It’s no secret that I am a crazy cat lady. I refer to my cats as co-workers (they are terrible co-workers by the way…), I have full conversations with them, and I change words in songs to pretend they are about my cats. It’s true. And I’ve embraced it. I have no problem admitting I follow as many accounts on Instagram that belong to animals as I do humans, that I have a pair of leggings that are cats flying in outer space, and framed photos on my walls of cats. Life’s too short not to admit I have a bit of an infatuation.
But can you blame me? Look at that cute little face!
So it should come as no surprise, that keeping my kitties healthy is really important. It’s so upsetting when your pets get sick because you can’t talk to them and find out where it hurts, or what is wrong. So I’m pleased to have partnered with PC® NUTRITION FIRST® on a series of blog posts all about taking care of your furry loved ones! Today’s post, if you hadn’t already guessed, is all about pet health and I am sharing four tips to help keep your kitties in good health.
Enjoy First-Class Fuel
The number one contributor to a healthy lifestyle for animals and humans is diet. Like you, your cat should eat nutritious ingredients from all the essential food groups. Brands like President’s Choice® Nutrition First® make it easy for your pet to enjoy the same nutrient-rich foods you do, from quality proteins that help build strong muscles to probiotics and prebiotics that can help ease digestion and Omega 3 and 6 for skin and coat health.
Plan for Play
It’s true that cats often entertain themselves, but that doesn’t mean they don’t benefit from play sessions with their humans too.
Giving your kitty toys and scratching posts will provide them with the stimulation they needs to learn and grow – and it might keep them away from your furniture too. Our cats have a thing for cardboard boxes. And I don’t mean the normal, “we like to sit in them,” things for cardboard boxes. Though they of course do that too…
Ollie likes to bite them (we say she is brushing her teeth when she does it, haha), and Pekoe shreds them and uses them as his scratching posts (rather than the actual scratching post). Our house is best described as a box house. When anyone comes over we have to tell them to excuse all the random boxes as they are everywhere. Some for sleeping, some for biting, some for scratching, it’s pretty crazy.
Pekoe also loves packing paper. Luckily for him I get lots of packages so he gets to bite and play with it all the time!
If all else fails trying to get your cats to play, just throw down an exercise mat and sit on it. You’ll immediately catch their interest!
Educate Early
Just because cats like to do things their own way, doesn’t mean you can’t provide them with some basic training. As long as you’re gentle (and persistent!), cats are generally receptive to house rules. Education goes both ways, though, and as a pet parent, it’s important for you to take the time to understand your cat’s particular needs. For instance, if your fur baby is an indoor kitty, she won’t have the same dietary requirements as her outdoor pals, so giving her food like President’s Choice® Nutrition First® Weight & Hairball Control Chicken & Brown Rice will help promote healthy weight and control hairball removal.
Pekoe is on prescription food but doesn’t always like to eat it so we alternate (and sometimes mix) his medicated food with President’s Choice® Nutrition First® wet food to keep the old guy happy.
Get Grooming
To keep cat coats healthy and your furniture hair-free, make sure you brush your pet regularly. Without getting into all of the crazy antics that go on in our house at meal times, I’ll say that Pekoe has to be brushed after every meal (seriously, don’t ask), so he is always getting groomed! The guy is a little crazy. He’s obsessed with his brush and always wants to have his face/gums brushed!
But Ollie hates it so we have to trick her into getting brushed or her double coat will get matted. It’s funny just how different two cat’s likes/dislike and personalities can be!
Cats also need their claws clipped regularly to stop them from growing into their paws. Not only is grooming a great way to keep an eye out for lumps, injuries and fleas, it’s an opportunity to bond with your fur baby and show them a little love.
Taking care of your furry little friend’s health is a very important part of being a pet owner. And the healthier you both are, the longer you two will get to spend together!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post brought to you by President’s Choice® Nutrition First®. All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own, and our cats honestly do eat Nutrition First® cat food.