Cats endear themselves to humans as creatures of beauty and grace. They are also a notably independent animal. As human companions, we support our cat’s health while admiring their ability to take care of themselves.
With a bit of thoughtfulness and planning, you can help your cat live a full, healthy life. The holistic health approach looks at diet, fitness, and emotional balance as interrelated aspects of overall health. This approach focuses on everyday steps that affect long-term health—well suited to independent felines whose days tend to be routine.
What is the best diet for a cat?
Diet is critical in the holistic pet health care approach. Many holistic veterinarians view a diet of processed pet foods that contain chemical preservatives and animal by-products as an underlying factor in many diseases.
Choose a natural or organic cat food that does not contain chemical preservatives or by-products. You may have to try different brands and flavors to find something your cat will eat.
Freshly made food is super if you have the time. But cats have strict dietary requirements with regard to protein, calcium, and amino acids, so follow specific recipes.
Avoid cow’s milk with cats, which causes diarrhea. Always provide clean, fresh water.
Should I give my cat dietary supplements?
Dietary supplements—particularly antioxidants—provide essential nutrients that may help prevent diseases like cancer.
Even high-quality pet foods can fall short on providing the necessary vitamins, antioxidants, and amino acids. Processed foods are not a complete substitute for the natural diet felines would consume in the wild.
Dietary supplements help to make up for the nutrient depletion in cooked, processed foods.
Other supplements can naturally help with problems such as:
- Allergies
- Hairballs
- Eye Infections
- Feline Herpes
- Digestive problems
How can I keep my cat from scratching?
Cats need to scratch. The best option is to have a designated scratching post. Train your cat to use it instead of the sofa by interrupting inappropriate scratching with some type of rattling noise.
Should I allow my cat to go outdoors?
Many professional pet organizations recommend that cats be indoor pets. It limits the risk of getting lost, fights, car accidents, and inadvertent exposure to toxins. In practice, always keeping your cat in can be difficult—because they want to go outside.
In most cases, there is no law that guides this decision. When your cat is young and exploring new territory, there is a risk it will get lost or be in an accident. But cats are smart and instinctively territorial, and in time they get the lay of the land and will stay in the immediate area of home.
Outdoor cats can scratch on trees and get exercise, but they risk being out in the world. Ultimately, this is a personal choice for you as an owner.
How can I keep curiosity from killing my cat?
It is important to keep toxic household products out of reach. These include:
- Household cleaning products
- Antifreeze, oil and gas
- Insect and mouse traps
- Human medications
- Chocolate products
- Pennies, mothballs, batteries, cigarettes, coffee grounds, and alcoholic drinks
Long-term exposure to chemicals and toxins can lead to liver disease, skin problems, even cancer. Do your pet a favor and reduce the use of harmful chemicals in your home and yard. There are many green alternatives that do the trick and don’t have harmful side effects.
Visit our main website, www.HolisticPetInfo.com for information on products that can improve the health of dogs and cats.
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