Four Simple Ways to Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

Cat lovers out there comprise a huge group – and who doesn't love the felines in their life? Mysterious sometimes, and other times goofy, felines make for best friends just as much as their canine counterparts. Here are some handy tips for keeping your furry friends happy and healthy.

Litter Box Fun:

Cats are very clean animals, and most are notoriously picky for how they like their litter box to be. All cats have very sensitive noses, and a dirty litter box will turn away a cat instantly. This can lead to voiding all over the house and your nice floor. It is imperative that no matter what type of litter you choose, it must be kept clean daily and changed every few days entirely. Also note if you are a multi-cat household, you should have one litter box per cat, plus an extra. This is because most cats do not like to share litter, and will pick one to use themselves. It is a good idea to keep them in separate parts of your environment, and also to make sure that you have covered boxes – as cats prefer privacy when going to the bathroom.

There are many types of litter out there, and you may have to play around with which type you use. Some cats prefer only clumping, some prefer plain clay, and still others (and their environmental friendly owners) prefer recycled paper littler, such as Yesterday's News. For starting out, the best choice is to start with what you would like to ideally use and go from there.

Food And Water:

There are many opinions out there on exactly what type of food to feed your cat, and lots of choices to be made. You will find that you are inundated with different choices even when just at your grocery store. There are brands that are cheap, and some that are quite expensive, and even some that you can only purchase from the veterinarian nearest you. However, there are several key points to choosing food for your kitty friends.

The first is to always make sure that the food has a seal of approval from your countries Veterinarian Association. This ensures that the food is healthy and has all of the requirements for your cats health. Food that has this seal has been put through tests and has gone through a process which determines if it meets the higher standards of the association.

The second is to choose a food right for your cats age or particular health. For example, if you just adopted a kitten, you are going to want to feed only kitten food for the first few months of life, as it provides the correct nutrition and has more calories for your quickly growing ball of fluff than adult food has. Another example is if you have a cat with hairball issues, buying a hairball control formula can greatly help you to stop finding “presents” all over the house.

You can choose wet, or dry food, most cats do not have a preference. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. When feeding dry food, you must make sure that your cat has fresh water available at all times, as the food will not provide any of the water your kitty needs. When feeding wet food, it is a good idea to minimize the amount you give and to keep it as a treat. The reason for this is that wet food can significantly wear and tear on the teeth, much as sugar does to human teeth. Another great point for dry food is that it also helps to clean the teeth while your kitty baby is crunching away.

When trying to determine which to buy, some people believe that expensive is always better, and this simply is not true, nor is it doable for someone on a fixed budget. Many of the cheaper foods are just as good for your kitty. As stated before, check for the Association seal on any cat food you buy.

Playtime and Toys:

Cats are definitely curious creatures, and love to stalk, hunt and play with interesting toys. Not only is this immensely fun to watch and take part in, it is also good for your kitty and helps to get out some of those wild instincts. This can be a fun time for you as well.

Its important to note that for a cat, anything can be a plaything. There is no real need to go out and purchase expensive toys, other than the want of spoiling your animal. There are some easily made toys from simple materials that will do just as well. A great example of this is a simple tinfoil ball – throw across the room and watch your kitty chase after it with glee. Another example is a wooden dowel with a string attached to the end of it and a piece of paper towel tied to the end of the string, like a fishing rod. Wave around in the air and watch your kitty pounce and jump.

If you do decide to buy your kitties toys, there are some things you should keep in mind. One is safety. It is important to check all toys you purchase for durability and safety hazards. Anything with pieces that can come off easily and possibly be eaten should be considered hazardous. As well, certain materials are dangerous for kitties to swallow, such as metal pieces that are jagged or sharp or even small metal screws. Also, plastic that is soft enough to be chewed on should be considered a no go.

Some of the best toys are simple fabric mice. These should be one piece, sewed together well, and durable. Check for eyes or mouths that can come off easily before giving your kitty one of these.

There are a plethora of different toys out there to amuse your kitty, and if you have questions about a certain toy and its safety, a quick call to your veterinarian can solve the issue usually.

One Cat or Many Cats?

Many people considering adopting a cat wonder if they should go with a single cat, or a couple(or even a few) cats. There are several things to consider when deciding.

The first thing you must consider is how much space you have. Generally, a good rule of thumb is one cat per bedroom in your property. So if you have a one bedroom apartment, it's probably not a good idea to house four cats. This would simply lead to territorial marking and urinating, and would end badly for all involved and could even have you evicted from your apartment. On the flip side, if you live on a farm with a large farmhouse, and your cats will be indoor/outdoor cats, you may be able to house several cats easily.

The second thing to consider is your budget. Everyone loves a cute kitten and they are hard to resist, but a kitten is a long term obligation and responsibility, and should be treated as such. If you cannot afford to take care of a cat and the care it might possibly need, you should keep this in mind. Ask yourself if you could find the money to treat the cat should it ever(hopefully not)need medical care. Ask yourself if you can afford food and litter in sufficient amounts to care for your furry friends. Though it might seem like you can afford it at first glance, sometimes cats do get sick and need to see your local veterinarian. It simply is not fair to place a cat in a home where they will not be taken care of in every way possible.

The third thing to consider is time. How much time do you have to spend with your potential fur babies? Although cats are independent, they still require attention and love from you and at least half an hour a day should be dedicated to each cat. If you are a homemaker, this is not so difficult. However, if you are gone a good portion of the day you should consider just getting a single cat, or two cats, who can then keep each other company.