It is the season of giving, and in the spirit, you may be thinking of what fun gifts and toys you can purchase for your cat(s) this year. Sure, they love the toys and you probably enjoy giving your cat lots of love this way, too, but there are a few other gifts you can give your cat that can last a lifetime. The best gift? The gift of health, and here are a few tips from health.com that can offer good health to your cat, not only during the holiday season but all year long.
*Brush your cat’s fur daily. Not only does it feel good, but it will also aid in minimizing the hairballs your cat might develop. However, some cats might not take to this ritual very well, so be sure to associate it with something pleasant, perhaps brushing him before a meal.
*Cut back on the dry food. Cats cannot be vegetarians for the long-haul and require meat as the foundation of their diets. The carbs in dry food can contribute to diabetes and obesity in cats. A cat simply cannot tolerate carbohydrates the way a dog can. (Trust me…my dog can plow through a bowl of pasta like nobody’s business, but that could be a death sentence for a cat. Side note: The pasta was not actually offered to the dog; counter surfing is an art with this fella!)
*Make sure your cat has a sufficient amount of litter boxes. The general rule of thumb is to have one litter box per cat, plus an additional one. However, if you stick it in a dark corner or out of the way, your cat may not use it. Cats don’t like to feel vulnerable when taking care of business.
*Get a scratching post and train that kitty on the basics…especially if your couch is being ripped apart. To make it appealing, place it in the center of the room initially and sprinkle it with catnip to get him to take the bait. Eventually, you can move the post to away from the center of the room to a corner and skip the catnip once your cat develops a taste for this new activity.
*When you travel with your cat, be sure to use a suitable pet carrier and never leave him unrestrained in your car. Further, never leave your cat unattended in your car for any amount of time. If you do not intend to bring your cat inside to whatever your destination is, then leave him at home.
*Consider spaying or neutering your cat. In the long-run, this is more beneficial to them. Some female cats are highly uncomfortable when they go into heat. Plus, it is not necessary to add to the thousands of unwanted cats who have to be euthanized each year.
*Be sure to let your cat always show you how much he loves you, even if that means he brings a dead rodent to you as a “gift.” Just appreciate each token of love and affection, whether purring, kneading or even head bumping. This, in turn, will contribute to your improved health and happiness, as there is nothing quite like the mutual love and affection between a human and a pet.
Written by Ann Butenas
An internationally-recognized author and writer, Ann began her professional writing career at age 12 and began speaking while in college. She has been published thousands of times over the past three decades in all media forms, was former editor and publisher of KC Metro Woman magazine, and has also hosted three talk radio shows in the Kansas City area.
