Cats are family members, and it makes sense for pet parents to do everything possible to ensure their companions get whatever they need to be happy and healthy. Creating cat-friendly environments by providing pets with activities and entertainment can go a long way toward supporting their mental well-being.

Ensuring that they get regular health care, high-quality food, and lots of exercise are just a few of the things that pet parents can do to keep their companions in top physical condition. Keep reading for 10 tips to boost your cat’s mental and physical health.

The 10 Tips on How to Keep Cats Healthy

1. Set Up a Regular Grooming Routine

Regularly grooming cats has several benefits. It’s excellent for their fur and skin and helps gather hair that might otherwise be ingested during grooming, leading to hairballs. Most short-haired cats only need weekly brushing, while daily attention is usually required for kitties with long fur.

Cats’ claws require regular trimming to prevent situations like ingrown claws from occurring. Most indoor cats must have their nails clipped every few weeks to keep them healthy.

Brushing your cat’s teeth at least a few times a week is essential and can reduce the occurrence of dental conditions such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, which can lead to tooth loss.

2. Take Them to the Veterinarian Regularly

Cats require regular health care to stay fit. Most veterinarians recommend yearly visits for healthy adult cats and advise the pet parents of senior ones to bring their pets in at least twice a year (to make sure that any diseases and conditions commonly found in older cats are caught as early as possible).

A vet can also demonstrate or explain what to feed your cat and how to trim their nails.

3. Feed Them High-Quality Food and Ensure They Get Enough Water

Feeding cats high-quality food with lots of protein and specific nutrients they require to stay healthy is vital to maintaining their mental and physical health. Brands that feature an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement are formulated to provide everything cats need for their bodies to run as they should. Being sufficiently hydrated is also important since water is essential for digestion and proper circulatory function.

You can purchase a cat water fountain to encourage your pet to drink more or serve more wet food to boost their hydration. Cats have sensitive noses, so keeping their water and food bowls clean is integral to supporting their mental and physical well-being.

4. Stay Vigilant About Weight Management

Weight checks are usually part of regular wellness visits. While it’s possible for cats to lose weight, it’s generally far easier to ensure they don’t pack on excess pounds. Following the manufacturer’s feeding instructions and measuring the servings can keep the amount cats consume under control.

Limiting the amount of dry food may also help since it tends to be high in carbohydrates and leads to weight gain when cats are allowed to free-feed.

5. Provide Toys and Perches

Cats naturally like to play, which usually involves running, jumping, chasing, and batting. Installing elevated shelves or platforms can help your cat stay engaged in their environment.

Heights provide overviews of what’s around them and allow them to relax in the knowledge they’ll have plenty of time to move if they see “threats” early enough to take evasive action.

6. Maintain the Litter Box

Cats prefer their litter boxes to be placed in quiet places far away from where they eat. Most will also refuse to use litter boxes that aren’t clean enough. Scooping them out daily, regularly throwing all the used litter away, and cleaning the box regularly is essential to keeping cats happy with their restroom facilities.

Combating tough cat litter smells is an ongoing battle for pet parents but luckily, there are products out there designed to help! Two products that significantly reduce odors are the Hepper Litter Additive and the Hepper Enzyme Spray.

Image	Product	Details
Best Enzyme Cleaner	Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray	Works on multiple surfaces Gentle yet effective Lifts stains & set-in odors	CHECK PRICE
Best Litter Additive	Advanced Bio-Enzyme Cat Litter Deodorizer	Neutralizes odor within cat litter Cat-safe Unscented	CHECK PRICE

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7. Provide Multiple Engaging Activities

Bored cats are notorious for creating their own fun, and their solutions are often less than appreciated by their human companions. Ensuring cats have toys and scratchers to play with and enjoy when alone and placing beds where they can sunbathe and look outside can keep them entertained and content.

Taking your indoor cat for leashed walks can also enrich their lives and provide fresh air.

8. Ensure They Get Enough Physical Activity

Cats, even those who prefer to hang out on couches, need exercise. Physical activity keeps their muscles strong and their bodies limber, and it’s fantastic for their mental health. Exercise is also a critical weight management tool.

Play sessions are generally the easiest way to ensure your cat gets enough physical activity to keep them healthy, and around 10 or 15 minutes of focused fun a few times a day is ideal for most cats. Toys with catnip or silvervine can encourage lazy cats to move around more.

9. Spay or Neuter Them

Spaying and neutering cats has several significant health benefits. Spayed cats are less likely to end up with breast cancer, and the procedure significantly decreases the chance of cats developing uterine infections such as pyometra.

It also reduces the howling, yowling, and escape attempts commonly seen when female cats are in heat. Neutering males makes them less likely to spray and get into disputes with others, which can directly translate into fewer trips to the veterinarian to deal with injuries incurred during altercations.

10. Monitor Them for Changes

It can be difficult to determine when cats aren’t feeling well since they often hide signs of illness. Changes in how they look, how much they eat, and their activity levels indicate that they aren’t feeling well. A change in their bathroom habits can also be a sign of an illness.

Taking your cat to the veterinarian when they show signs of an illness allows problems to be detected early and addressed while still manageable.

Conclusion

Ensuring your cat has scratching posts, toys, and plenty of high perches to keep them busy can go far when it comes to keeping them happy. Regular veterinary visits, nutritious food, and physical activity are also vital to helping them stay as healthy as possible. Happy, healthy cats can live long lives, and some lucky owners can spend 20 years or more with their beloved pets.

• See also: How to Keep Your Cat’s Nails Healthy in 5 Vet-Approved Steps

Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock