FEBRUARY
NATIONAL CAT HEALTH MONTH
It’s a great time to celebrate our cats and let them know how much we love and appreciate them. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to ask ourselves if we are meeting all of their needs. Cats are unique and often we misunderstand them and fail to create an environment that meets their needs. We provide for their basic needs but are we providing for enrichment and play. Enrichment means improving or enhancing the living environment of our pets for greater health, longevity and quality of life.
O
ne way to enrich their lives is to safely explore the outside together. Screened-in porches or cat enclosures are popular. A less expensive option is a pet tent. It is easily set up and provides some contact with the outdoors. Ideal for letting your cat be with you when you’re outside. My ultimate favorite is a pet stroller. Some cats can be trained to walk with a harness and a leash adding exercise along with the joy of being outside. Another way to enhance their lives is by providing opportunities for play and predatory behavior. Cats are natural hunters and in the great outdoors without human caretakers would spend a great deal of their time hunting for food. For cats, play is more than just having fun. It helps them satisfy their basic predatory instincts. Kittens are naturally playful yet engaging adult cats in meaningful play can be challenging. Play that mimics predatory behaviors exercises the mind and body helping to reduce boredom and obesity.
Play with your food!
Parenting a pet is often compared with parenting children. There is one importance difference though. We usually tell children to “stop playing with your food” whereas with our furry feline children it’s a good idea to encourage them to play with their food. There is a category called foraging toys which includes food puzzles and treat dispensers which help satisfy a cat’s natural instinct to search for food. Last year I switched my cat to a mostly wet food diet supplemented with some dry food. I use a maze or tower 16
Las Vegas Pet Scene Magazine • January/February 2021
type dispenser and also a few smaller ones designed to dispense treats or dry food when played with. It encourages slower eating and simulates hunting for his food. I also use a DIY feeding game using little mice and other small prey and small plastic containers. I put two or three treats or dry food in the container and top it with a mouse or feathered prey. I hide these in a variety of places throughout the house for him to hunt and catch. It’s also very important to include interactive playtimes with your cat in your daily schedule. Short regular play sessions are best. Interactive toys such as wand-type toys with feathers whizzing through the air or mice moving erratically on the floor resemble the prey cats innately hunt are great toys for these play sessions. Battery or remote controlled toys simulate the movement of small animals. These play sessions provide positive times to bond with your furry feline.
Enjoy and have fun with your furry feline. Remember cats crave attention and love from their humans. Celebrate this month with additional healthy doses of cuddling, snuggling and togetherness.
