Got A Pet Cat? Here’s How To Keep Them Healthy
Most people who have pet cats at home often treat them as their own family members and if you are a proud cat owner, you should always pay attention to their health and wellbeing. Not sure if you covered all the bases? Don’t worry, we have listed down some major things you should be aware of below.
Grooming
If you have a long-haired breed, you have to make sure that it is frequently groomed as regularly groomed hair helps ensure it’s health at optimum level. Also, try to use a pet brush to groom them once a week at least at home.
Diet
Just like humans, what your pet cat eats directly affects it’s health. One of the most common diseases cats have is obesity particularly with older cats hence choosing the right pet food based on their age and ensuring that it is always well-fed. Consider Mikana – check out the Cat page for a description of the nutrients available in our pet products.
Older Cats
Unfortunately, as your cats age – they are bound to start encountering old age ailments such as kidney problems and failing eyesight. Hence, as they age, you need to also start adjusting their diet.
Litter
An unkempt and dirty litter box can be a health hazard to both you and your pet cat so always remember to change the litter every four days and keep a small dish of baking soda near the litter area.
Scratching
One of the quickest tell-tale signs of a cat with health concerns is scratching. If your cat scratches regularly, you should bring it to the vet and have that check out.
Declawing
Some owners may prefer to declaw their cats, and while it does not cause any major health issues to the cat, it is recommended that you make sure to keep them inside at all times.
Behaviour Problems
Another tell-tale sign of a pet cat with health problems is by paying attention to their behaviour. Cats with difficult or uncommon behaviour can be a sign of underlying health issues. For example, listlessness can be a symptom of depression or strange aggression can be due to hormone imbalance.
Stress
Cats are easily stressed out by situations like moving, travelling, natural disasters or even changes in the family can affect a cat’s health. A great way to minimise it is to provide a safe space for it to escape to when there are changes in your home or speak to a vet about options to help alleviate the stress if any travelling is needed.
Poison
Always remember to keep any type of poisons out of your cat’s reach. If you have plants that may pose harm to the cats at home, make sure that you keep them raised up or lock away.
Parasites
Checking your cat’s stool regularly for blood will help mitigate parasites problems such as ringworms, heartworms and rabies. Remember, prevention and early intervention is always better.
Mouth
A common disease for cats is mouth diseases such as gingivitis and it could be harmful to their health. A good way to help prevent or minimize it is to brush your cat’s teeth regularly with a small kid’s toothbrush.
Indoors or Outdoors
This is usually the greatest factor when it comes to determining your cat’s health. We recommend that cat’s should always be kept indoors away from dangerous factors such as cars, other animals and even rodents.
In conclusion, a cat is definitely a wonderful addition to your family but do keep in mind that your cat’s health has to be taken care of to ensure that your cat lives a happier, safer and healthier life.
