Ring In the New Year With A Healthier, Happier Cat
Many of us make resolutions for the New Year hoping to become healthier and happier.
For those of us who are “owned by cats,” the New Year also may be the right time to assess your cat’s lifestyle and make 2009 his or her best year yet. As with any lifestyle change, slow and steady progress is the goal. Making even a few healthier changes may result in significant, positive impacts on your kitty’s overall wellness. I recommend taking the following to heart in order to make sure that the New Year is purr-fect for your feline friend:
1. Easy Does It.
To most of us, our cats seem to have the easy life: good food, a cozy place to nap and none of the workday stresses we encounter. However, even in that seemingly blissful lifestyle, your cat can experience stress. This can result in lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD; formerly FUS) with straining to urinate and producing small amounts of bloody urine. The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Indoor Cat Initiative (http://www.indoorcat.org) has a wonderful website that helps cat guardians troubleshoot and decrease areas of stress in their cats’ lives and increase the quality of their lives.
2. Get the 411 on a Kitty 911.
It’s important to know when you have a cat emergency. Vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, changes in appetite, skin masses, pale or yellow gums, weakness, and hiding all can be seen in the sick cat. Because cats hide their illnesses well, by the time even the most dedicated cat guardian recognizes something is amiss, the kitty is usually quite ill. Make it a point to check that your cat is eating daily and that her urinations and defecations are normal. Straining to urinate in a male cat (which may look like he’s constipated) warrants a visit to your regular veterinarian or the local veterinary emergency service. When you pet your cat, check for changes in the skin and coat, as well as areas of discomfort.
3. Say “Ahhhhhh.”
Dental disease, particularly gum disease, not only causes bad breath and pain, but the chronic inflammation of periodontitis can adversely affect many organs. Chipping off tartar with a fingernail or instrument without polishing makes the tooth surface more likely to accumulate tartar afterwards. If you kitty requires a dental cleaning, your veterinarian will discuss with you the reasons for pre-anesthesia lab work, the need for intravenous fluids during the procedure, along with heart, respiration and blood pressure monitoring that is standard in modern veterinary practice.
4. Cats Are What They Eat, Too.
Our cats were designed to eat a meat-based diet, not a bowl of dry kibble. Many cats who are on a dry, high-carbohydrate diet pack on unnecessary pounds and become at risk for diabetes, as well as joint disease. Offering canned foods, increasing the moisture in your cat’s diet through circulating water fountains and adding low-sodium chicken broth, tuna or clam juice, can reap dividends. Avoid fad diets (such as those that are only meat) and other feeding choices, which may be unbalanced and place the cat at risk for calcium and phosphorous imbalances. When in doubt, contact your veterinarian or a nutritionist at the nearest veterinary school for recommendations. Because cats have unique dietary requirements, home-cooked diets can be problematic. Remember that cats can and will starve themselves when offered a diet they don’t find palatable.
5. An Active Cat Is a Happy Cat
Even indoor cats can exercise. Aim for at least 20 minutes of playtime with your kitty every day. Does she like to watch the birds outside? A feather on a stick may be just the ticket. Does he chatter at the squirrels in the backyard? If so, think of toys that are pulled along the floor. Brown paper bags make inexpensive hiding places and by rotating safe toys throughout the week, your indoor kitty won’t turn into a bored couch potato who sleeps his or her life away. Avoid toys with small parts that can be swallowed, as well as string, ribbon and yarn. Swallowing these objects can be life-threatening for your cat.
6. Vaccinate. Just Don’t Over Vaccinate.
Your veterinarian will assess your kitty’s lifestyle and discuss appropriate vaccinations. Most cities and towns require rabies vaccinations even for cats living indoors. Non-adjuvented rabies vaccines are recommended for cats. Vaccinations for upper respiratory disease and distemper are generally given to cats at three-year intervals, once they have had the kitten series of vaccinations and a booster one year afterwards. Feline leukemia vaccines are only given to cats whose lifestyles put them at risk for the disease. Vaccinations for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) are not recommended.
7. Keep Your Vet in Your Kitty Circle of Friends.
It’s important to your cat’s health to stay current with veterinarian exams. Cat physicals help to identify problems early, when appropriate treatment often has the best chance of a successful outcome. Annual veterinary exams for cats under seven years of age and twice-annual exams for older cats are recommended. Your cat’s veterinarian will discuss diet, disease risks (such as heartworm) in your area and help you make decisions for appropriate care. Does your kitty hate traveling in the car? Many veterinary practices offer in-home care and there are veterinarians whose practices are strictly limited to house calls. With many options available, every cat can have the benefit of a thorough veterinary examination.
8. Vet the Internet.
The world wide web allows anyone with access to a computer to search almost any topic imaginable. While that allows cat guardians the ability to help their cats, it’s important to realize that just because information is on the internet, that doesn’t make it correct or legitimate. Be wary of beginning at-home treatments (often described as unknown to the veterinary community or cure-alls for a number of problems). Even so-called “natural” treatments can have serious side effects. With alternative medicine booming in veterinary medicine, there’s almost certainly a veterinarian near you who is familiar with acupuncture, herbal remedies, nutraceuticals and other alternative treatments. Veterinary Partner (http://www.veterinarypartner.com) is an excellent website for accurate, up-to-the-minute cat care.
9. Green Is More Than Fashionable.
Many of us are trying to incorporate “green living” into our homes and lifestyles. It’s important to your cat’s health to keep your home clean and odor-free. For cats, a clean cat box that is free of wastes and odors is a top priority. Choosing the right litter is very important, as cats clean themselves often and ingest the litter into their system. Feline Pine is America’s best selling all natural litter—100% natural. It’s chemical free, and made from all natural pine, making it a safe, healthy choice for cats.
10. Enjoy Your Feline Friend.
Our satisfaction with any relationship depends on the amount of time and effort we spend with the other individual. Our companion cats are no exception. The more we understand the cat or cats with whom we share our lives and respect them for the individuals they are—with their special endearing features, as well as their quirks—the better our relationship with them becomes. How fortunate each of us is to be able to truly “caress the tiger” in our own homes!
During the upcoming year, I will write a cat health or news column every other month. Stop by the website often to check out special information on keeping your kitty healthy and happy. My best to each of you and those kitties you hold dear in the upcoming New Year!
