Cats are the perfect pets for busy people; they don’t require a lot of fussing, and for the most part the look after themselves. However, this doesn’t mean that you should leave them to their own devices once you bring them home. Even though it might take a while for your cat to warm up to you and let you start showering them with love, you can still express your devotion by keeping them healthy. In doing so, you might be able to achieve the impossible; a happy cat.
Spay or neuter them
This might sound a bit harsh, but this is actually one of the best things you can do for your cat in the long run, especially if they are female because going into heat is very uncomfortable for them. Don’t try to put it off by saying it wouldn’t be fair to deprive them of the chance to have kittens; firstly, that’s a human value and cats lead very happy lives without offspring. Secondly, hundreds of thousands of unwanted cats have to be euthanized every year to prevent the population from getting out of hand - if you don’t spay your cat, you’re just contributing to the problem. Imagine taking care of a litter of kittens if you still have doubts. You can check out petmd.com for more information about the right time to neuter your cat.
Keep lots of litter boxes
If the cat refuses to use the litter box, first take them to the vet to rule out illness. Once you’ve confirmed that they’re still healthy, then it’s time to examine the box itself. Cats need to like their box, so you need to take time to experiment with different styles you can find at catboxhq.com or in any local pet stores. Another issue might be the location of the box. While you might enjoy some privacy when you conduct your business, cats don’t like it when their litter box is kept hidden in the corner. They prefer to see everything that’s going on while they’re in a vulnerable position, so you also shouldn’t buy a box with a cover. If you’re worried about the smell, just make sure you get really absorbent litter and that you empty the box regularly.
Monitor their diet
Cats rely on meat as the foundation of their diet, so they cannot be vegetarian even for a short while. Dry food, which contains a hefty amount of carbs, can be bad for cats in large amounts and can cause them to develop type 2 diabetes and obesity. You might also notice that cats drink more water when they’re consuming more dry food, because the percentage of water is significantly less than other food sources - mice, for example, are about 70 percent water, and canned food is 78 percent.
Brush them daily
Don’t let cats groom themselves all the time. Brushing or combing your cat daily will cut down on the hairballs that can develop in the digestive tract.
Just a few tips to help out keeping your cat happy and healthy!
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