The Less Obvious Guide for Cat Care

Everyone knows about the typical cat care tips. Of course, they need food, water, and a litter box, and you should probably get them to the vet as well. But beyond that, there are other things to think about if you keep a purring kitty in the home. Their health can be impacted by everyday things that are good for you and bad for them. So, here are some of those less obvious things to consider wrapped up in this quick guide for cat lovers.

Your Litter Might be Too Dusty

Airborne particles can affect a cat’s breathing and, over time, can make them sick. Some litters kick up a lot of dust when they are digging around trying to hide their business. Using low dust litter can help not only with your cat’s breathing, but it can also help the humans in the house.

Using a litter that kicks up less dust can also make the house cleaner overall, which is good for everyone. Cats also like to go in a clean box. When too much dust gets kicked around, they might start avoiding it and looking for other places to go. Hopefully not in your indoor plants, but you never know.

Feeding Cats is Easy, But Also Needs Attention

Did you know you can overfeed a cat? Your kitties may end up fat and happy rolling on the floor, which makes them super cute, but it isn’t great for their health. Knowing how much to feed your cat is important so that they don’t end up obese and on a sad cat diet. Pay attention to things like how many treats you’re feeding them each day, not overfeeding them dry food if they are getting wet food too, and making sure you give them the protein their little bodies need.

One of the ways to slow down their eating if they are prone to scarfing is to use a puzzle feeder. It’s great for their brains and also taps into their instincts. If you’ve ever seen them play around with their prey after they’ve caught something, some of these puzzle feeding devices mimic that behavior.

Watch Out for Toxic Plants and Household Products

Speaking of eating, while cats are pretty intuitive when it comes to their food, they also can be a little too curious for their own good. You may have heard that some plants are toxic to cats, and that’s because their bodies can’t break down the compounds in certain plants, making it harmful for them. Sometimes, they’ll throw it up before it becomes a problem, but other times, they do not, and it’s important to pay attention. If you have aloe, split-leaf philodendrons, or other harmful plants, you may need to find a spot where the cat can’t get at them.

Other household products can be a problem as well. Scented litter, fragranced carpet cleaners, and even aerosol room sprays can cause respiratory distress in some cats. This is even true for some natural scents that include essential oils. Cats can also absorb these compounds in their feet when they walk on carpets, and they breathe them in. Neither of these is good for your pet.

Micro Behavior Signs to Look For

Of course, if you notice something like a limp when your cat runs, or they are crying or lying around all the time when they are normally active, then you probably know something is wrong. But it’s those subtle cues that can keep you from getting your pet the right help if they are in distress or sick.

Look for clues like wide pupils when they should be narrow. You may also notice a hesitation before they jump that seems different than usual. In addition, their grooming rituals might look a little abnormal as well. If your cat seems off and you don’t notice any obvious wounds, a quick call to the vet can’t hurt.

Cats Get Bored Too

And when they do, they can be a destructive force to be reckoned with. In general, cats are great pets when they are in a loving and low-stress home. But when they are bored, they might end up tearing up the curtains, trying to jump on the lamps, and doing other crazy and destructive things. When cats are bored, they might also end up overeating and getting some pretty wild zoomies at night. Plan to do some fun structured play with your cat when you’re home. This can reduce boredom and hopefully keep your curtains in one piece.