Cats are the second most popular house pet. According to the American Pet Products Association, in the United States alone, there are an estimated 90 million domesticated cats. Cats are valued by humans for companionship. Compared to dogs, they’re easier to maintain, and they don’t need as much attention. An interesting fact about cats is that they conserve their energy by sleeping on an average of 13 to 14 hours a day, so they would only likely to bother if they’re hungry.
We treat our pets as family. We sometimes care for them more than we care for other human beings. Even with a short life-span, we value our pets so much, and we try our best for them to stay with us for a long time. It is important to keep them healthy and well.
A healthy cat is a happy cat, so how do you keep your cats healthy and happy?
Food and Water
Food is essential to all living things, and this is where we get our nutrients. First is water, cats’ like their water fresh and clean. Make sure always to check and refill your cats’ water bowl. Second is food, of course, there’s the store-bought cat food, but it’s also a good idea to have special dishes for your cat. Did you know that you can make your own cat food? There are a lot of homemade cat food recipes that you can do.
Grooming
While cats self-clean themselves, you also need to groom them. Give them baths at least once a week and brush their hair; this will remove excess hair that leads to hairballs. Grooming your cat will also help you keep an eye if there are some changes in its body and if it needs to be checked right away.
Vet
No pets are happy to see their vet. However, cats need to have regular check-ups yearly. This is important as it will allow the vet to diagnose any medical conditions or problems in your cat as early as possible, and this can make you do preventive measures to cure your cats’ illness without it getting any worse.
Litter Box
First, you have to make sure that you have enough litter boxes. Second, cats like things neat. A clean litter box is important to avoid them doing their dirty business anywhere inside the house. A litter box should be cleaned once a day.
Essentials
Other essential items are carriers and toys. If you’re bringing your cat to the vet, or you like traveling with your cat, a carrier is essential. Don’t let your cat freely roam inside the car. It can cause accidents. Cats also like their toys. It is an excellent way for them to improve their hunting skills, be active, and not get bored while you’re away. A yarn or string, a toy mouse, or a ball, are all good toys.