![\"healthy](\"https:\/\/www.walkiesandwhiskers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/follow-at-mrtoobs-for-more-pics-stockpack-unsplash-540x720.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\nTable of Contents<\/h2>\n\n- 1. Give Kitty The Right Kind of Diet<\/a>\n<\/li>\n
- 2. Play With Your Cat Often<\/a>\n<\/li>\n
- 3. How to Keep an Old Cat Healthy<\/a>\n<\/li>\n
- 4. Clean Out The Litter Box<\/a>\n<\/li>\n
- 5. Stay Away From Toxic Plants<\/a>\n<\/li>\n
- 6. How to Keep an Outdoor Cat Healthy<\/a>\n<\/li>\n
- 7. Groom Your Furry Friend<\/a>\n<\/li>\n
- 8. Have Regular Veterinarian Visits<\/a>\n<\/li>\n
- 9. Say Goodbye to Pesky Parasites<\/a>\n<\/li>\n
- 10. Gift Your Cat With a Scratching Post<\/a>\n<\/li>\n
- A Purrfect Bill of Health<\/a>\n<\/li>\n
- FAQs<\/a>\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
1. Give Kitty The Right Kind of Diet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Want to know how to keep your cat a healthy weight? It\u2019s all about the diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like people, your cat\u2019s abs are made in the kitchen. Okay, cats have no need of six-pack abs, but they do need high quality, wholesome food and access to fresh water. A balanced diet of dry and wet food ensures your cat is getting the right amount of nutrients and hydration. The proper cat calories<\/a><\/strong> are also important.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAlso, be careful with \u201chuman food<\/a>\u201d. Consider how much salt<\/strong><\/a> and sugar is in many human foods. While your cat might truly love a salty piece of lunch meat, these treats do increase their risk of health issues, including obesity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n2. Play With Your Cat Often<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Want to know a secret to making your cat love you? Play with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cats are not as solitary and independent as they seem. Not only do they crave companionship from their humans, they also thrive on it. A little bit of playtime is not only a bonding experience, it\u2019s also mental stimulation. They can think, plan, and burn some calories all at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Playtime also decreases anxiety in young cats and promotes better brain health in older ones. In fact, physical activity has been proven to delay the onset of dementia in cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n3. How to Keep an Old Cat Healthy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You already know that playtime is essential to a cat throughout their lifetime. Even though your cat is well past their prime, that does not mean they are done with games. Let your older cat chase a string, play with crinkly toys, and roll around in catnip whenever you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Movement can also preserve their joints, but you shouldn\u2019t make your older cat do too much. For example, if jumping up on the couch becomes too difficult, place a step stool near the sofa for your cat to use. Provide plenty of angled or horizontal scratching posts and hiding holes close to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lastly, consider adapting your cat\u2019s diet to their age. Using senior-grade food ensures they are getting the nutrients required for a longer life. Plus, senior cat food is designed to ease the burden on their tired kidneys; reducing the risk of kidney failure means a longer life for Kitty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n4. Clean Out The Litter Box<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do you have enough litter boxes in your house? Are you cleaning those boxes out regularly<\/a>? For every cat you have, you need a litter box plus one more. That means a 3-cat household needs 4 boxes. Not only that, but you must encourage healthy litter box habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s not only up to your cat. Clean the box of poo and pee every single day. Once a week, empty out the contents of the box completely, adding in new litter. If you don\u2019t, your cat could get a severe bacterial infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n5. Stay Away From Toxic Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Plants like pothos<\/a> <\/strong>and yucca<\/a> <\/strong>are poisonous to cats. Those are not the only ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\nMany popular household plants and foods are toxic. Should you cat accidentally eat a leaf or nibble on a stem, they may have terrible side effects. Rather than tempting them, relocate any poisonous plants to somewhere out of reach or avoid purchasing such plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n6. How to Keep an Outdoor Cat Healthy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Good food, clean water, and protection for fleas and ticks goes a long way in keeping outdoor cats healthy. However, there is one thing many cat owners overlook: spaying and neutering. Unfixed felines tend to wander and take risks, leaving them susceptible to injuries or even death. Spay or neuter your friend to spot their wandering.
You may also want to consider training your cat to walk on a harness, as this will stop them from bolting when scared and vanishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n7. Groom Your Furry Friend<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A lot of people overlook grooming their cat because they think cats can handle it themselves. While most cats groom fastidiously, brushing or combing your cat benefits them for a few reasons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, cats shed dead skin and fur regularly. When they clean themselves, there is a chance that they are digesting that fur, increasing their chance for fur balls and other digestive issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secondly, regular grooming for both long- and short-haired helps with skin health. You may also notice any conditions with their skin while brushing, such as dander or rashes. Sore spots, bumps, and lumps are also easier to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, of course, if you do detect an odd lump or bump, be sure to call your veterinarian. It could be a cyst or something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Give Kitty The Right Kind of Diet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Want to know how to keep your cat a healthy weight? It\u2019s all about the diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like people, your cat\u2019s abs are made in the kitchen. Okay, cats have no need of six-pack abs, but they do need high quality, wholesome food and access to fresh water. A balanced diet of dry and wet food ensures your cat is getting the right amount of nutrients and hydration. The proper cat calories<\/a><\/strong> are also important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, be careful with \u201chuman food<\/a>\u201d. Consider how much salt<\/strong><\/a> and sugar is in many human foods. While your cat might truly love a salty piece of lunch meat, these treats do increase their risk of health issues, including obesity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to know a secret to making your cat love you? Play with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cats are not as solitary and independent as they seem. Not only do they crave companionship from their humans, they also thrive on it. A little bit of playtime is not only a bonding experience, it\u2019s also mental stimulation. They can think, plan, and burn some calories all at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Playtime also decreases anxiety in young cats and promotes better brain health in older ones. In fact, physical activity has been proven to delay the onset of dementia in cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You already know that playtime is essential to a cat throughout their lifetime. Even though your cat is well past their prime, that does not mean they are done with games. Let your older cat chase a string, play with crinkly toys, and roll around in catnip whenever you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Movement can also preserve their joints, but you shouldn\u2019t make your older cat do too much. For example, if jumping up on the couch becomes too difficult, place a step stool near the sofa for your cat to use. Provide plenty of angled or horizontal scratching posts and hiding holes close to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, consider adapting your cat\u2019s diet to their age. Using senior-grade food ensures they are getting the nutrients required for a longer life. Plus, senior cat food is designed to ease the burden on their tired kidneys; reducing the risk of kidney failure means a longer life for Kitty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you have enough litter boxes in your house? Are you cleaning those boxes out regularly<\/a>? For every cat you have, you need a litter box plus one more. That means a 3-cat household needs 4 boxes. Not only that, but you must encourage healthy litter box habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s not only up to your cat. Clean the box of poo and pee every single day. Once a week, empty out the contents of the box completely, adding in new litter. If you don\u2019t, your cat could get a severe bacterial infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plants like pothos<\/a> <\/strong>and yucca<\/a> <\/strong>are poisonous to cats. Those are not the only ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many popular household plants and foods are toxic. Should you cat accidentally eat a leaf or nibble on a stem, they may have terrible side effects. Rather than tempting them, relocate any poisonous plants to somewhere out of reach or avoid purchasing such plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good food, clean water, and protection for fleas and ticks goes a long way in keeping outdoor cats healthy. However, there is one thing many cat owners overlook: spaying and neutering. Unfixed felines tend to wander and take risks, leaving them susceptible to injuries or even death. Spay or neuter your friend to spot their wandering. A lot of people overlook grooming their cat because they think cats can handle it themselves. While most cats groom fastidiously, brushing or combing your cat benefits them for a few reasons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n First, cats shed dead skin and fur regularly. When they clean themselves, there is a chance that they are digesting that fur, increasing their chance for fur balls and other digestive issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Secondly, regular grooming for both long- and short-haired helps with skin health. You may also notice any conditions with their skin while brushing, such as dander or rashes. Sore spots, bumps, and lumps are also easier to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, of course, if you do detect an odd lump or bump, be sure to call your veterinarian. It could be a cyst or something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Play With Your Cat Often<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. How to Keep an Old Cat Healthy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Clean Out The Litter Box<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Stay Away From Toxic Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. How to Keep an Outdoor Cat Healthy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You may also want to consider training your cat to walk on a harness, as this will stop them from bolting when scared and vanishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n7. Groom Your Furry Friend<\/h2>\n\n\n\n