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Just a few extra minutes a day can make our cats
When New Year’s Eve arrives, many of us make promises to ourselves—those infamous “resolutions”—to improve ourselves somehow. That’s because the new year is a traditional starting point, and we’re happy and motivated. Popular resolutions include losing weight, quitting smoking, and getting the most out of life. Inevitably, however, most of us fail. The reason? Unrealistic goals. Well, we’re here to help fix that! Spending more time with your cat and improving her life is realistic and satisfying, so we’ve put together five New Year’s Resolutions. Are you with us?
➊ I resolve to work on my cat’s weight problem (if she has one!). I will adjust her diet and increase her activity. I will work with my veterinarian to do this, because I know rapid weight loss can lead to serious health problems in cats. Weekly, or at a minimum monthly, weigh ins will be part of this.
➋ I resolve to work on my cat’s dental care. I know I need to train my cat to allow me to brush her teeth (see October 2017 issue for advice on brushing teeth). However, if brushing her teeth is not a good option for my cat, I will be sure to have my cat’s teeth checked by a veterinarian twice a year.
➌ I resolve to stay on top of my cat’s grooming. I will check my cat every week—or daily for long-hair cats—for mats, tangles, and skin irritations. I will check in her armpits and behind her ears. I know grooming includes nail trims, and I should always check dew claws when trimming the other nails.
➍ I resolve to spend active quality time with my cat daily. I will use a feather wand, toss a favorite toy for her to retrieve, or take her for a walk on a leash and harness (if she’s one of the rare cats who enjoys that). I can try food puzzles so she has to “work” for her meals. I will investigate clicker training and see if she can learn sometricks.
