Most cats prefer a windowsill seat or a place on a comfortable chair (or bed) from which to watch the world go by, but there are times when our cats need to “hit the road”, so to speak. Veterinary visits, moves to a new home and even relocation with their human companions to another country all require cats to leave their tried-and-true surroundings. Making the trip as comfortable and as stress-free as possible (for the cat, as well the human) takes a bit of planning and attention to a few details.
Walk the cat food aisle of any grocery or pet superstore and there are literally hundreds of options for feeding cats.
Do we feed a dry kibble that is shaped like fish? Canned foods in a variety of flavors? What about new “holistic” diets that contain medicinal herbs and other nutraceuticals? Can you cook a balanced diet for your cat? What about raw diets?
With all the choices and few answers, it’s easy to see how the concerned guardian can be confused regarding proper nutritional choices for their cats.
There’s no doubt that an indoors-only lifestyle is the safest one for our companion cats. Automobiles, wild animals, malicious humans and infectious diseases are just a few of the dangers that outdoor cats dodge on a daily basis. And, those same outdoor cats cause the deaths of hundreds of thousands of songbirds and baby animals annually as they do “what comes naturally.”
Responsible cat guardians know that for the safety of the cat and the environment, indoors is where it’s at. However, throughout thousands of years, our domestic cats have developed keen visual hunting skills, rich social relationships and basic feline needs. Placing our cats in even the most luxurious condo or home can be detrimental to their health if we don’t take it upon ourselves to make their environment enriching and cat-friendly. The following tips will help keep your kitty happy, healthy and stress-free:
Cats who don’t reliably use the cat box are cats in trouble. Inappropriate urination and defecation is a top reason for cats to lose their homes and be surrendered to shelters.
When cats stop using the cat box, their guardians need prompt, accurate help to get the kitty back on track. Fortunately, with a little detective work, the causes for a cat’s inappropriate urination and defecation usually can be identified, changes made and the problem solved.
The sooner you take action, the faster your cat will be back to using his or her box, your stress level will be reduced and your home will once again be peaceful!
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