Everyone wants good health, including your cat. After all,
good health is synonymous with a high quality of life, which is what every cat
owner should want for his/her cat. Here are fifteen cat health tips to help you
achieve that goal.
Cat Health Tip #1: Keep your cat current on vaccinations and
avoid all unecessary ones (including the feline leukenia vaccine in cats over 2
years of age). Failure to vaccinate, as well as overvaccinating, are equally
bad.
Cat Health Tip #2: If allowed outdoors, have your cat
routinely dewormed every three to four months (see #10 below). This is to
protect not only your cat, but you as well from zoonotic diseases.
Cat Health Tip #3: Always keep a fresh source of water
available at all times. Cats that don't drink enough can suffer from urinary
disorders.
Cat Health Tip #4: Keep those teeth clean and free from
tartar build-up. Periodontal disease can lead to heart and kidney disease.
Cat Health Tip #5: Administer hairball laxative three times
weekly. All cats get hairballs.
Cat Health Tip #6: Don't let your cat get fat. Among other
things, fat cats are prone to diabetes.
Cat Health Tip #7: Have any firm, non-painful lump detected
on or beneath the skin removed as soon as possible. benign tumors are rare in
cats.
Cat Health Tip #8: Insist on daily exercise. Special toys,
such as light lasers, can be used to get your cat active.
Cat Health Tip #9: Join an online pet forum, preferably one
that is veterinary-moderated, to learn more about cat health and symptom
recognition.
Cat Health Tip #10: Keep your cat indoors and away from
potential hazards such as stray dogs, stray cats, poisons, and car tires.
Cat Health Tip #11: Clean the litter box daily. This will
encourage your cat to use it more and lessen the chances for behavioral and
urinary problems from appearing.
Cat Health Tip #12 : Feed a well-balanced diet with minimal
fiber (unless the latter is prescribed). Avoid high fiber hairball and indoor
cat formulas, as these can lead to urinary challenges.
Cat Health Tip #13: Pet your cat for at least fifteen
minutes every day. Both you and your cat will benefit!
Cat Health Tip #14: Cat proofs your home. Keep potential
poisons out of reach and keep strings or anything else that can be ingested
well out of reach.
Cat Health Tip #15: Have a veterinary check-up performed on
your cat at least once a year. This check-up should include a thorough physical
examination, including blood pressure monitoring and bloodwork (if you can
afford it).
