September is Happy Cat Month, celebrating fabulous felines! With their unique personalities and needs, cats require specific care to stay content and healthy. By understanding and addressing your cat’s physical and emotional needs, you help them lead a happy and healthy life. Our Central Kentucky Veterinary Center team offers key tips to keep your whiskered friend happy, fulfilled, and purring. 

1. Create a stimulating environment for your cat

Indoor cats need challenging activities and interesting things to do to prevent boredom. Provide your furry friend with the following enrichment items:

  • Interactive toys — Offer various toys to keep your cat engaged and mentally stimulated. Interactive toys, puzzle feeders, and catnip toys can enhance your cat’s natural hunting instincts.
  • Climbing and scratching items — Cats love to climb and perch in high places where they can survey their surroundings. Scratching is another important feline instinct, which promotes nail health. Provide cat trees, scratching posts, and shelves to help your whiskered pal practice their natural behaviors.
  • Window perches — Place a cat perch near a window so your feline friend can watch birds and the outside world. This can be very stimulating for them, as if they have their very own TV.

2. Engage in interactive playtime with your cat

Cats thrive when their owners spend time with them. Allocate at least 30 minutes daily to play and interact with your furry friend, including:

  • Play sessions — Use feather wands, laser pointers, and other interactive toys to keep your cat active and mentally stimulated.
  • Hunting games — Arouse your cat’s hunting instinct by hiding toys and treats around the house. These games keep their minds sharp and satisfy their need to stalk and hunt.

3. Feed your cat a balanced diet

Proper nutrition provides your kitty with energy and vitality. Our Central Kentucky Veterinary Center team recommends giving cats balanced, high-quality, age-appropriate cat food to ensure the food meets their nutritional needs. Give treats to reward good behavior, but avoid overfeeding to prevent obesity.

4. Schedule wellness exams for your cat

Annual veterinary checkups help monitor your cat’s health and catch any issues early. Wellness care encompasses necessary vaccines and parasite prevention, lab tests and parasite screenings, dental assessments, nutrition and behavior advice, and much more. Your cat’s routine wellness visits give you the opportunity to ask our team questions about how you can improve your feline friend’s health and happiness. 

5. Maintain your cat’s grooming and hygiene needs

Brush your furry friend regularly to reduce shedding and prevent matting, especially if they are a long-haired breed. Cats are typically fastidious self-groomers who don’t require baths when they’re in good health, but you may wish to bathe them periodically. Dental disease is prevalent in adult cats, so regularly brush their teeth and provide dental treats and toys to maintain your cat’s oral health.

6. Provide your cat with comfortable and quiet retreats

Provide cozy hiding spots where your cat can retreat and feel safe. Quiet spaces help reduce stress and anxiety, as cats often prefer their privacy. Ensure litter boxes are clean and placed in an accessible area. Cats are particular about their litter boxes’ cleanliness and may eliminate outside the box if they are dirty.

7. Interact with your cat frequently

Spend quality time with your furry pal to strengthen the bond you share. Gentle petting, talking, and simply being present can make a big difference in their happiness and well-being. If you have more than one cat, ensure they get along well and have their own spaces to prevent territorial issues.

8. Provide your cat with mental stimulation 

Many cat owners are surprised to learn that cats can indeed be trained. Use positive reinforcement, such as rewarding your cat with treats, when they perform a command or when teaching them tricks. Training not only stimulates your cat’s mind but also strengthens the bond you share. Rotate your cat’s puzzles and toys once a month to keep things fresh and exciting.

9. Allow supervised outdoor access for your cat

Indoor cats can experience the great outdoors on a leash or in an enclosure. Consider training your whiskered friend to walk on a leash for safe outdoor exploration. You can also provide your whiskered pal with a catio, an enclosed outdoor space, to let your cat enjoy the outdoors safely.

10. Understand your cat’s behavior

Cats are independent creatures who express their health and emotional issues through their behavior. Pay attention to your cat’s behavior and recognize when they need attention, playtime, or alone time. If your furry friend suddenly becomes aggressive, frequently hides, or begins eliminating outside the litter box, promptly discuss the issue with our Central Kentucky Veterinary Center veterinarian.

By following our Happy Cat Month tips, you can create a fulfilling and joyful environment for your feline friend. Schedule your cat’s wellness exam with our Central Kentucky Veterinary Center team so we can help ensure they lead a long, healthy, and content life.