One of the best things for our sense of self is to get a pet. After all, looking after your pet is great for your mental health, but have you ever considered their mental health? Being near to pets can lower blood pressure, and improve our well-being, but we have to also think about their mental health. What are the things that we need to remember?
Their Physical State
Like us, cats will feel great when they look great. Exercise is one key component, but we also need to look beyond this, for example, nutrition. There are things that we need to do to ensure that our cat is healthy inside and out, and it’s not just about their digestive health, but about the other organs of the body. For example, we need to encourage our cats to drink lots of fluids, and this will maintain their kidney health. While there is a lot of kidney support for cats, we have to remember that a solid combination of fluids, the right foods, and supplements will help our cats.
Watching What Your Cat Eats
As our cat gets older, it’s important to have the right ratio of omega-3 fatty acids and supplements to maintain their mental health. As our cats get older, we need to keep an eye out for specific issues including obesity, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes. Having a balanced and complete diet is vital for their cognitive function.
Focusing on Their Inherited Skills
Stimulation is crucial for mental health. Having a window perch or a cat tree can be enormously beneficial for their mental health. We have to remember that our cats like to employ predatory skills. If your cat likes to bring home dead birds as presents, it’s very likely they are already tapping into their inherited skills, but if you have discouraged this, there are worthy substitutes that you can employ. You can find games that will encourage ambushing or stalking which will make a big difference to their mental health.
Incorporating Puzzles
Our cats love to solve problems, which is why we need to train our cats. We can incorporate a number of approaches, such as agility training and crate training, but if we don’t have time for excessive training regimes, we can use puzzle bowls and food mazes, which will combine their love of food with solving problems. It is actually possible to teach your cat commands and to perform certain tricks, just as long as you have the patience.
Giving Them as Much Love as Possible
This is a two-way street. Companionship is important, and we no doubt feel the love from our cats, but it’s important to remember that you are giving as much love as you receive. Being around cats will improve our mental health, and it will lower our stress levels, so as long as you are taking those opportunities to give your cat as much love as humanly possible, you will not go far wrong! When your cat feels good, it’s very likely they are functioning at their best. However, cats can hide signs of injury or illness, which is why you need to have regular checks with your vet. Health is about the inside as well as the outside.
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