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Cats' health, happiness needs deeper look

Few things communicate contentment quite like a rumbling, steady purr as the cat snuggles closer. It is signs such as these that we humans rely on to know the kitty is happy.

While those rumbles may indeed be a happy sign, to truly understand if your cat is happy, you have to look a little deeper, according to experts.

September is Happy Cat Month, a time when cat advocates hope owners will take a good look at the lives their feline friends are living and take steps to make sure their emotional and physical needs really are being met.

Created in 2010, Happy Cat Month is a project of the CATalyst Council, a national group dedicated to creating a “cat-caring society” through its efforts to advance the health, welfare and value of cats as companion animals.

The purpose of setting aside a month focused on cat happiness, the group states, is to heighten awareness about the interdependent nature of cat health and happiness — because in short, happy cats tend to be healthier cats.

Even though they purr, cuddle and play, those are in-the-moment pockets of happiness and may not give the full picture. Recognizing whether your cat is genuinely happy or not, on the other hand, can be a little trickier.

Living in confined spaces with limited choices as to where they play, no trees to climb or spots for hunting or hiding, and sometimes in homes with other animals including dogs, cats may experience stress that — unbeknownst to their owners — effects their health, according to the CATalyst Council.

One of the most common ways long-term stress can impact a cat’s health is in lower-urinary tract issues such as not using the litter box or straining when urinating.

Other signs that something is bothering your kitty include: Frequently dropping food while eating, losing weight, increased meowing or loss of appetite, decreased urination (particularly in male cats) and ceasing to groom, resulting in a greasy or rough coat, according to a press release from askvet.com.

Veterinarians with the CATalyst Council suggest a few things you can do around the house to help your cat get and stay happy:

• Think vertical — Provide ample areas both high and low for your cat to explore, sleep and play in. Commercial or homemade cat trees are one option, but simply clearing a bookshelf or tucking a pet bed under or behind furniture to create a special place for your cat can do the trick.

• Best table in the house — Cats are most comfortable when they can watch their surroundings, especially during feeding. Place food dishes away from walls and/or up high where your cat can see while eating.

• Always a hunter — Hunters to the bone, cats derive satisfaction from working for their food. Try feeding in puzzle toys and provide play that encourages “find-stalk-attack-eat” in that order.

• The dreaded litter box — Guess what; the cat hates a dirty litter box as much as you do. Keep it clean and make sure kitty has free access at all times.

• Personal space — Prevent conflict between critters by providing plenty of space and toys so each cat in the household has opportunity to get away, especially from other cats, and do their own thing.

If having a healthy cat comes from being observant, knowing your kitty and making sure whatever he or she needs and likes is available, then happiness has to be the easiest and most affordable prescription of all to fill.

Sharna Johnson is always searching for ponies. Contact her at: [email protected]

 
 
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