If you’re a cat owner, you know it takes time to get your feline partner used to new things. Here are some helpful tips to make your cat’s transition as easy as possible.
If you’re traveling often, be sure to find a pet sitter who will take care of your feline friend while you’re gone. Rover is a great tool for finding local cat sitters near you!
1. Feeding
Feeding is a critical part of maintaining a healthy cat. Because cats are obligate carnivores, they have some very specific nutritional requirements that need to be met in order to maintain optimal health.
For example, they need a diet that provides the essential amino acids Taurine and Arginine which can only be found in animal meat. These nutrients are vital for the development of the body’s protein building blocks.
A cat’s nutritional needs are influenced by age, energy consumption, breed, illness and other factors. The best way to ensure your pet’s nutritional requirements are met is to talk with your veterinarian.
2. Cleaning
If you have cats, then you know how important it is to keep your home clean. Between litter trails, cat hair tumbleweed, and occasional bodily fluid accidents, you can’t afford to let your house get too messy!
Keeping your home clean with cats can be hard work, but it’s not impossible. With a little bit of planning, you can get your place looking and smelling great for the whole family.
If you have a sick cat, cleaning your home becomes especially important to ensure she recovers from her illness. During her recovery, you may need to monitor her food and water intake as well as make sure she gets enough rest and comfort.
3. Training
Training cats can be an important part of keeping them healthy and happy. It helps them learn new things, provide needed mental and physical enrichment, and strengthen the bond between you and your cat.
When you begin training your cat, start by deciding what behaviors you’d like to work on. Are you interested in fixing an unwanted behavior, learning practical skills (like carrier training), or providing your cat with cognitive enrichment?
Once you have decided, focus on one thing at a time and keep training sessions short. You can always expand your repertoire later, but it’s important to have a solid base before you do.
4. Health
As pet owners, we want to make sure our furry friends stay healthy. That’s why we encourage regular veterinary checkups and nose-to-tail exams.
Even healthy cats need physical examinations to catch problems early on, such as enlarged lymph nodes or lumps in the abdomen. We also recommend diagnostic testing on a regular basis to detect internal diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, infectious disease, or cancer.
Excessive thirst is another problem that can be caused by endocrine disorders, such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism. Fortunately, these can be treated when detected early.
5. Exercise
Exercise is an important part of keeping your pet healthy. It helps keep your cat’s weight within a healthy range, improves their overall health and prevents them from developing illnesses or diseases that may be associated with being overweight.
The amount of exercise your cat needs will depend on their age, activity level and weight. Experts recommend engaging them in at least three five-minute sessions of interactive play each day.
Interactive play engages your cat’s natural instincts to hunt. It also allows them to keep their mind active and stimulated.