Jordan Walker never believed that black cats are unlucky. He considers all cats as gifts and writes about them at Coops And Cages and in blogs like this one. In this article, he will be telling you how to keep your cat happy.
Your pet cat feeling more than a bit blue than normal lately? Maybe it wants to go out and play too like what most stray cats would normally do. But what can you do? The outdoors is not considered a safe place for cats. Cars alone pose a threat to them. Are there other ways by which you can bring the sunshine back to its eyes without sacrificing its safety? Here are more than a dozen ways to get this done.
Ways You Can Make Your Cat Happy
- Take it outside for a walk. Outside where the cars are? Well, letting it get a whiff of fresh air does not necessarily mean that you have to let it out on its own. Being cooped up can be boring even for small pets like cats. Get a leash and train your cat to use it. Once it’s already accustomed to it, you two can walk outdoors but make sure that you are doing it where it does not become an easy target for dogs.
- Fake being in the outdoors. Seeing the outdoors is like being in it. If it’s not possible to take your cat outdoors on a daily basis, you can set up a space in your home where it can see it and at the same time, feel the air outside. A screened space should more than be able to keep your cat in touch with what’s happening outside.
- Buy a scratching post. Your cat’s nails aren’t there for display. They like to use these to scratch on something. Furthermore, this activity allows them to stretch their spines. As for you, your couch would be thanking you later. Notice the favourite position of your cat when it starts to scratch. From this, you can tell right away if you need to buy an upright scratching post, or go for a scratching bed instead.
- Let it exercise its hunting abilities. Cats are natural born hunters. Let it help you catch some mice inside the house instead to keeping it locked always inside the room. Have no mice inside your home? Why not hide some treats everywhere and let your cat find it in on its own?
- Give in to its couch potato side. Dogs aren’t the only ones who love to watch TV. Jim Davis had it right spot on in letting Garfield play a cat who loves to stay on the couch and watch some movie. Why not let your cat have this royal treatment too sometimes and let it watch a movie or two? And while you are at it, maybe you can choose one where cats are the main actors.
- Play the fishing pole game. A pet cat would certainly want to play like a small kid too. Maybe that is why they love to catch mice in the first place. Instead of the mice, get a ball or toy mouse and attach it to a fishing pole. It will try to catch it to entertain itself. Doing this will also keep you entertained with its funny antics.
- Let it play with moving toys. Aside from the fishing pole, provide your cat with interactive toys when you don’t have the time to play with it. This way, it will play by itself stalking, jumping, pouncing on the toy, even when you are not around, enabling it to keep its happy mood. You can buy these online.
- Notice signs of health conditions. How do you feel when you are sick? Can you laugh? The same thing happens to your cat. It’s simply impossible to smile if something hurts. If you notice any sign of health problem such as upset stomach or allergy, take it to the vet for needed treatment.
- Have a cat tree inside the house. If you have more than one cat at home, these can fight over their territories. A cat tree will offer the benefit of giving each cat its own personal space, allowing them to be close together but not beside each other. This will also give them the added benefit of feeling secure because they are given a better view of their environment.
- Feed a healthy diet. Food will give your cat its energy. You may be able to get away with feeding your pooch with grains, but not with a cat. They need more protein than dogs. Feeding it with a lot of carbohydrates can lead to obesity. A heavy cat that can’t move or breathe properly is not a happy cat.
- Clean the litter box regularly. You think you’re the only one who doesn’t want to use a stinking bathroom? Your cat has that habit too with its litter box. It may be an animal, but it’s an animal with taste that doesn’t like to use a dirty litter box.
- Have some grass indoors. Cats like to eat grass when it feels that its stomach or intestines do not feel right. Theoretical claims say that doing this helps a cat relieve itself of stuck wastes such as inedible matter or hair in its digestive system. This too could be making them feel a whole lot better because of the folic acid found in grass.
- Stick to routines. Routines are important since these can make your cat feel more secure. Older cats especially are very particular about the smallest changes that happen in their environment. When their foods change or you move into a new house, these can possibly cause stress in cats.
- Have some quality time together. It’s your pet. It will want to spend some time with you. Some cats would want to receive a belly rub. Others are just happy to sit beside you. Your cat will let you know whether scratching it behind the ears or rubbing its backside is making it happy by making that famous purring sound.
Conclusion
If your cat lacks energy, stopped playing altogether, oversleeps, loses its appetite, scratches too much, is clingy, or being too vocal or quiet, these could be signs that your pet is feeling sad. Don’t let it fall into depression. Use the tactics above and let it rediscover how being happy feels like.
Author: Jordan Walker
Jordan is the lead content curator for Coops And Cages as well as a couple of other pet related blogs. His passion for animals is only matched by his love for ‘attempting’ to play the guitar. If you would like to catch him, you can via Google+ or Twitter: @CoopsAndCages
