How to make your cat happy?
Many people think that, due to their more independent nature, cats do not need many things to be happy. Mistake! Probably all those people who have lived, or live with, a feline know how much they need us, although sometimes it may not seem like it.
Correct nutrition is key to your well-being
Like us and other animals, cats need to be well nourished to feel well. A diet appropriate to the nutritional needs of the feline is essential to prevent common diseases in this species.
Although it may seem obvious, it is important to remember that, if you choose a commercial food, you must choose good quality feed. There are numerous scientific studies that prove that a good diet improves the general condition of the cat, the quality of the hair, the skin, etc. However, many people think that quality products are too expensive and opt for less beneficial foods. If you can afford a better product, what could be better than investing in the health of your best friend? Furthermore, thinking about the cost of veterinary visits, in the long term you can save much more if you select a better feed. Now, with this we do not mean that the most expensive feeds are the best on the market, because there are also cheaper products that can be considered of good quality. In this way, what you should do is review the ingredients of the feed and compare the composition of several to choose the one that best suits the needs of the feline. Check out our selection of the best natural food for cats.
On the other hand, remember that it is also important to adjust the amount of daily food to the cat’s specifications. One of the main problems in these animals is obesity due to a sedentary lifestyle or overfeeding.
Fresh, clean water, always!
To finish this point, do not forget that the key to preventing the appearance of kidney diseases is water. Therefore, providing the animal with fresh, clean water at all times is essential not only to make it happy, but also to guarantee its good health.
The ideal is to distribute several bowls of water around the home, since felines are also usually animals with a tendency to drink little. Likewise, some cats are so peculiar that they refuse to drink from their bowl, preferring water straight from the tap. For them, it is recommended to purchase a water fountain for cats, since this way you will ensure that your best friend consumes this important liquid without climbing through the kitchen.
Use pheromones to enhance your peace of mind
Cats naturally produce pheromones for different purposes. These pheromones are secreted through special glands or through other fluids such as urine. They emit certain signals to other cats or to themselves that vary depending on the type of pheromones. For example, we find sexual pheromones for reproductive purposes and appeasement pheromones, which help keep the animal calm and tranquil.
Cats mark their territory by rubbing against objects to leave those pheromones and indicate that that place is safe for them. Currently, we find synthetic appeasing pheromones on the market that we and other species of animals cannot perceive any type of signal or smell, but our cat can, so they manage to balance their environment and help them stay calm once they are captured.
Therefore, another way to make your cat happy is to use synthetic pheromones such as FELIWAY Optimum Diffuser, which is an improved version of the popular pheromone diffuser because it contains a new generation of feline pheromones with greater effectiveness. In this way, by detecting them, the cat is able to remain much calmer and more serene. In addition, it has been shown that the use of these pheromones favors the bond with its human companions and other pets at home because it allows the animal to appear more confident and secure.
The new FELIWAY diffuser also helps to calm the cat in a greater number of situations and allows it to reduce stress more effectively. It is an excellent ally if we have to make a move or any change in the home or in our routine that could disturb the well-being of the feline.
Do you want to know if your cat is really happy with you? Take the FELIWAY test to find out if your cat is happy and find out!
Don’t neglect your cat’s health
Another tip to make your cat happy that, at first glance, seems obvious is this: regular visits to the vet are essential to prevent and detect the presence of diseases in time.
In addition to taking the animal to its scheduled visits, it is recommended to follow the vaccination and deworming schedule stipulated by the specialist. In this sense, avoid deworming the animal on your own with products for this purpose. Why do we say this? Many cat companions choose to deworm their animal with products designed for dogs, because they believe they work for both species. The truth is that not all. In fact, some of the products manufactured exclusively for dogs are highly toxic to felines. Likewise, we do not advise self-medicating the animal without the prior consent of the specialist.
Sterilize the cat, yes or no?
Of course, this is a decision that each cat companion must make taking into account multiple factors, such as economic cost, the character of the animal, sex, lifestyle…
Hygiene is the most important thing for cats
You’ve probably already noticed how many hours your cat spends licking itself. Cleanliness plays a fundamental role in the life of every feline, and without it you cannot feel truly happy. Cats cannot tolerate dirt in their fur or in their environment, so a disorganized home, lack of personal hygiene, neglect of their litter box, etc., seriously disturb their well-being.
Focusing on the litter box, it should be cleaned daily. A dirty litter box can lead the animal to not use it, resulting in it urinating or defecating in any other corner of the house. To better understand this behavior, consider the following situation: if you go to the bathroom and it is dirty, you flush or clean it, right? The cat can’t do it, but he also hopes to find his bathroom in perfect condition.
As for the animal’s own hygiene, it is recommended to brush it daily to remove dead fur and thus prevent the formation of hairballs in the stomach.
Respect and know your cat
Cats have different personalities. Thus, there are more sociable cats and others that are more solitary and, for example, hide when people come. In this way, you should not force your feline to do something he does not want , especially when he is afraid. Respecting his space and privacy is essential to making your cat happy.
Some felines don’t want to be picked up, for example, so why do it? The more you force your cat, the less he will want to stay by your side, since he will begin to associate you with negative stimuli. Cats have excellent memories, both good and bad!
After all of the above, it is essential to detect what your cat likes and what he doesn’t, to enhance everything he likes and avoid what he dislikes. Some felines love petting, while others are content to knead their humans. With time, patience and observation you will get to know your furry friend’s character, his tastes and, most importantly, gain his trust.
Learn to understand feline language
Cats have a specific body language that they use to communicate with each other and with humans. Unfortunately, we still do not know how to speak like them and, that is why it is so important to know how to interpret this language.
Increases environmental enrichment
Environmental enrichment is very important to ensure your cat’s psychological well-being. That is, if your cat lives in a flat or apartment, he needs to have toys that stimulate him physically and mentally .
Cats, hunters by nature, need to be able to express this natural behavior and instinct through play. To do this, it is not necessary to invest a large amount of money, since you can make your cat happy by making homemade toys or playing games at home that keep him entertained.
Choose the right cat litter and box
Most people believe that just placing a box and litter is enough, without thinking about how important it is to choose the right type of each product. Cats are selective animals, with tastes and preferences, so it is essential to select products that they like to get them to use them.
Does your cat relieve itself outside the litter box? Maybe he doesn’t like it! Unfortunately, there is no specific box that is better than another, since, we repeat, each cat is a world. What is universal is that the litter box should be twice as big as the animal so that the cat can move freely and not feel uncomfortable. Thus, to make your cat happy, we advise you to try several types of boxes until you find the right one for him.
Regarding the choice of type of cat litter, practically the same thing happens as with the litter box. However, in general, cats tend to prefer sand with finer grains, so if you don’t know where to start, this may be a good option.
Adapt the number of boxes to the number of cats
Do you live with more than one feline? If so, did you know that the ideal would be to have more than one box? According to feline behavior experts, it is advisable to have one litter box per cat, plus one extra. This way, if you live with two cats, you should have three litter boxes.
Cats are territorial animals, very neat and possessive of their belongings, so sharing something as important to them as their bathroom can mean not using it and even starting a war with their cat.
Use positive reinforcement
Cats can be educated too! positive reinforcement is the ideal method to guide your feline to have certain behaviors and even to train it and teach it some tricks, such as sit on command. This feline training method consists of rewarding the animal with treats or affection every time it acts the way we want it to, or has positive behavior. In this way, the animal rrelates the action or attitude to something good and tends to repeat it to receive its reward again. Little by little, you should remove the treats to make room for caresses or words only.
On the other hand, especially for those active and curious felines, training is a good way to make your cat happy, since With it you can keep your mind well stimulated. Likewise, through education and positive reinforcement, the bond between both is improved and contributes to the psychological well-being of the animal.
Don’t skimp on love!
Many cats are independent animals, yes, but all of them need love, affection, affection and attention from their human companions. Thus, pamper your cat a lot every time he has positive attitudes and do not ignore him when he looks for you . It is a very sensitive, observant animal with a good memory, so an inappropriate attitude on your part will not go unnoticed and will cause the relationship between you to cool, since the animal will end up distancing itself.
Sometimes we are so busy with our problems that we unintentionally neglect the most basic needs of our animals and even belittle them when they try to demand our affection. Most cats, unlike dogs, will not look for us all the time, but when they do, they will do it because they really need it.
