It’s Happy Healthy Cat Month which means it’s the favorite time of year for cat owners everywhere! Well, it’s the favorite time for cats of cat owners everywhere!
It’s Happy Healthy Cat Month
Did you even know that September was Happy Healthy Cat Month?!
I had no clue until I came across an article talking about ways to keep your cats happy and healthy all year long. Y’all know I love my kitties…they were my kids before we had kids! Hubs and I were just talking the other day about how hard it is to believe they’re already 11 years old!
Before I met Hubs I met Sammy and Delilah, my Maine Coon cuties and they stole my heart! When I was living in Buckhead Atlanta I had a small one bedroom apartment and it felt lonely. I had always had cats growing up so it just seemed natural to go to the pound and adopt a kitten.
I walked into the animal shelter and headed to the cat room. Once in there I immediately spotted this sweet little multi-colored ball of fluff all alone in a cage filled with shredded newspaper. I opened the cage and she immediately leaped into my arms, rolled over for me to pet her belly, and started purring. Immediately I knew she was meant for me. As I turned to head to the front desk to start the adoption process I heard a strange noise coming from inside the empty cage.
I looked over just in time to see a streak of grey fluff in mid-air flying towards me!
Once he landed in my arms he began grooming the girl kitten I was holding and they both started purring…louder than I have ever heard any cats purr. So, of course, there was no way I could separate these two! And, instead of heading home with one kitten I went home with two and my tiny one bedroom apartment felt filled to the brim.
It’s probably a good thing that I found them before meeting Hubs…I could only imagine his reaction if I showed up with two cats instead of one!
Anyway, they are still my loves and they still cure up on the couch together snuggling and licking each other. I’m so happy I wound up with both of them.
So, here are a few tips for keeping your cat happy and healthy:
- Don’t skip playtime: Active cats are happy cats! In nature, cats thrive from regular exercise. You should make sure you are spending at least 10 minutes each day engaging your cat(s) in playtime. All cats have different prey preferences (mice, bird, bugs, etc.), so the type of toy you choose is entirely up to you and your cat, but common favorites are toy mice, laser pointers and feather wands.
- I love this automatic laser light toy…the cats LOVE it and come racing whenever they hear it turn on!
- I love this automatic laser light toy…the cats LOVE it and come racing whenever they hear it turn on!
- Schedule an annual veterinary exam: Seeing a veterinarian at least once a year for a general wellness exam is one of the best ways to prevent illness. During the exam, a vet will check your cat for signs of disease or anything unusual, assess their weight, provide necessary vaccinations and more.
- Keep an eye on the litter box: No one likes to clean the litter box, but it comes with the territory. Each litter box should be placed in an area that your cat frequently visits, and you should scoop the litter at least once a day. Not sure how many litter boxes you should have? It is recommended to have one litter box per cat, plus one more. The more litter boxes the better!
- Personally, I love the Kitty Poo Club! The ship litter and a disposable litter box right to your door every month…and it’s basically the same cost as buying litter at the store! Plus, you can get 20% off your first shipment when you sign up through this link. Seriously, it’s the best thing ever…I no longer have to worry about the litter box…other than scooping the poo…which is the easy part!
- Monitor their food intake: Nearly 60 percent of cats in the U.S. are overweight or obese. To prevent weight gain, consult your veterinarian to determine the best type and amount of food for your cat. If your cat is eating too much food at once, you can consider introducing an automatic feeder to regulate mealtime instead of feeding freely. Giving regular feedings in food puzzles can also help slow down the rate of consumption and encourage more play activity.
- Our cats LOVE this activity food maze…there’s something about boxes that they are addicted to!
- Our cats LOVE this activity food maze…there’s something about boxes that they are addicted to!
- Make time for the occasional treat.
- As you probably know, I love making homemade treats for my kitties! Here’s my most popular homemade kitty treat recipe that they devour!
What do you do to keep your cats happy and healthy?