Cats are grand, especially when you have a lot of love to give. If you have a cat or two, you will want to bless them with a lot of love. There is an unhealthy type of love, however, and it may come through as something that doesn’t seem so harmful. There are things that you should avoid when it comes to raising a cat, especially if you are well meaning and just want to help them. Well-meaning intentions are ok, but they can pose detriment to the health of your cat. Here are a few tips that may help you raise healthy, happy cats.
Feeding Cats Fat Is No Good
Butter, whipped cream, whole milk, cheese, and other products that seem ok to give cats is not a good plan of action. Cats may lick these up, they may love the taste, but it’s not good for their systems. These are fattening to humans if consumed in large quantities, and they pose detriment to cats over time. They can cause upset stomach, diarrhea, blockages, and eventually could lead to death. Fattening a cat is not good, even if some people find that cats can be cute when large and fluffy. It’s hard to get a cat to reduce weight once they are increasingly large, especially since most sleep 18 to 20 hours a day. This also goes for human food. Don’t give your cat human food.
The Cheapest Dry Food Possible
Avoid this. Do not give your cats the cheapest dry food you can find. The cheapest variety may save you money, and your cat may eat it, but it’s not good for them. You’re going to find that the lower rung of the food chain here will contain ash, soy, corn, and a lot of fillers before it starts listing proteins and whole ingredients. This is not a call to spend a ton of money on food for your cat, but it’s a call to ensure that you get healthy, wholesome foods. The lower levels aren’t good, avoid them.
Inconsistent Litter Cleaning
You’re going to need to be consistent with the litter clean up. You may not be in tune with your cat’s schedule. However, they have one. In order to ensure that they are healthy and going to the litter box without constipation or other problems, make sure to clean it often. You can end up cleaning 2 or 3 times a day, and that’s a good thing. Don’t let things pile up, or overflow. Cats don’t like going to an unclean litter box, much like humans wouldn’t go to an unclean bathroom. If you have a hard time with this, or just don’t have the time to dedicate, get an automatic litter box. This is an option that will allow you to clean the litter without having to bend down, kneel, or get on one knee several times a day. Done right, you will not have any headaches in this arena, and of course, your cat will be healthy.
