6 Tips To Keep Your Kitty Happy And Healthy

Cats are one of the most popular and loved pets across the world, and for good reasons. They are emotionally independent, self-reliant, and quiet by nature, which is why they make great pets. In addition, cats are versatile and are comfortable living indoors, whether it’s a big house or a small apartment.

Living with a cat is an enriching relationship as it can calm your nervous system and lower your stress levels. However, it’s equally important to keep your cats healthy and happy. Cats are predators by nature and can get bored quickly, especially if they are left indoors for a long time.
While research shows that indoor cats live longer and happier lives than outdoor ones, you’ll still need to understand their needs to raise a healthy pet.

Here are six tips to help you understand your kitty’s requirements and keep healthy and satisfied in the long run.

1. Provide a Litter Box and Clean in Regularly

Cats spend a lot of time cleaning themselves, and they expect their environment to be clean as well. In the wild, they bury their excrement to avoid detection by predatory animals. Domesticated cats are also obsessed with cleanliness, so it’s incredibly crucial to keep their litter boxes tidy as this will keep them mentally and physically healthy. In addition, you’ll need to keep these boxes clean, or else your feline friend might use something else. Remember, your cat won’t eat or sleep near the litter box. So, ensure cat beds and loungers are in a different room and not placed with the boxes.

2. Feed Quality Cat Foods

Contrary to dogs who can thrive on a vegetarian diet, cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they rely on animal products like meat for essential nutrients. Moreover, they are very picky about the food, so serving the proper diet is crucial to keeping your cat healthy and happy.

Cat have more curosity to eat healthy food

An unbalanced diet can impact your cat’s health and lead to obesity, heart diseases, and hypertension. Therefore, always provide balanced food with a particular focus on protein and fats. You can consider serving them natural food, especially raw meat. Furthermore, try feeding your cat at dawn and dusk as these are the times when a cat would normally hunt and catch prey.

3. Find Ways to Entertain Your Kitty

For most indoor cats, life can be tedious. So, try to keep them preoccupied with entertaining and mind-stimulating toys. Cats love to indulge in various plays that are challenging and interactive. It also allows them to outlet their predatory instincts and exercises different body parts. There are various toys available, such as laser pointers, string-attached toys, and scratchers, that’ll keep your kitty busy for hours or satisfy their curiosity. You can also interact with your feline regularly, which will strengthen the bond while
providing much-needed exercise.

4. Install a Bird Viewing Station

Cats are curious by nature, and any new noise or sight can grab their attention, particularly birds and small mammals. These small animals are your kitty’s natural prey, so cats are naturally drawn and interested by these feathery creatures.

You can encourage this attraction by installing perches or shelves near windows,
which will offer more windows of opportunity and entertainment to your pet. In addition, by strategically placing a bird feeder, you’ll provide your cat with a natural stimulating activity to keep him engaged for hours.

5. Schedule Frequent Veterinary Visits

Fleas and ticks can leave your cat scratching now and then, which can put your cat in a lot of mental and physical discomfort. In addition, they can develop various illnesses and conditions, such as obesity, hormone imbalance, and genetic problems, which might affect their health and happiness. Regular visits to the vet can prevent all these problematic conditions and ensure your cat is healthy and disease-free. These vet visits include vaccination (particularly F3 and FIV vaccines), worming treatments, and frequent check-ups to prevent parasites like fleas and lice.

6. Spaying and Neutering Your Cat

Cats of both gender, male and female, are prone to reproductive diseases, such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia virus (FLV). These diseases can be prevented by spaying and neutering.
You should spay your female cat at a young age (around eight weeks) to prevent the risk of uterine infection, ovarian cancer, or breast tumor when she reaches sexual maturity. Furthermore, spaying will save her from the added stress of unwanted kittens. Male cats, especially unneutered ones, have a strong urge to roam over a large area and mark their territory, leading to fighting among males. Neutering your cat reduces the desire to roam or mark territory and also prevents testicular problems.

Conclusion

As a responsible cat owner, it’s your responsibility to figure out ways to keep your feline friends occupied and provide the exercise and stimulation they need. In addition, although cats like to explore things on their terms, they adore human attention. Hence, it is crucial to interact and pay attention to your feline friend as this will keep him happy and in good health for a long time.