With so many options available to you, the most important thing to remember about diet is what suits your cat, your budget, and your lifestyle. If your vet has not recommended a specific food for your cat’s health, then some factors you may want to consider are their life stage, optimal protein ingredients, and avoiding fillers. There are varying opinions on wet vs dry food, with many people choosing a combination of the two. Wet food assists with hydration, a common deficiency in cats, however wet food can also negatively impact your cat’s teeth so if you choose to include wet food in their diet then you may also want to consider healthy teeth treats and/or a teeth brushing routine. Kitten food is higher in calories so growing or recovering bodies can benefit from this being a part of their diet.

Cats typically miss out on proper hydration, and many suffer from kidney dysfunction as they age. While we can’t completely resolve this for them, there are definitely ways to help them be better hydrated along the way. Every kitty has a unique personality and the best thing you can do to improve their water intake is pay attention to what encourages them specifically to drink more. For many cats that is water that moves. Now, unless you want to be beholden to your cat’s every 3am cry for the faucet to be turned on, you may want to try out a pet drinking fountain instead! Fountains can be used with or without filters making them a good long term investment for minimal cost beyond the initial purchase, just remember to set reminders for yourself to clean them regularly so your cat stays healthy. Other cats might enjoy hydration supplements as simple as leaving out a full human cup of water somewhere accessible, in addition to their water bowl, because you know how kitties sometimes get such a kick from ‘sharing’ what is ours and getting away with it!

To reduce dangerous variables and extend life expectancy, cats are always safest indoors. If you adopt from the kitten stage then you are in luck, without knowledge of outdoor adventures your cats likely won’t know what they are missing and will be content to stay inside. Even for strictly indoor cats, outdoor time can be enriching when done safely. Some options are opening a screened window so they can safely enjoy the fresh air and outside sounds from indoors, or purchasing an enclosed cat tent or catio structure, cat backpacks, strollers, harness and leash systems. Not every kitty will appreciate being an adventurer, so it’s important we don’t let our desire to take them with us on a hike to override their comfort levels and cause them stress. If you have a skiddish kitty prone to getting spooked or overstimulated then outdoor adventures might not be for them. Any traveling cat accessories should always be tested safely indoors, to ensure you know how to properly secure them, that your cat can’t escape them, and that your pet will actually enjoy them. Graduating from indoor testing to backyard time, then neighborhood walks with these devices, is a great way to slowly and safely escalate use before hitting larger areas where risk to your pet increases. It is always important to keep in mind that your pet may just want to live a life of indoor luxury, and that’s ok. Ensuring your pet is microchipped and wearing a safe breakaway collar with a tag displaying your contact information are vital steps to take just in case. Cats adopted later in life might already be used to freer outdoor time, if you know this about your cat’s history and find them yearning for the outdoors beyond what a catio can provide you might choose to let them come and go as they desire. While this is a higher risk only you can know what’s best for your pet’s quality of life. Factors like severely hot or cold weather, natural predators, anti-cat neighborhood sentiments, and busy traffic roads nearby should be taken into account when making the decision to let your cat roam free. If your cat will roam some things you can do to lessen their risk factors are making sure they have a microchip with up to date information registered, equipping them with a breakaway collar and tag with your current information on it (though don’t be surprised if they occasionally come home without it as these are designed intentionally to break off and avoid your pet getting stuck or strangled),

( please do get to know your neighbors so they can also keep an eye out for . It is very unsafe to allow a declawed cat to roam outdoors as they are missing their best form of defense.

Rarely do our cats exhibit ‘bad’ behavior for no reason, often acting out is a sign of a need not being met, and so we must pay close attention to what our furry companions are silently trying to tell us. Sometimes a simple fix is all you need to bring peace to your home’s dynamics. That being said, it is always prudent to remember that you are indeed sharing your home with an animal, and an apex predator at that! So being able to completely control their quirks or silly behaviors is not an achievable goal. Below are some common frustrating behaviors and options to try and curb them.

• Scratching furniture -

• Jumping on countertops -

• Bathroom use outside of the litter box -

• Early morning wake-ups -

• Begging to go outside/Trying to escape -

• Refusing to eat -

• Aggression -

• Grooming troubles -

• Kittens-two-work/lifestyle

• declawing

• garden/porch/barn

• personalities/age

• spay/neuter, chip

• gear: litter, collar, scratcher, bed, toys

• household dangers