Facts for A Happier Cat

Keeping your cat happy and healthy is important. You want to do everything in your power to make sure that they are happy and thriving in their environment. There are several factors that can contribute to a happy cat; most of those factors are common sense ones. Here are some tips on keeping your cat healthy and simple facts for a happier cat.

Tips for keeping your cat healthy and happy

1. Provide your cat with a stimulating environment. Keeping a cat inside definitely helps with keeping it healthy, safe, and can even prolong their life a few years. However, in a boring environment an indoor cat can become unhealthy and unhappy so it's important to always provide them with stimulation. You can find cat toys at pet stores, or you might want to consider buying a scratching post/ tree for them.

2. Don't assume that your cat likes sharing their food bowl with other animals in the house. Just because you have more than one animal doesn't mean they have to like eating together or out of the same bowl. It's actually a better idea to get separate bowls for all your animals.

3. Let them "hunt" for their food. This may sound crazy, but since indoor cats don't generally get the opportunity to hunt for their food because you feed it to them you can make it into a game. Hide some of their dried food around the house for your cat to find during the day. A cat's natural instinct is to hunt, but indoor cats don't get as much opportunity to do so anymore, so you can help them with it by making it into a game.

4. Keep your cat well groomed by brushing their fur. Keeping your cat groomed will keep it healthy and happy. Most cats will almost always get knots in their fur, or the fur will get matted. You can keep the knots at a minimum by brushing the fur every time you sit down with them. It doesn't have to be extensive, but by brushing them every time you sit to cuddle with them you can keep their fur clean and knot free.

5. Bathe your cat every now and then. Most people think that animals are just dirty and require a bath often. Cats however are probably one of the cleanest animals because they have a habit of licking themselves. The licking keeps the fur fairly clean so bathing isn't required as often as other animals. They will require an occasional bath though so don't neglect bathing them all together. If they look dirty, their fur is matted, or you just think it's time for a bath, then don't hesitate to give them one.

6. Sometimes you can use a leash to take it outside. Inside cats are naturally curious about the outside world, but knowing little about it; it can be extremely dangerous for them. They don't know to watch for cars or that other animals may be potentially dangerous to them. If it seems like your cat wants to be outside then you might want to consider putting them on a leash and taking them outside yourself.

7. Get a litter box. A cat can easily be trained to use a litter box which will save you a big headache. It may take some time and patience to do it but it will be well worth your effort.

These simple tips will help you have a healthy and happier cat. Pets require a lot of time and attention so be prepared to devote part of your life to them if you truly want them to be happy.

More Cat Care