Tag Archives: cat play

Cat Care, General Care

Leaving Your Cat Home Alone

Summer is upon us! Like many of you, we’re thrilled to see things getting back to normal after years of quarantines and social distancing. It’s probably safe to say that a lot of you will be traveling this summer. While dogs love to accompany their people, well, everywhere, cats tend to be homebodies. In this article, a Georgetown, IN vet discusses leaving Fluffy home by herself.

Stimulation

Our feline buddies are for some reason collectively exhausted. However, Fluffy can’t spend all of her time snoozing. Your cute pet will need something to do. Just be sure to only leave safe toys out for her. Keep wand toys and anything with strings put away: you don’t want your furball getting entangled!

Lights

Are you going to be out after dark? Leave a light on for Fluffy. Nobody wants to be left sitting home alone in a dark, quiet house.

Background Noise

Leave a TV or radio on for your furry little buddy. The sound of music and voices can soothe Fluffy, and keep her from feeling lonely. You can even find programs made just for cats!

Companionship

Cats have a reputation for being aloof, but that really isn’t true. Kitties are actually really sociable, and form very strong bonds with their humans. (They also have some odd ways of showing affection, but that’s another topic.) Fluffy may get lonely if she spends too much time by herself! If you’re out a lot, and your furball is an only pet, you may want to get her a buddy. Of course, whether or not that’s a good idea ultimately depends on your feline friend, your household, and your budget. Think it over first.

Catsitters

If you’re only going away overnight, Fluffy will probably be fine, as long as she has climate control and plenty of food and water. However, if you’ll be gone for more than a day or so, have someone stop in and check on her.

Boarding

There are some situations when it’s going to be better to board Fluffy or have someone stay with her. Young kittens shouldn’t be left alone for long. You’ll also need to be careful with senior cats, as well as those that have medical issues.

Please reach out with any questions or concerns about your cat’s health or care. As your Georgetown, IN animal clinic, we are here for you!

Cat Care, General Care

Tips For Playing With Your Cat

Is your feline buddy still frisky and playful? This is always super cute to watch. As it turns out, one of the best things you can do for Fluffy is to play with her regularly. A Georgetown, IN vet offers some advice on playing with kitties in this article.

Do It Regularly!

First and foremost, take time to play with your furry bff every day. This will benefit Fluffy both mentally and physically. It will also make her feel loved. You may be surprised at how quickly your furry friend comes to expect (or demand) this!

Make It Fun

Playtime is more fun for kitties when it’s challenging for them. Use toys that you can control, such as wand toys or laser pointers. Fluffy will be more engaged if she can’t anticipate what her ‘foe’ is going to do next.

Keep A Routine

If possible, play with your feline pal at roughly the same time every day. Kitties really thrive on set schedules! This is easy to work into your nightly wind-down time: just keep a remote-controlled toy or laser pointer near your sofa or armchair.

Discourage Rough Play

Kitties are very lovable, but they can be a bit, well, violent. Don’t let your furry buddy use you as a cat toy! It may be cute if Fluffy pounces on your toes, but it’s also very bad petiquette.

Don’t Play Favorites

Do you have more than one kitty? Pay equal attention to both of them, and make sure they both get enough playtime. Otherwise, one of your feline friends is bound to get jealous of the other.

Choose Safe Toys

Cats are very playful, which is super cute. Unfortunately, Fluffy doesn’t know what is and is not safe for her to play with. Don’t use anything that could be dangerous. Sharp and/or sharp items are a definite no, as is anything with dangling ropes or cords. If you use wand toys, pick them up when you’re done: you don’t want your furball getting tangled up.

Offer Catnip

Does your furry friend like catnip? Don’t forget to refill her toys regularly! You don’t have to worry about your kitty overdosing. Catnip wears off after about 15 minutes. After that, Fluffy’s brain will need to ‘reset’ before catnip will affect her again.

As your Georgetown, IN animal clinic, we’re here for you. Contact us anytime!

Cat Care, General Care

Cute Ways to Pamper a Senior Cat

Did you know that it’s no longer uncommon for cats to live well into their late teens or even their 20’s? You won’t notice drastic changes happening quickly as your kitty ages, but Fluffy will benefit from some extra TLC in her golden years. Here, a Georgetown, IN vet offers some tips on keeping a senior cat comfy and purring.

Beds

All cats are sleepy, but senior ones are purrticularly tired. Fluffy may spend up to 20 hours a day snoozing! Make sure she has lots of comfy spots to curl up in. Your furry friend may have a hard time jumping onto things, so offer her napping spots that are easy for her to get on and off.

Stimulation

Your feline pal’s mental health is just as important as her physical well-being. If you’re leaving your kitty alone, leave a light and a TV or radio on for her. This will help her from feeling lonely.

Playtime

Fluffy won’t be as mischievous as she once was, but she’ll still have her kitten moments. Take a few minutes a day to play with your cute pet. This will be good for her both mentally and physically. It’s also a great way to get that little motor going!

Brushing

Your kitty may have a hard time bending and stretching, which can make it hard for her to groom her entire body. Brushing your furball daily will remove dead hair from her coat, and keep her from feeling itchy and uncomfortable.

Window Seat

Give your furry buddy a comfy spot with a good view. Our feline friends love to watch birds and squirrels! Fluffy may spend hours relaxing in a sunbeam and looking out the window.

Nightlights

Your furball may have trouble seeing at night. Setting out a night light or her will help her get around more easily.

Senior-Friendly Facilities

Small touches can make life much easier for Fluffy. Get her a litterbox with low sides. This will be easy for her to get in and out of. Pet ramps or stairs will help her jump off and on her favorite perches.

Love

The secret ingredient in any good pet care routine is simple TLC. Pay lots of attention to your adorable pet, and make sure she feels loved!

As your Georgetown, IN veterinary clinic, we are here to help! Please contact us anytime!

Cat Care, General Care

5 Ways To Pamper Your Cat On Respect Your Cat Day

There’s a very important pet holiday coming up. Respect Your Cat Day is March 28th! Showing your kitty proper respect doesn’t mean hanging portraits of her or installing catnip gardens and stocked fishponds. It really just means understanding some of Fluffy’s innate needs. A Georgetown, IN vet lists some ‘purrfect’ ways to celebrate this special occasion below.

Scratching Post

Fluffy is very dedicated to keeping her paw daggers sharp, and with good reason. Kitties depend on their claws in the wild, for hunting, defense, and climbing to safety. Your furry buddy will need a good peticure station. A cat tower is ideal, but you can also get a scratching board. This is a great gift for your feline friend!

Playtime

Kitties are actually fierce predators at heart. Let Fluffy indulge her inner lioness! Even if your pet’s ‘prey’ is only a catnip mouse or a rubber ball, pouncing and jumping on it will help her stay active, burn off stress and excess energy, and build confidence. Make sure your furry buddy has lots of toys to bat around. It’s also important to play with your cat regularly. Take a few minutes to hold a wand toy or laser pointer for your kitty.

Window Views

We always recommend that cats stay inside: Fluffy is both safer and healthier indoors. However, indoor pets don’t get as much exercise or stimulation as kitties that are allowed out. It’s important to make sure your feline buddy has ways to amuse herself. Birdwatching is, unsurprisingly, one of Fluffy’s favorite pastimes. A comfy window seat is a must! Or, better yet, put a cat tower before a window that overlooks a birdfeeder.

Hiding Spots

While some cats are bold and fearless, others are very timid. No matter which end of that spectrum your kitty falls onto, it’s safe to say that she will appreciate having some hiding spots to retreat to if she feels scared. Enclosed cat condos are great for this, but you can also give Fluffy things like boxes, paper grocery bags, or homemade pet tents.

Love

At the end of the day, the best way to make your feline pal feel respected is to just pay attention to her. Spend some quality time with your adorable pet!

As your local Georgetown, IN veterinary clinic, we are here to help. Contact us anytime!