by Alaina M. Coyle

Created on: January 11, 2010   Last Updated: May 23, 2010

You’ve heard the expression: “when Mama’s happy, everybody’s happy”? This saying can also be applied, possibly even more truthfully, to domestic cats. Non-cat owners may scoff at this comparison, but all cat-owners will know exactly what I mean, and wholeheartedly agree. An unhappy cat is not afraid to let his discontentment be made known to every member of the household, which means he will meow, whine, and howl until his needs are met. Ultimately, an unhappy cat is a loud cat. Don’t be fooled into thinking you can hide from, or ignore an unhappy cat either. An unsatisfied cat will stalk you (nothing so tame as “follow” you) until he once again becomes completely satisfied as King (or Queen) of the castle. So how can you keep your favorite feline happy? Simple. You give them everything they want.

A Full Tummy

There are a couple of things you will want to remember when providing for your cat’s nutritional needs. First of all, once you find a cat food that your cat enjoys, don’t plan on switching brands later on. If you suspect your budget won’t allow for the more expensive products in the future, then don’t buy them to begin with. Start your kitten off with not only the type of food (moist or kibble) you plan on feeding him throughout his lifespan, but the brand as well. While it won’t kill your pet to switch if necessary, their sensitive stomachs will fare much better if their diet remains unchanged.

Secondly, try as best as you can to be consistent. If you decide to let your cat self-feed during the day, that is to say, keep food in their bowls at all times, continue with this routine unless your cat begins to put on too much weight. Starting a self-feeding program and then switching to portioned meals later on can frustrate your cat, not to mention leave him hungry if you’re away from home longer than expected.

Make sure that your cat always has plenty of fresh water. Despite their small size, cats can go through quite a bit of water during the day, so if you find yourself forgetting to refill his bowl on a daily basis, purchase an automatic self-filling watering bowl.

Lastly, remember to give your cat treats regularly. Find a moist and tender treat that your cat enjoys, and reward him not only when he’s a good kitty, (for sitting still during nail-clipping for example) but also just to remind him that you love him.

A Clean Litter Box

Nobody likes a dirty bathroom,

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