! If you are worried
about your furniture, invest in a cat scratcher and rub some cat
nip over it, you will be surprised! Another option is only to
trim the claws with great care.
Stressful situations like moving, travelling, natural disasters
or even changes in the family can affect cat health as cats are
very sensitive creatures. To minimize the effects of stress on
your pet, ask your vet or pet store what to recommend to
slightly sedate kitty. Cat nip is always a good option, when cat
eats this plant it acts as a sedative.
Part of managing cat health is making sure dangerous poisons
like antifreeze are inaccessible to your pet just as you would
with your own toddler. Some household plants are fatal to cats
so make sure to raise your plants and lock your toxins! If you
have an indoor kitty, invest in a few cat-friendly plants such
as Cat nip, Cat grass, Honeysuckle etc with the bonus of giving
kitty much needed nutrients and minerals not generally found in
manufactured pet food!
Cat’s often have mouth diseases and this can impact cat health.
Cat’s are just as prone to gingivitis as humans and cats can
also develop. Take kitty to the vet at least once a year to have
his teeth regularly checked and cleaned, even switching to a
food that prevents tartar buildup is always a bonus.
As always one of the greatest factors in cat health is deciding
if your cat goes outdoors. Cars, children, other animals and
toxins, ALL are all dangerous and should be avoided by keeping
your cat indoors. Sometimes this isn't the solution for every
kitty as you will need to stock up on the cat toys! And can be
very hard to stop your kitty if he already has been accustomed
to the outdoors!
