Seven Tips to a Healthy Cat

Despite being second to dogs on the favorite pets list, cats nonetheless have a faithful following of adoring owners. Cats tend to outlive their canine counterparts by a slight margin, with many cats living well into their teens, and sometimes beyond. With proper care, your favorite feline can be with you for many years to come.

1. Spay or neuter your cat. Although veterinarians and animal advocacy organizations repeatedly stress this, many owners still do not have their cats spayed or neutered. The argument that the procedure is cruel is a rather weak one, as allowing cats to breed dozens of unwanted kittens who will probably be euthanized is far crueler. Male cats who are not neutered will urinate on furniture to mark their territory, and can be very aggressive. Females in heat can howl incessantly. For your sanity as well as your cats', have them fixed.

2. Keep your cat indoors. A domestic cat does not need to go outdoors, and if allowed to do so, faces many unnecessary hazards, including other animals wild and domestic, fleas and ticks, automobiles and unfortunately, people who do not like cats. Feline AIDS is a potential threat, as is feline leukemia, which is actually contagious among cats. While having your cat vaccinated is essential, this will do nothing to prevent being run over by a car or attacked by a raccoon.
3. Exercise your cat. While outdoor cats face a variety of dangers, they do tend to be more active, and therefore lighter and more physically fit. Exercising your pet not only promotes better health for the cat, but allows you to bond with him or her. Some cats will run after a wad of paper thrown across the room, or bat around a ping pong ball. Others are perfectly contented to jump at a dangled shoestring or chase a belt dragged across the floor. If you like, buy a simple, inexpensive cat toy, or tie a string to a small stick, and attach a rubber ball to the end.

4. Feed your cat dry food. Cats' teeth are only as hard as the food that they chew. Moist cat food is not only more caloric, but more likely to cause plaque and tartar build-up, resulting in gum disease and tooth loss. Keep your cats' teeth strong and healthy by feeding him or her dry food.

5. Maintain your cat's weight. People love their cats, and are inclined to spoil them by giving them table scraps when they meow and brush up against their owners' ankles. Although an occasional cat treat is fine, feeding your cat too much can lead to serious health problems. Diabetes is common among older cats, and even kidney problems can ensue from obesity. Feed your cat at regular times during the day, with set amounts of food based on his or her weight. Cats five pounds or less should receive about ¼ cup of dried food, broken up into morning and evening feedings. For cats five to 10 pounds, about 3/8 cup is sufficient. Cats 10 to 15 pounds or more should receive about ½ cup. If your cat is above 15 pounds, he or she probably needs to go on a diet.

6. Buy clumping kitty litter to reduce odor and facilitate removal of waste. Clumping kitty litter is considerably more expensive, but an absolute necessity for litter box hygiene. Removing urine is virtually impossible with traditional litter, and the resulting germs and odor can pose a serious health threat for both pets and people. In addition, cats will often refuse to use a litter box that is dirty or smelly.

7. Groom your cat. Since cats lick themselves, they ingest a lot of fur over time, resulting in furballs. This can cause breathing and digestive problems, resulting in wheezing and vomiting. Outdoor cats deal with this by eating grass, which causes them to regurgitate any swallowed fur. Indoor cats, especially long-haired ones, need to be brushed and occasionally bathed or even sheared. If your cat experiences symptoms of furballs, put a small quantity of petroleum jelly on his or her paws daily for about three days. The petroleum jelly will coagulate with the furballs, which will easily pass in the stool.