By Diane A. Dodin, D.V.M.
Though cats tend to be very independent, there are some things that they need our help with. Cats are expert groomers. You can help them out by brushing them for 10 minutes a day. This will prevent excessive shedding and decrease the occurrence of fur balls. Trimming their nails is not only essential for protecting your couch, arms and legs, it also prevents over growth that can cause damage to their paw pads. Cat nails are very sharp and they can grow into the pads, causing a painful infection. When doing a nail trim, all you need are normal human nail clippers. You want to trim only the area that does not have any pink in it. The pink area has the blood vessels and nerves. If you accidentally cut the vessels, you can use starch, flour or kwik stop from pet stores to stop the bleeding. If you're having trouble getting your cat to hold still for a nail trim, you may need an extra hand or towel. Wrapping your cat in a towel ( like a burrito ) can help. Also, waiting for when your cat is tired can be good.
Exercise is an essential part of a cat's life—20 minutes of exercise a day is required. There are many different toys out there from cat trees to fuzzy mice. Sometimes all cats want is a plastic or paper bag or milk ring to keep them happy. Laser pointers are great to keep them running around. My cat will play fetch with her mouse toy, so really the sky's the limit when it comes to entertaining your cat.
Feeding a cat the right amount of food is just as essential as exercise. When cats are under one year of age they should be on a kitten type food. After one year, they should be switched to an adult food. Remember when switching different types of food, do it gradually. Start with 25% of the new food and 75% of the old food. Gradually increase by 25% at a time until they are completely on the new diet. If any vomiting and/or diarrhea occur during this transition period, return to the old food. Your cat may be sensitive to the new diet. Consult your veterinarian if it continues. After seven years of age, your cat should be on a senior diet. All diets will have a recommended daily amount based on your cat's weight.
Treats are not a bad thing as long as they don't replace your cat's diet.
These are a few helpful tips that will benefit you and your cat's lives.
Dodin is a vet at Higgins Animal Clinic, ( 773 ) 525-0472.