Diet Tips For A Healthy Cat

Most of us know that feeding our cat is not really a chore at all. Dump the food in a big bowl or dish, and the cat will eat when it's ready. Unlike a dog, cats tend to not overeat and therefore are more easily manageable than most other house pets. However, we need to be careful when assuming that the food that we are feeding our cat, and the manner by which we feed our cat, are the best choices for our cat. Here are some tips on how to maintain a healthy diet for your kitty.

 
Feed your cat based on their activity.
 
Is your cat an active cat or does it to lay around the house all day waiting for its next meal? If your cat is overweight and not very active at all, leaving a bowl full of food is probably not the best idea. It is at this point that you should begin to manage how much you feed your cat, what you feed your cat, and how often. By taking charge of your cat's feeding habits, you will be able to increase the life and longevity of your cat by making this simple and easy choice. A simple "Here kitty kitty kitty" will make your overweight and hungry feline run for the bowl to eat your rationed healthy amount of cat food.

Watch the weather!

Simply put, the environment in which your animal lives directly affects and influences their energy needs. Extreme hot or cold weather can increases a pet's energy needs and drinking habits. Make sure that on hot days water is readily available and that you feed your cat more canned food then dry. The water content within the canned food will help the cat retain water if it is not able to get to the water dish on a regular basis. If the weather is cold, make sure that you are feeding your cat very nutritional cat food that is not full of filler so that your cat will have more of the necessary nutrients to digest to ensure that it stays healthy.

Cat feeding times

Although discussed previously, there is much more to say about having a specific feeding time for your cat. Not only does this allow you to feed your cat nutritional canned food, you will also know that it will not be left in the open. Preservatives are nice, but let's not take any chances with the food left out.

Also, by having specific feeding times, this allows you to monitor your cat's diet by providing the food at regular times. It is a kind of portion-control feeding, however, most cats will simply eat until they have what they need.

Bottom line: keep a bowl full of a regular dry cat food and monitor the intake of canned food to ensure that your cat does not get overweight and is as healthy as it can be.

Buy the best

Though this sounds economically wrong, the truth of the matter is this: cheap cat food usually is cheap because of the added fillers that are put into the food.

As a general rule, cats need a daily regimen of protein found in meat, fish, or poultry. They also need an essential amino acid called Taurine and various other vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.

If you have looked at a label for cat food, you will notice that wheat, rice, and even corn is used as filler for both canned and dry cat foods. Make sure that the cat food that you choose has the proper amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals and not as much filler. The price of the cat food usually justifies its quality. And, as an added benefit, cats usually only eat as much as their bodies need. Therefore, your cat will probably eat less of the expensive of cat food because it contains more of the nutrients that it needs and not as much filler.

Avoid food addictions

Cats are said to be finicky animals. Whether this is true or not, cats have been known to develop a certain affinity toward particular brands and types of food. This could become a problem, especially if your cat develops a food allergy to certain ingredients and preservatives that may be contained within that cat food.

In order to avoid this, it is recommended that early in a cat's life that it gets used to having different varieties of cat food and different flavors. This way, the cat is less likely to develop an affinity for a particular brand which may inevitably lead to the cat developing a food allergy because of the lack of variety in its daily diet.

Overall, by avoiding cat food products that have chemical preservatives like BHA, cornmeal, and other carbohydrate fillers, you should be able to maintain your cat's health at an optimal level.
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Outdoor Cat Enclosures

Cats can be happily kept inside all the time, and an indoor cat is much healthier and safer than an outdoor cat. I really believe it is too dangerous outside for a cat to roam freely, but they truly benefit from fresh air, stimulation and exercise that come with the great outdoors. Also, in some areas it is not legal to allow your cat outdoors off your property. Many places have laws allowing "stray cats" to be picked up and removed, or in some places they can even be shot!

Aside from leash-training, there is another way to let your cat enjoy the stimulation of being outdoors without the risk of being lost, stolen, or injured-build or buy an outdoor cat enclosure. The popularity of outdoor cat enclosures has grown in recent years as owners have become more aware of the need to protect their cat from predators, cars, and other outdoor dangers. In addition, free roaming cats kill a surprisingly large number of birds.

If you are building an outdoor cat enclosure, the appearance really depends on your designing skills, your house and yard's dimensions and the limits of your pocketbook. It can be any size, but a 6' x 6' x 6' area is sufficient.Several companies manufacture ready-made cat confinement systems that enable your feline to experience the great outdoors yet remain safe. These containment units vary from inexpensive perches, to window-mounted bays, to large and elaborate wood and wire courtyards, to cat proof fencing.

But, if you have the space, you might want to consider providing your cat with a "cat run" where he can go outside at will and watch birds and doze in the sun. Some of these "cat runs" will expose your indoor cat to sunlight and the outdoors in a shaded, protected enclosure.Outdoor cat enclosures provide you with a way to allow your cat to roam in the outdoors safely and securely. Now you don't have to supervise your cat whenever he goes out.
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The Joy Of Cat Care

The more excellent your cat care regimen is for your cat, the more joy you will get out of pet ownership. When you engage in cat care activities like feeding, petting, or playing with your cat, you are showing your feline friend how much you love them. Seeing your cat at his or her healthiest is its own reward, but there are benefits to cat care beyond just keeping your kitten in top shape. Cat care can improve your quality of life and make every day sweeter.

Succeeding at offering your pet the best possible cat care helps you maintain a positive attitude about your abilities, and can boost your confidence in other arenas. Mastering cat care can be a great first step towards overcoming challenges and difficulties in other areas of your life. Psychological experts agree that caring for a pet is a great way to improve your self esteem. When you see how much your cat care regimen matters to your pet, you will be able to appreciate how much of an impact your actions can have. This helps you feel confident and upbeat about your chances of success at work or school, and in the social sphere.

Cat care can be great for your social life. In addition to the confidence boost that taking excellent care of your feline companion can offer, cat care teaches you to expect and feel comfortable with positive interaction. When you bond with your cat, you are practicing the basic social skills that will help you win friends. Caring for your cat may even help make you more comfortable expressing love and affection, and it will certainly let you feel more confident about your feelings being reciprocated. When you pay careful attention to cat care, you are strengthening your ability to be responsible and trustworthy, qualities that will help you keep friends. Experts recommend pet ownership as a great way to help children learn good social skills, and adults may be able to see substantial social benefits as well.

Many people think that caring for their cat and enjoying their cat are two separate activities. However, the truth is that cat care is largely about showing your cat love and affection. That's why it is called cat care: because it is how you show that you care about your cat. Cat care can be a satisfying part of your day every day because it lets you see that you've had an effect. When you groom your cat or clean its litter box, you will see a visible difference result immediately from your actions. When you spend a few minutes curled up with your cat on the couch, you will be able to notice a distinct attitude change in both your cat and yourself as you both bask in the calm glow of shared affection. Cat care can make your life richer and fuller on a daily basis.
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