Every year, people around the world set New Years’ Resolutions – it’s a promise and commitment we make to ourselves to adopt a new behaviour or make a positive change in our life. This year, let’s extend that commitment to making New Year’s resolutions for our cats. Now is the time to look at your cat’s life and what you can do to make this year their happiest, healthiest and best year yet.
Book an annual vet check
Has your cat had a check-up recently? If not, it’s time to book one in. Annual health checks are an important part of keeping your cat healthy. It’s not just about preventative care such as deworming, parasite prevention and vaccinations (although these are important) it’s about spotting health problems in their early stages, because early detection and intervention can extend your cat’s life.
Microchip your cat
Make sure your cat is microchipped – it’s your best chance at being reunited if your cat goes missing. A microchip is no bigger than a grain of rice and is injected underneath your cat’s skin, between the shoulders. Collars and pet ID tags (with a name and phone number) are a good idea for outdoor cats, but they’re not a substitute for a microchip, which is a permanent, implanted identification tag.
Provide fresh drinking water
Make sure your cat has fresh, clean drinking water every day, with water bowls located in several locations around the house. In summer, I add an ice cube which helps my cats keep their cool as summer temperatures soar. Some cats prefer running water, so you may like to turn on the tap or invest in a cat drinking fountain.
Feed the best diet you can afford
Learn to read the labels on commercial cat foods so you know exactly what you’re feeding your cat. Cheap kibble and canned cat foods are often bulked out with fillers, carbohydrates and grains that don’t cater to a cat’s specific nutritional needs and may in fact lead to health problems as your cat gets older. As obligate carnivores, cats need a meat-based diet, which is why we feed our cats a homemade raw diet.
Ensure your cat is a healthy weight
Obesity is no longer just a human problem, it also impacts our pets so it’s no surprise this one is on our New Year’s resolution list for cats. Overweight cats are at greater risk of a range of serious health issues, including diabetes and arthritis. If your cat is overweight please consult with your vet to develop a diet and exercise program that will help your cat lose weight gradually and safely.
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Make more time for play
Interactive playtime is a wonderful way of strengthening the bond between you and your cat. It also gives your cat a workout – strengthening muscles and keeping weight issues under control. Play is great for channeling energy in the right direction, it stops your cat from getting bored and can help prevent destructive chewing and scratching behaviour. Cats are predatory creatures so toys which trigger that instinct and encourage them to hunt, stalk, and pounce are ideal toys for playtime. Our cats favourite toys include Da-Bird, the red dot laser toy, catnip toys and kickers, and a variety of wand toys. You don’t need expensive cat toys to play with though – once of Charlie’s favourite toys is a scrunched up aluminium foil ball.
Consider an indoor lifestyle
The outside world has many dangers for cats, including road traffic, cat fights and the risk of FeLV and FIV, parasites (fleas and ticks), poisons and human predators. As long as you meet all of your cat’s needs, including mental stimulation and exercise, indoor cats can live a life that’s just as happy and fulfilling as an outdoor cat. It’s also a much safer option.
Give your cat daily attention
Lastly, daily attention in the form of petting, stroking, lap time or cuddling lets your cat know how much you love them. Despite their seemingly indifferent attitude at times, most cats enjoy bonding with their humans and being shown some love. Gentle, daily grooming is one way of bonding with your cat – regularly brushing makes them feel good, and will leave their coat shiny and healthy. Removing excess fur from your cat also means less cat hair on your clothes and furniture! So, that’s a win-win.
What do you do to help your cat live a happier and healthier life? We’d love to hear your New Year’s Resolutions for your cat.
