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In the wild, cats have to chase after their prey. Although a cat might occasionally chew on plants, cats are classified as carnivores--their sharp teeth are clear evidence of this.
However, the modern house cat does not have to chase her food. She can spend their day sitting on a windowsill and know that her owners will feed them.
It might seem like a leisurely life, but it leads to obesity, which is among the most prevalent feline health problems. -
Owners who have an overweight cat need to evaluate the food they have been giving their cats.
Portion size should be addressed. Cats are designed to eat about four to eight small meals per day. For the cat to maintain healthy muscles, and in turn maintain a healthy stamina level, the new diet should include ample amounts of protein, and water should be readily available.
Owners should check cat foods for the essential components of tyrosine, cysteine, arginine, methionine, lysine, and taurine. Of course, some cats have specific medical conditions that might necessitate additional dietary changes, and for this a veterinarian should be consulted. -
As with people, some cats have a predisposition to bad teeth, while others have excellent teeth. Cats with poor dental health, however, need to receive veterinary care in the form of a teeth cleaning.
Some owners are able to train their cats to allow them to clean their teeth at home. The amount of cleanings that any given cat will need depends on the overall health of the teeth. - Some cats with especially poor dental health might need tooth extractions. To rectify poor dental health, minimize the amount of canned food that the cat gets in favor of dried food. Because of the added nutrients it contains, canned food should still be a part of the diet if possible.
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As a cat gets older, its chances of developing various health problems increase. Cats can develop things like arthritis, immune deficiency problems and hyperthyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism needs to be monitored basisly, since it can affect blood pressure levels as well as decrease kidney function. In such a situation, the veterinarian will prescribe various medications to stabilize thyroid levels.
As a preventive measure, elderly cats will need more frequent veterinary checkups to make sure that they are aging healthily.
