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Community Corner

7 Secrets of a Happy Cat

A to-do list for cat owners from your kitty.

Solitary or inquisitive, whatever your cat's purrsonality, he has needs that must be met to be a truly happy cat.

Litter box: A clean litter box equals a happy cat. Twice-a-day scooping is ideal. A cat's sense of smell is infinitely more sensitive than a human’s is. A large, roomy litter box placed in a quiet area will allow even the most reluctant cats a place to do their business.

Scratching post or pad: Keep your cat’s claws happy with a few scratching post or pads located strategically around your home. Rub with catnip and place in front of furniture your cat likes to scratch. Most cats like to exercise their claws after eating or napping.

Declawing: A happy cat has claws. Claws are necessary for protection, balance, and to stretch the muscles in a cats legs, shoulders, back and paws. Declawing can cause back pain due to the altered conformation of the cat's feet and the way it strikes the ground at an unnatural angle. The claw is not like a human fingernail; it is part of the last bone (distal phalanx) in a cat's toe.

Mental stimulation: Cats often sleep up to 20 hours a day, and when they're awake, they have excess energy to burn. Toys help by providing an item to stalk or pounce on. A window is an excellent place to watch birds and dream.

Flea control: Cats cannot tell you if they have a health problem, but their behavior can. If your cat is scratching incessantly, you most likely have a flea problem in your home. A flea control product can stop a flea infiltration before it even starts. Advantage and Frontline are two excellent products that control fleas with a monthly application.

Food: By choosing a well-balanced brand of cat food and following the manufacturer's instructions on portion size, you can keep your cat at a healthy weight. An occasional treat is OK and definitely appreciated by your kitty. A healthy weight will help your cat to avoid medical problems.

Love and attention: Your cat craves these the most. Cats don't experience human emotion but can show their "cat" love to you in a variety of ways. Head butting, also called bunting, is a cats way of saying, "Pet me." By petting your cat frequently each day, you can make him or her very happy and also detect physical changes. For shy cats, gentle handing goes a long way toward building a loving bond.

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