Tips for happy cats!
๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง and play
Toys are a great way to keep cats entertained, particularly if they are indoors. Tunnels, puzzle feeders, catnip-filled toys, springs, and wall- or door-mounted toys are all good options. There are also several battery-operated toys on the market to provide your cat with plenty of enrichment when they're alone. Try hiding toys in puzzle boxes or other locations that require searching, locating and capturing. Use the catโs toys on a rotating basis to prevent habituation and boredom.
Laser pens are great fun but only for short periods as it can become frustrating for them not being able to physically โcatchโ the light.
Try cardboard boxes, paper bags and wrapping/packing paper for your cat to explore to keep them stimulated and active.
Scratching posts/mats to allow cats to exhibit natural behaviour
Cat friendly plants such as cat mint and cat grass can provide enrichment and entertainment!
๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌ
Pheromones such as Feliway can reduce stress and anxiety in cats especially during times of change. They come either in a spray or diffuser and can create a calm environment for your cat. They can be particularly useful in stressful situations such as being home alone, when introducing a new cat to the household, having guests or a sitter round, or when itโs bonfire night.
Pet Remedy is a blend of essential oils including Valerian, Vetiver and Sweet Basil which mimic the cats own calming mechanisms called GABA (this mechanism is present in all mammals!)
I use these products on all of my cat sitting bookings to ensure your cat is as relaxed and as happy as possible
Grooming
Grooming is perfect for strengthening the bond between you and your cat. Regular grooming has many benefits including:
Maintaining a healthy coat by removing dead hairs thus reducing the likelihood of matting AND hairballs!
Removal of garden debris such as burrs, leaves and twigs that may be otherwise ingested
Stimulating circulation and distributing natural oils through the coat
Improving muscle tone
Reduction of stress and anxiety led behaviour
The opportunity to check for fleas, ticks, mites or any lumps or bumps
If you and your cat are new to grooming, start of with mini sessions, little and often, and offer treats as a positive reinforcement to gradually build up tolerance and make it a positive and enjoyable activity for both of you!
It is recommended to groom long-haired and medium-haired cats daily, while short-haired cats can usually be groomed once a week. Some cats may need grooming more often; for example, older cats, or cats who might have trouble grooming because they have mobility or flexibility problems such as arthritis.
There are many different types of brushes and combs on the market, specifically for long, medium and shorthaired breeds.
๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ
Litter trays are very important, especially for indoor cats; They can be so particular when it comes to their toileting habits; You should ideally have 2 litter trays per cat in your household - You should also consider the size of the litter tray as some trays are too small for them to get into comfortably.
Elderly, arthritic or cats who are post surgery may find using a litter tray with low sides easier to access - consider trying a baking tray as a DIY option!
Consider where the litter trays are placed in the house - cats like privacy when toileting, so they need to be positioned somewhere they feel safe and secure. Try placing the tray in a corner or against a wall so they donโt feel vulnerable. Covered litter trays may be suitable for shy cats - these have the added benefit of reducing litter escaping the tray! They should also always be positioned away from their food and water โstationโ.
Ensure each tray is โscoopedโ each day and depending on use, a full clean out and disinfection with fresh litter should take place at least weekly.
If you have any concerns over inappropriate or unusual toileting habits with your cat, always consult your Veterinary Surgeon!
๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฌ
Cats are natural climbers and feel safe and happy high up. Consider adding some shelves to your home, or a cat tree they can climb up on. There are even wall or ceiling mounted climbing platforms or trees you can buy!
They enjoy having their own space - try placing beds where they can be alone such as on top of or inside a wardrobe, a cupboard or in a quiet spare bedroom. Try cat beds that are different shapes, sizes and material to give them choice. They also like to be warm and cosy! Radiator beds are a great option, as is placing a bed in an area that gets sunlight such as a windowsill.
Cardboard boxes are also ideal cat beds, theyโre readily available and affordable to replace- simply place their favourite blanket into one! Another great idea is to always have their cat carrier out with a blanket and toys in, so your cat will associate this as another safe space, meaning less stressful/fearful trips to the vet!
๐ ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ
Feeding a โlife stageโ diet appropriate for your cats age ensures they receive all of the necessary nutrients and the right amount of calories for that stage of their life. For example - kitten, neutered, adult, senior; Kitten food has a higher calorie content required for growing kittens, whereas neutered cat food has considerably less calories as there is a lower calorie requirement once theyโve been neutered. There are all kinds of diet formats available including kibble, wet food (in all kinds of variations!), fresh human grade meat or raw. Always check the nutritional information on the packaging to ensure the food is a complete and balanced diet and always follow the recommended feeding instructions for each individual product. Bare in mind, some wet food pouches are constituted of up to 80% water so donโt contain a great deal of nutrition - These are usually best given alongside a kibble to fill in the nutritional gaps.
Of course there are many specialist diets also available - for example, breed specific, hairball reduction, grain free etc.
There are also veterinary prescription diets available to help with specific conditions or illnesses, usually on the advice of your vet; these include gastrointestinal, renal, diabetic, urinary, dental, weight loss and hypoallergenic diets.
Remember - Cats are obligate carnivores and cannot survive on a meat free diet!
Cats tend to prefer to eat and drink from ceramic bowls or dishes/plates and they donโt like their whiskers to touch the bowl! They prefer to have food and water situated apart from each other.
Feeding balls and puzzle feeders are a great way to keep young cats in particular entertained and stimulated, additionally these can also slow down cats if theyโre a little greedy and eat too quickly!
Make sure you have sufficient water bowls, particularly in multi cat households. The rule of thumb is โone water bowl per cat plus an extraโ so if you have 2 cats, then you should have 4 water bowls. Try placing the bowls in different areas around the house to increase your cats water intake. Water fountains can be a good way to encourage your cat to drink more as sometimes they prefer running water. This is also a great way to encourage cats with kidney disease to drink more.
For more information, your registered vets and nurses are a fountain of knowledge for all things diet related!
Regular health checks
Another important aspect of cat ownership is taking them for regular check ups with their registered Veterinary Surgeon.
This should be every 6 months but at least annually to ensure they are fit and well. Regular health checks can detect early signs of illness or abnormalities making them easier to treat! During a general check up the vet will discuss how their appetite is, their diet, toileting and time to discuss any concerns you may be experiencing. They will assess their weight and body condition, mobility and signs of pain, listen to their heart and lung fields, check the coat and skin for parasites, examine the teeth, ears, eyes and nose and palpate their abdomen to check for any abnormalities. If all is well, a vaccination will be given annually to protect against serious infectious diseases including feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), feline infectious enteritis (FIE), feline herpes virus and Calicivirus (Cat flu).
A prescription flea and worm treatment will also be given to protect against internal and external parasites which can cause serious illness.
This is also an ideal opportunity for the vet to check your cats microchip is in good working order, or if they donโt have one, for one to be placed! Microchipping cats will be a legal requirement later this year, coming into effect on the 10th June 2024. Read more at Get your dog or cat microchipped - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For our senior and geriatric cats, additional checks are a good idea to obtain a clearer picture of whatโs going on internally - Blood pressure readings, urinalysis and blood tests are invaluable in assessing your kittyโs overall health! These simple tests measure the function of important organs such as the kidneys, thyroid and liver, as well as being able to detect common feline illnesses such as diabetes.