Cats are great pets at home as they are believed to be able to provide emotional support, improve moods and contribute to the morale of the owners.
Cats are great companions for humans too. Despite all the good things about cats, cat owners should also be aware that cats can get exposed to some diseases too. No cat parents want to see their cats getting sick, don’t they?
Luckily, to prevent those diseases from attacking your lovely cat, you can do some things. The following will tell you how to do it. Remember that it is very important to keep your cat healthy and happy. Happy and healthy cats will make you happy and healthy too. Here are the 6 ways to prevent your cats from getting diseases.
- Visit Your Vet Regularly
Annual checkups are important to help your cat fend off the unwanted illnesses. Your veterinarian will be able to spot problems easily at their earliest stages by doing some exams. As your vet spots the problems earlier, then it will be easier to handle the illnesses.
Please also note that cats age much faster than us, humans. Missing even one yearly appointment could be compared like you’re not visiting the doctor for over 5 years.
As your cat ages, regular checkups to the vet will be even more important. Senior cats are even recommended to have a veterinary exam every 6 months.
By doing regular visit to the vet, you will also be able to prevent some common diseases of cat.
- Provide Good Quality Diet
A healthy cat will require good and healthy diet. Nutrition is very vital to the health and wellbeing of the cat. That’s why you should think over the best cat food for your cat.
If you’re not sure about the best food for your cat, you can consult with your veterinarian. Your vet will be able to choose the high quality, complete and balanced food based on your cat’s specific life stage and health needs.
Antioxidants and fatty acids are often specifically formulated in high quality cat food. These elements are helpful to boost your cat’s immune system.
- Use Treats, but Wisely
Treats are great assets if you can use them wisely. Make sure to provide only healthy treats and keep them in moderation when compared to the rest of your cat’s diet.
Treats should not make up more than 10% of your cat’s diet because they are not balanced. Too many treats may give your cat too much calories and too little of essential vitamins and minerals your cat needs.
- Have Fun and Exercise!
Based on the data from the Association for Pet Obesity and Prevention, more than half of our cats are overweight or obese. This condition will lead to some serious health issues, including diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer.
It is suggested for your cats to spend at least 20 to 30 minutes a couple of times a day exercising or playing games with your cats. These activities won’t only keep your cat fit, but they can also reduce stress too!
One of the simple activities you can do with your cats is walking outside. It is a type of relaxing exercise which has lots of good things. Read benefits of walking your cats outside.
You can also provide some toys for your cats. Do experiment and find out which toy your cat likes best. Each cat has his or her own preference of toys, some prefer toys with feathers mimicking a bird, while some other may prefer toys that resemble a mouse or small rodent.
You can also make your own DIY cat toys! Find more about it in easy DIY cat toys: make one for your baby.
- Stress-free Environment
Just like humans, cats also need a stress-free environment as they are susceptible to anxiety and stress. Stress and anxiety can affect your cat’s health negatively in a variety of ways, such as illnesses. It is not hard to create a stress-free environment for your cats
You can just simply do the little things around your house, such as cleaning litter boxes regularly, providing plenty of perches or scratching posts providing ample supply of water. These activities are helpful to reduce your cat’s stress.
You can also do the following tips on how to make your cat mood happy. Happy cats are healthy cats.
- Vaccinated
This is actually still related to point number 1: have a regular checkups to your vet. Vaccines are important for cats just like for us humans. Vaccines can prevent your cat from diseases caused by viruses and bacteria, as well as strengthening her immune system.
Your vet knows the best what vaccines should be given to your cat and when to give them as well. There are some recommended vaccines for all cats that can protect them against some diseases, such as rabies, feline distemper, feline calicivirus, and feline viral rhinotracheitis. Make sure that your cat has these essential vaccines for cat.