Ways to Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

Cats are fascinating creatures. They are equal parts familiar and majestic

01:54 13 December 2020

They seem to walk that thin and blurry line of “household love sponge” and “clear automaton”. They are, for that very reason, one of our favorite furry pals. Their presence in human history goes way back, before domesticated dogs, and they continue to be by our sides. If you have a cat at home, or you’re thinking about getting a cat, you might be wondering how exactly one cares for an animal so independent. Fortunately, some people study this. Here we’ll discuss how to care for your cat so that it can move through life healthy and happy.

 

Understand What They Need

 

Cats, contrary to popular opinion, can get a little anxious. They are far from the super calm stoics that they’re portrayed to be on TV. Some cats are, well, high strung and jumpy. This has a lot to do with their breed, their surroundings, and if you got them from a rescue shelter, their past. There are plenty of means and strategies to combat this. The calming collars, as shown at https://petsumer.com/best-calming-collar-cats/, provide a unique means of calming a cat down. It’s not just all about grabbing them and petting the anxiety away. That doesn’t always help, and a lot of times, it won't. The technology behind a lot of modern solutions has been researched and proven to work. They’re perfect for an anxious cat.

 

Diet

 

A big part of what makes a cat healthy is their diet. There are a variety of foods that are on the market that are plain bad. Of course, they won’t be overtly or immediately harmed by a heavy grain and corn set of kibbles. But they are not going to gain much nutrition from them, either. Felines are obligate carnivores. They need meat, and they won't be able to process plant-based food that well. A Soy-rito might sound good to you, but cats can’t get anything out of it. Be sure to find a food source that prides itself on whole, clean animal products. It’s quite literally the only way to keep a feline truly healthy.

 

Play Hunt

 

Much in-tune with the nutrition aspect, what keeps a cat truly happy is hunting. This is why domestic cats kill between 2-4 and 6-25 billion mammals every single year. It’s in their DNA. Because of this unavoidable reality, one can keep their feline friend happy with bird viewing stations and hunting games. A bird viewing station is nothing more than setting up a bed or some toys by a window where birds can be seen. Hunting can be hiding their favorite toy somewhere for them to find. Simulation and stimulation is the name of the game for cats. You’ll know they’re happy when they’re tired, lazy, and sleeping after a day of playing.

 

Your cat is a complex little creature with pretty simple wants and needs. They need meat, they love to hunt, and they get anxious just like us. Keeping them healthy and happy is a matter of staying true to their nature, claiming them when they’re scared, and facilitating play time for them to expend their energy. That’s about it. They’re simple, they’re generally not needy, and they love you.