If you’re a cat owner, then I’m sure you’ll want to do everything you can to keep your cat’s health in check. But what exactly should you be doing to keep them fighting fit? There are many things to consider when it comes to helping your feline friend live a healthy lifestyle, from eating the right diet to getting the right amount of mental and physical stimulation.
Every cat is different, but with our handy guide, you should be able to set some New Year’s resolutions that will help improve your cat’s health and be confident in their happiness in 2021.
- Best kitten food: Six types to give your young cat a great start in life
- The best dry cat foods: Find the perfect kibble for your kitty
- The best wet cat food: From daily dishes to tasty treats
1. Clean up their diet
It can be tempting to feed our kitties lots of nice treats, but it’s important that you choose the best cat food for them to ensure they get all the correct nutrients. This is particular important from when they are a kitten, but there’s still time to change an older cat’s diet should you feel they need it.
If you’re not sure what food is right for your moggy, then you can check out our guide that will give you five tips for feeding your cat correctly.
2. Make more time for play
Cats need both physical and mental stimulation, and interaction with their owners is important for good behaviour and character building. Setting aside time for play will hugely benefit your cat’s health and allow them to sleep better and stay sharp. Cat toys have become super advanced these days, with interactive pet toys and even ways you can play with your cats on your phone!
Playtime is particularly important for indoor cats who don’t spend their days going on adventures, so check out our pick of the best toys for indoor cats to keep them occupied all day long. Read up on the importance of cat play and invest in some new toys for the New Year.
- Best interactive cat toys: Ten toys to get your moggy moving
- Is your cat bored? 10 tips to entertain your moggy
- A vet's guide to healthy weight loss for cats
3. Make sure they’re microchipped
This is more for your cat’s safety than your cat’s health, but it can certainly help should your kitty get into a spot of danger! Most of our four-legged friends are microchipped these days, but if yours isn’t, it’s definitely worth looking into this. Having a microchip means they are always identifiable and there are a whole host of high-tech gadgets you can get for your cat once they’re chipped.
Losing your cat isn’t something you want to think about, but getting microchipped costs less than £20 and will make it easier to track down your kitty should they go missing. Once chipped, you can also invest in many other gadgets such as microchip cat flaps and smart pet bowls which give your kitty more autonomy over their lives.
4. Encourage your cat to get more exercise
Your kitty needs enough exercise to stop them piling on the pounds, so it’s important to encourage a certain amount of play or walking to keep your cat’s health in check. If you have an outdoor cat then they probably walk a lot anyway, but if you want to know for sure exactly how much exercise your cat is getting, you can always invest in a fitness tracker such as the Pawfit 2 Tracker. With a gadget like this, you can see exactly where they’re going and when, how many steps they’ve done, and get tailored goals for your cat’s breed. If you have an indoor cat, then encouraging more playtime is a good way to burn some calories, or if you really want to push the boat out, you could get your kitty their very own treadmill like this cat exercise wheel.
5. If in doubt, take them to the vet
Cats don’t often give away signs that they’re unwell, and so it can be difficult to tell if they’re as healthy as can be. But if you’re concerned about your cat’s health, then it’s important to take them to the vet to get checked over. There are many signs that it’s time to take your cat to the vet, so if you notice something out of the ordinary such as excessive licking or patchy fur, then it’s best to get it checked out. Whether you’re concerned about fleas or your kitty needs worming, a vet can always help keep your cat’s health in check.
