As a “fur mom” to (what can seem like) a bushel of indoor cats, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to find ways to ensure they are healthy and happy. I’ve learned first hand a bored or stressed out cat can wreck all sorts of havoc in my home. This year I’ve joined with Purina to take the Purina Pet Pledge. My pledge is to keep my cats healthy and stress free. Over the years I’ve learned these five tips to keep your indoor cat healthy and happy.
1. Keep them mentally stimulated. Indoor pets need mental stimulation to prevent boredom, which can lead to behavior problems. Providing toys, food puzzles or a video can help keep their mind sharp. My cats like to watch a nature documentary with lions. They could watch the lions move for hours!
2. Prevent Stress. Cats, like people, need time for themselves and to feel safe. You can help by providing a quiet spot where they can retreat and not be bothered. Have a high perch where they can sleep without being bothered. (One of my cats loves the top of the fridge!) For more tips, check out Five Tips for Preventing Separation Anxiety and Four Tips to Help Your Pet Deal With Stress.
3. Provide Flea Medication. Just because pets are indoors, doesn’t mean they won’t get fleas. Fleas can still be present in your yard and can be tracked in on clothing or shoes. Important tip: Make sure your flea medication is working. Pets will sometimes become immune after using medication over a long period of time. When our long haired cat became sick we found she had fleas that were immune to the medication, causing her to lose too much blood. She never scratched so we had no idea the fleas were present. We’ve learned to check her coat for fleas with regular brushing.
4. Provide balanced Nutrition. Cat obesity is on the rise. Our cats would much rather sneak “people food,” but it’s not healthy for them and can cause digestive issues. Find a food that’s balanced for your cat’s needs, we like Purina Beneful, and feed them measured, twice daily feedings and limit treats. For more information, check out these tips to help your pet get the proper nutrition.
Want to take your own Pet Pledge? It can be anything from spending more time with your pet to treating them to a new toy.
Do you have a pet pledge you’d like to share?
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Don’t have any pet pledges, I’m ‘between furbabies’ right now. No fur or real babies for this butterfly. I am in ‘travel light’ mode in my life right now! I get to live vicariously when I visit friends and family with pets! For some reason even those folks who say their pet doesn’t like anyone ends up trying to jump on my lap! LOL
These are some great tips that could help cat owners keep their pets in best of health. Though we don’t have any pets at home, I love Cats so much & it is amazing that there are such idea to keep them out of stress as well.
I love the cat tower. We’re thinking of getting one here.
We don’t currently have a cat, but my kids would love to add another pet to the family. It’s good to prepare in advance, so I know how to take care of cats.
It’s so important to keep all indoor pets healthy. These are some great tips for cat lovers and owners.
Our cat doesn’t like “people food” but he’s still overweight from being inside. I need to start measuring out his food.
Thanks for the heads up. I do like to find savings where I can.
Our cat’s favorite hiding spot is the top bunk in my youngest’s room! During the day, no one is in there or if they do go in there, they don’t notice him. I hadn’t thought about it, but that’s his retreat.
I don’t have cats but I do have pups. I need to walk my dogs more than I do. Some days the backyard is all they get and they so love to walk. Thanks for all of the great tips.
Wow, look at the cat tower! I know someone who would just love to win it . She’d also use the coupons so I’m going to share this
Interesting that the flea medication can stop working. I have a dog that keeps getting fleas. I am wondering if this is the cause.
These are great prizes. My cats would love the Deluxe Cat Tower. I will have to share this with my Sister. She has two dogs.
Those are really all great tips. My pledge this year is to play more with my cat. She has surely gotten very lazy.
Such a great tips and a good info. I didn’t know that cats entertained to the tv shows
We don’t have cats at the moment but I do remember when we moved from California where I had to treat the cats and the house for fleas regularly to an area of no fleas! What a joy. These all are great tips and your cat looks happy and healthy!
These are helpful tips. As pet owners, it should really be our priority to keep our furry friends healthy.
I don’t have cats, but these are great tips. I will share this with friends who have kitties.
I have dogs, and these tips also apply to them. My fur-baby got so stressed out barking at the painter next door. He had diarrhea the next day. 🙁 I agree that we should always check their coats for ticks and fleas. This is something we should not be complacent with.
Great tips. Our cat passed away 8 years ago. She lived a long life she was very loyal and lovable.
My parent’s cat Bob is an indoor only cat so I will be sharing these tips with them. He could definitely use a new scratching post so I plan to play the instant win game too.
I do not have a pet pledge for my dogs. These are great tips
All of these are really great tips! That Deluxe Cat Tower is awesome — my cat would love that!
This is an interesting article.
I did not know that cats can be entertained from watching TV.
These are some really helpful tips. We try to keep our cat exercised with a fishing rod toy. She does have her little quiet spots too.
Great tips! We have 3 indoor cats so this is super helpful. That cat tower is pretty awesome. My cats would love that!
My mother in law has a huge cat tower in her living room and her cats practically never come off of that thing 🙂
Thanks for the great tips. I don’t have any cats, but I will share this with friends and family that do.
These are all great tips, cats are built for certain things and when inside it is certainly important to make them still maintain good healthy habits!
Great ideas! I need to work on the mental stimulation LOL
Awesome tips for indoor cat owners. My inlaws have 2 indoor cats, so I will send this their way!