Natural pet care for your cat can help your furry friends to have both a longer and better life. Natural cat care includes nutrition, mental health, grooming, dental care, and stress management. Cats often hide signs of illness and discomfort since in the wild this would show weakness making it prey for predators. Practicing preventive health and wellness is a great way to keep your cat from becoming ill. Since cats age faster than humans, they enter their senior years at about seven years old. Asking your veterinarian about alternative options and making sure they have routine checkups is the first step to a healthier kitty.
Cat Nutrition
Cats have different nutritional needs for different stages of their lives.
Kittens
As kittens, they must transition from their mother’s milk to solid food, also known as weaning. Usually, the mother cat weans their kitten, however, there may be situations where someone that is fostering or adopting a kitten may need to take care of the process themselves.
Adult Cats
Adult cats need enough nutritious food that meets their needs. Depending on the size and energy level of your cat will help you decide on calorie allowances. Meat-based diets are important for your cat since they require the amino acid, taurine, for heart health, vision, and reproductive function. Taurine is only found in animal-based protein. Follow the label on the food you give to your cat, portion into two meals, and feed twice a day. Make sure clean, freshwater is available at all times for your cat to drink when thirsty. Speak to your vet if there is an issue feeding them twice a day. Treats shouldn’t be given too often and only compromise about 5% of your cat’s daily food intake.
Senior Cats
Cats are considered seniors when they turn seven years old. Maintaining their weight and health is the main nutrition goal. Also, older cats can be diagnosed with a range of health issues such as:
- Muscle mass loss
- Intestinal issues
- Arthritis
- Dental issues
- Skin and coat deterioration
Routine vet examinations are important, and you should ask if there are nutritional needs to be met to slow or prevent the health issues above. It is also important to try to keep your cat’s routine and stress levels down as these can cause health issues in your cat.
What happens if your cat is overweight?
This is a quite common problem in cats, obesity happens when food intake exceeds energy levels. Any excess energy will be stored as fat and you will need to figure out if the issue is overfeeding or lack of exercise or a combination of both.
Ways to help your cat lose weight:
- Don’t let your cat in a room where the family is eating
- Break meals into smaller, more frequent meals
- Feed your cat from their pet bowl only – including their treats
- Reduce treats
Give them attention that is not related to food
Supplements for Your Cat
Generally, if your cat is in good health, supplements won’t be needed. They should be getting enough from their cat food. Supplements are often used to help with deficiencies such as if your cat is sick, pregnant, or nursing.
After speaking to your vet, there are a few options that can help meet nutritional gaps in your cat's diet.
Multivitamin – contain all the vitamins and minerals your cat would need
Omega Fatty Acids – Essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 can help your cat’s coat shiny. They can also help support your cat’s immune function, liver function, eyes, joint health, and brain function.
Probiotics – help improve your cat’s digestive function and gut health
Dental Care
Your cat’s dental care is important to their health as well. According to studies, cats 4 years or old suffer from some type of dental disease – as many as 50-90%.
The three types of dental diseases that cats most often suffer from include
Gingivitis – a condition that the gums around the teeth are red, swollen, and painful – inflamed
Periodontitis – Periodontitis is a condition that can happen if gingivitis is not controlled
Tooth resorption – this is when the tooth structure breaks down – starting from the inside of the tooth
Ways to support your cat’s dental health
- Brush your cat’s teeth daily
- Use feline toothpaste
- Regular dental examinations with your vet
Cat Grooming
Cats already are born with grooming tools and are very focused on staying clean – they will use their tongues and teeth to groom themselves often. However, cats can find themselves in a mess sometimes and may need your help. Kittens and senior cats may also need help grooming.
Brushing
Brush your cat once or twice a week to stimulate blood circulation, remove skin flakes, and help their coat keep its shiny glow.
Shedding
Shedding is natural, however indoor cats shed all year instead of just seasonally. By brushing them and vacuuming your home regularly you can keep shedding from being a nuisance.
Nails
Cats paws should be clean and their nails should be not be chipped. It is very important not to cut their nails below the white part – as the pinkish part is called the quick and will bleed if cut. Trimming is recommended every 2 weeks.
Note: Do not declaw your cat – this is a surgery that requires amputating your cat’s toe! Regular trimming and providing your cat with a scratching post will help keep their claws groomed.
Eyecare
Your cat’s eyes should look bright and not have any tearing, crust, cloudiness – if so have your vet look at your cat.
Bathing
Cats don’t need baths. They take care of this themselves. However, if your cat has been exposed to something toxic, sticky, or smelly they can be bathed. It is best to use a cat shampoo and conditioner as these will not contain harsh ingredients or mess with the pH levels in your cat’s skin. Towel dry them when you are done.
Mental Stimulation
Playing with your cat doesn’t only provide mental stimulation but helps to keep their energy levels high reducing their risk of obesity. In fact, according to studies – cats need to work for their food for physical and emotional wellness.
Some ways to play with your cat
- Paper bag – cat’s love hiding and pouncing out of them – mimicking hunting skills in the wild
- Place treats in a paper towel roll and covers with tissue paper – it will keep them busy
- A ball – with a treat in it even better
- Puzzle toys – to give them a lot of mental stimulation
- Give them space to look out the windows
- Trees or shelves made for cats to look down and climb up to
- TV – yes, your cat enjoys watching TV
- Scratching posts – keep their claws trim and keep your furniture safer
Mental Health and Stress Management for Cats
Cats can suffer from mental illness that can affect their mood, thinking, and behavior. Veterinary science does not include mental illness as a study, however, there may be conditions your cat can have including OCD or ways they can suffer from stress.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Cats
Also known as OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a behavior disorder that your cat will engage in repetitive and exaggerated behaviors without a clear indication of real purpose. These can include:
- Over-grooming
- Overeating
- Sucking fabric
- Chewing something over and over
- Pacing
- Vocalizing
If you think your cat suffers from OCD – let your vet examine your cat.
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome
This is a rare disorder in cats, but FHS most often affects senior cats. FSH is when your cat reacts to physical stimuli, also called “rippling skin disorder” and reacts with skin and muscle movements that are like pain. Other symptoms include “cat fits”, salivation, uncontrolled urination, and wild vocalization. Call your vet right away if your cat exhibits these symptoms.
Feline Cognitive Dysfunction
FDS, also called senility, is a disorder that mostly affects senior cats over the age of 15 years. Some signs include litter box issues, aimless wandering, confusion, trouble recognizing people they know, and getting stuck in corners.
Stressed cat
Cats can become anxious, frustrated, and stressed by their environment and by people. Since they evolved from independent species that hunted – they often hide their stress as this could target them to predators in the wild.
Stress management is important to your cat’s wellbeing.
Signs of stress in cats include
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Bald patches on the coat
- Runny nose
- Eating plastic or other non-food items
- Appetite is poor
- Lethargic
- Overeating
- Weight loss or gain – suddenly
- Not using the litter box as often
- Behaving aggressively
- Spraying urine on walls, under the bed, or behind the couch
- Changes in behavior and routine
- Excessively scratching furniture
- Increased clinginess
- Excessive meowing
- Jumps at sudden sound or movement
- Doesn’t want to play
- Frequent head shaking
- Staring at the floor with a fixed expression
- Rippling spasms on their back
How to reduce stress in your cat
Changing your routine, environment (like moving), other pets, guests in your home, and many other life changes can cause your cat stress.
- Try to minimize stressors and take your cat to the vet to discuss how to manage and reduce their stress.
- Find a cat behavior specialist that is qualified
- Remove some of the stressors – like keeping the cat out of the new baby’s room or sperate from other animals in the home
