Keep Your Cat Healthy

May 20, 2016

If you own a cat, you are probably intrigued by your pet’s personality. As pets, cats are known for being individually unique, curious, independent, but also playful and affectionate. Anybody who has ever owned a cat can probably admit to getting a lot of laughter out of the combination of cuteness and adventure demonstrated by that agile and fun little creature.

Since cats usually give their owners so much enjoyment, most of them are quite willing to invest in whatever is needed to promote healthy, happy lives for these pets. To help kitty live that ideal, long, and beneficial cat lifestyle, consistency comes through as the best trait for any owner to possess. What does it take to help your cat live a longer life? Basically, a good regime, promotion of exercise, excellent nutrition, and lots of love.

Disease Prevention

Taking quality care of your cat starts with kitten-hood. Make sure you enlist in all of the preventative measures to avoid disease—so regular vaccinations as well as medications to prevent parasites (like fleas and ticks and other predators on your cat) are key. You also need to make sure to keep up with regular health check-ups and stay in communication with your vet, since the technology behind vaccines and preventative measures for animals is always evolving, you want to make sure you stay up to date with this to ensure better health for your cat.

Dental Care

An often overlooked necessity for good cat health is dental care. Make sure to use a small (children’s or baby’s) style toothbrush, a little bit of cat toothpaste, and daily (with a lot of gentle movement) brush your cat’s teeth and gums. If the brushing does not go over well with your cat, try to use dental health treats to supplement for brushing. Crunchy cat food also helps keep kitty’s teeth clean.

Cat Exercise

Keep your kitty active with plenty of fun toys and room for cat play. While we all know our cats are quite good at sleeping, they are also playful creatures, and encouraging that fun streak in your cat leads to plenty of cat exercise which can prevent later problems with muscles and joints. Exercise will also help your cat stay within a healthier weight.

Cat Diet

Also, diet is extremely important to the health of any pet. Make sure to purchase healthy cat food for your cat. Ingredients to look for include animal proteins, and lots of vitamins and minerals. Stay away from generic brands and go for more well-rated brands that have safety certifications on the packaging. The more natural and high quality the food, the better it is for your cat’s health.

Obesity in Cats

Like many people in the United States, cats also face an obesity epidemic—and much of this is from improper care. 54% of cats in America are considered overweight, and just like too much weight contributes to human health problems, it also increases your cat’s risk for health problems. If you ever find yourself at the point of worrying about kitty’s weight gain, one great place to start for help about a specific nutrition plan is your vet. Make sure to take any unnecessary weight gain very seriously, as it can severely affect your cat’s lifestyle.