There are a number of negative things many cats experience but that yours doesn’t have to if you head them off at the pass. Here are four ways to keep a problem from ever happening — or at least to keep it from getting worse.
1. Bring up your cat’s weight at the next vet visit. Just as with doctors for people, doctors for cats sometimes struggle to find a tactful way to broach the subject of excess weight. It’s such a fraught issue in our society that it’s avoided even in your pet’s exam room. That’s where you come in. During your cat’s next checkup, ask the vet if her weight is ideal or above — or below — where it should be. Don’t wait for the doctor to bring it up. That way, the vet will know you are ready to tackle this issue, if necessary, and make the required changes in your pet’s eating and physical activity to keep her healthy. There’s a reasonably good chance such changes are in your future. Up to 60 percent of pet cats in the U.S. are estimated to be overweight.
2. Say no to others interacting with your cat if the situation calls for it. A friend or family member comes over, sees your cat, and immediately wants to pet her. If your feline is outgoing and looking for attention, fine. But if she doesn’t want to get too familiar too quickly — or at all — that should be her prerogative. And she shouldn’t have to run out of the room to make it known. It’s her house, after all. Children in particular need to understand the rules and not to try to interact with your cat or run after her if she is not interested. It’s okay if a child or even an adult feels frustrated after you explain that your cat is more comfortable not being touched and may or may not be interested later on. The cat is not there to amuse them or make them feel good about themselves. Don’t allow yourself to feel any discomfort about politely but firmly protecting your pet.
3. Leave the cat carrier out all the time. Cat carriers are 1) bulky and 2) a source of worry both for cats and their people. They signal that the cat is going to have to remain in a small space for a trip she doesn’t want to take. For these reasons, it makes sense that you’d want to keep the carrier out of sight when it’s not being used. Don’t. If you keep the carrier out in the open the way you would a cat bed, it will become less frightening for your feline when you do have to use it to transport her. Always have a clean, fresh blanket or towel in there and one or two soft toys that she likes. This doesn’t mean that, presto, every time she needs to be restrained in the carrier it will be a piece of cake. But it will do away with the unhappy surprise of the carrier being taken out of the closet and will blunt the negative emotion that goes along with that.
4. Throw out uneaten food and feed her fresh. Yes, money may be tight, but healthful cat food can cost as little as 25 or 35 cents a day. Besides, your pet is not going to learn the value of a dollar or why it’s important not to waste food if you try to force her to eat something that has been left out all day and may have even crusted over. It’s not a teachable moment. If she doesn’t eat what you put in the bowl, pick it up after an hour and try again at the next mealtime with fresh food and a clean bowl. Your pet is not being finicky. She just wasn’t hungry earlier. You shouldn’t punish her for that. If you do, it could backfire health-wise, as well as happiness-wise. Some cats who go without eating, perhaps resulting from a battle of wills, may end up with a potentially life-threatening liver disease called hepatic lipidosis. (We recommend checking in with your vet if your cat has not eaten for more than a few meals in a row.)
