Remember bringing your cat or kitten home for the first time?
Everyone is super excited and just want to get their hands on that little bundle of fur.
If you have kids it is even more special. This will be their pet. They will make lifelong memories they will keep forever, with this small animal.
Many hours will be frittered away looking after and playing with the new addition and keeping the cat happy.
The new addition is supremely happy that he is the chosen one and will now be doted on forever.
Your cat seems happy but how do you know if your cat is happy?
Follow all of the steps below and you are on the way to cat happiness at your house.
Five Ways To Have A Happy Cat
| 1. Veterinarian Care For Your Cat – Is it really important? |
| 2. Safety – Cats on the move! |
| 3. Diet and Nutrition – Make good choices! |
| 4. Stimulation – Cats get bored and need stimulation! |
| 5. Love – Too much love is not possible! |
1. Veterinarian Care For Your Cat
Your local veterinarian is always the best choice for vet care.
When your vet is local, you get to know the vet and the other staff at the clinic. There is nothing nicer that your pet being called by their name when they go to the clinic.
The vet clinic becomes a familiar place. You know the opening hours because you have the fridge magnet from the vet.
Other people you know in the area may use the same vet and have stories to share. It is like choosing a doctor, you need to feel comfortable with the vet and it is often word of mouth that seals the deal.
Maybe it is because they love animals, but all the veterinarians I have met, seem to be super nice people.
When your new kitten/cat comes home, it is a good idea to visit the vet for a check up.
It is not necessary to rush off to the vet immediately but definitely have it on the to do list.
At the vet clinic, a general health check up is advised to ensure that your new arrival is in good health and it’s also a good idea to introduce the new kitty to the vet.
Your kitty made need vaccinations and that information will be in the cat’s records. Our vet always sends a reminder note about any vaccinations due.
Your vet will discuss the best time to spay or neuter your kitten, which helps prevent unwanted litters and reduces health risks.
Kittens can have fleas, worms, or ear mites, which can affect their growth and overall health. The vet can check for and treat these issues.
The vet can give microchipping advice. This helps in case your kitten ever gets lost.
Our vet had to put on long protective gloves to examine our kitty (when kitty was in his youth) as kitty was not keen on being examined.
Now after many years of seeing the same vet, the cat is greeted by name and no more long gloves are needed (but oh no, we haven’t forgotten abut those years).
The vet was very patient. In fact before this cat came along, we had a dog. Your relationship with the vet is usually long standing, if you remain living in the same area. We have had the same vet for many years.
The vet can monitor your cat’s health and do a general health check, checking on the heart, joints, weight, ears, eyes and skin plus check the teeth. You can voice any concerns you may have about your nearest and dearest – that cat that is!
Check to see if your vet has boarding facilities. Our veterinarian has boarding facilities for cats and it gave us peace of mind knowing the cat was at the vet while we were away from home.
The cat was in the right place to get care if needed. This has actually become more important as the cat has become older.
Your veterinarian may also supply cat food. You may see food that is labelled, recommended by veterinarians. Do your own research.
It is not necessary to purchase food at the vet, however sometimes the options at the vet are a good dietary choice and not available elsewhere.
Chewy Pharmacy supply veterinarian recommended food. You can buy it from the comfort of your home which is a bonus.
Chewy will contact your vet for the prescription. Click the link to find out how Chewy Pharmacy works.
2. Safety Tips -To Keep The Cat Out Of Trouble
It goes without saying that we want to keep our kitties safe.
Indoor kitties are less likely to run into physical threats to their safety compared to outdoor kitties however there still some basic tips to ensure safety for indoor cats.
Safety Tips For Indoor Cats
Secure Windows & Balconies
Make sure all windows have sturdy screens and that balconies are cat proofed to prevent accidental falls.
Avoid Toxic Plants & Foods
Common houseplants like lilies, pothos, and philodendrons can be toxic to cats. Also, keep human foods like chocolate, onions, and grapes out of reach.
Hide Electrical Cords & Small Objects
Cats love to chew on cords, which can be dangerous. Use cord protectors and keep small items like hair ties and rubber bands stored away to prevent choking hazards.
Use Covered Trash Cans & Secure Cleaning Supplies
Cats are curious and may dig through trash or ingest harmful chemicals. Keep household cleaners, medications, and trash in secured containers.
Provide Enrichment
Bored cats can become destructive or depressed. Offer scratching posts, climbing shelves, interactive toys, and daily playtime to keep them mentally and physically stimulated.
Cover Fish Tanks
Cats and fish tanks can be trouble or read this article to find out how to cat proof a fish tank.
Outdoor cats are more likely to run into trouble in different ways.
Safety Tips For Outdoor Cats
If you let your cat go outdoors, here are five important safety tips to keep them as safe as possible:
Use a Breakaway Collar with ID & Microchip
A breakaway collar with an ID tag helps if your cat gets lost, and a microchip provides extra security in case the collar falls off.
Supervised or Leash Time is Best
Train your cat to walk on a harness and leash or provide supervised outdoor time in a secure area like a catio to reduce risks from traffic, predators, and other animals.
Avoid Dawn, Dusk, and Night-time
These are peak times for predators like coyotes and owls, as well as increased vehicle activity, making it more dangerous for roaming cats.
Keep Up with Vaccinations & Flea/Tick Prevention
Outdoor cats are more exposed to diseases, parasites, and infections. Ensure your cat is up to date on vaccines and has flea, tick, and heartworm protection.
Train Your Cat to Come Inside at Night
Make it a habit to call your cat in before dark using treats or a routine feeding time, reducing risks from nocturnal dangers.
Most outdoor cats have their regular favorite spots around the yard, often one where they can bask in the sun or hide under a bush in relative obscurity.
If your cat is an outside cat and you are concerned that he is a wanderer, a Bluetooth tracker solves the problem of wondering where he is.
This little device will help lead you straight to your cat. The cat will never know how you found him. I must admit to a certain feeling of aha, that’s where you are.
Note: This is not a GPS tracker. The Bluetooth tracker (app on your phone) leads you to find kitty.
The tracker is a bit like a private detective for cats.
GPS trackers tend to be too large and heavy for most cats and are probably better for dogs. Cats can also get into mini spaces and under things.
If your cat is an indoor cat but has a hankering for the outside there are many outdoor enclosures, ranging from supremely fantastic mega structures, to a portable structure that can easily be set up and dismantled.
Our cat has a special spot where he loves to lounge, looking out of the front window.
This has necessitated adding a mini extension to the the window sill, to make the sill sitting area wider. The mini extension even has a ramp that he can stroll up without having to jump.
He can sit and watch all that is passing by, at the front of the house.
He is often sitting in the window when we return home from an outing.
Ours is a home made but honestly, there are so may on the market now, that it hardly seems worth the effort of making.
Some cat window hammocks are easy to attach to a window, like the one below.
If I was a cat, I KNOW I would like a cat window hammock. Somewhere to stretch out and relax in peace with no threat of being disturbed – sounds pretty good to me.
3. Diet & Nutrition For Your Cat
Cats are obligate carnivores and as such need protein in their diet for survival.
The names of cat food will usually be something like, Beef and …, Tuna and …, Chicken with…. and so on.
We think of a balanced diet as including all the food groups however this is not so for a cat, as protein should always form the main part of the diet.
Balanced for the cat means protein, protein and more protein. I think this is something that many new cat owners are not really aware of.
There is more information here about what cats should definitely not eat and things that cats can tolerate but should not be encouraged.
You might be surprised at some of the things on the list.
Fresh protein in addition to canned protein is good for the cat. As far as brands are concerned, Purina is the canned food of choice in our house.
Our cat has had Fancy Feast his entire life, in addition to fresh food and dry food that was purchased from the vet.
I would go so far as to say, he had a Fancy Feast addiction.
Fancy Feast was what the cat wanted and Fancy Feast is what he got. Who says we are not dictated to by our cats.
What about food bowls?
Some flat faced cat breeds such as The Persian, The Himalayan, The British Shorthair and so on can have difficulty picking up food.
These cat food dishes are slightly tilted and designed to make the food easier to pick up which is great for flat faced breed cats.
Personally I think that a raised cat bowl, not too high, just high enough to keep to the crouch position for cats, is a necessity for all cats.
4. Stimulation
Cats do get bored. How to have a happy cat? Play with them! Indoor cats are more prone to boredom and it is necessary to play with them.
There’s an article here about keeping indoor cats entertained.
Mostly, cats will sleep more if they are bored, so it is good to provide them with mental stimulation.
Kittens and cats are naturally inquisitive. Anyone who has a cat knows that an empty cardboard box is a fabulous plaything to a cat.
Even a wiggling finger behind a carboard box can send the cat into a frenzy.
Children are great at keeping cats stimulated by playing with them and will spend ages waving a cat wand.
Importantly, a cat wand also keeps little hands of children, out of the way from being scratched.
It is also great exercise for the cat as they jump and leap to chase the wand.
Mental stimulation games help to relieve boredom in cats.
We try not to talk about our kitties too much for fear of being labelled a crazy cat person but in the end who cares.
It is easy to love a cat and for them to worm their way into our hearts but it is also a responsibility looking after a cat and one that we must be prepared to take on willingly and happily for many years.
Climbing structures are loved by all cats and they do provide the double duty of being a scratching post also as they are usually covered in carpet or sisal.
5.Love For Your Cat
Have you got a lap snuggler who jumps up onto your lap and wants to be petted or does your cat squirm to be put down when picked up?
Teach your children how to pet the cat properly. Using a cat grooming mitt will also make it easier for children to pet the cat, plus the grooming glove removes some pet hair.
You may wonder what type of cat is good for families.
This article outlines 15 cat breeds and is well worth reading.
Large cat breeds also make great pets. Read about the Maine Coon and other breeds here.
Our cat is the squirmer variety, although now he is a senior that has changed somewhat. Even the squirmer loved attention when he was younger when it suited him.
How to have a happy cat is also looking after our cats every day of the week and keeping up routines like grooming, keeping the litter box clean, watching their weight and general health such as flea control and providing a good diet.
Love goes both ways as we love our furry little friends with their inscrutable personalities.
They become part of the family, part of our life and the source of much love and joy.
We know how to have a happy cat.
Just in case you are trying to persuade someone else who may be resistant to the getting a cat idea, here are some of the reasons why we love being cat owners.
