By Dr. Liz Ruelle, DVM

Cats have rapidly become North America’s number one companion animal, with 10 million more feline pets in America then dogs. Despite this popularity, they are sadly at a greater risk of not reaching their full potential. To ensure your cat has a full and healthy life, there are three key components that need to be recognized and acted on:

1. Proper nutrition
2. Balanced lifestyle
3. Veterinary care

Information about the nutritional requirements of cats could fill numerous books. It’s also one of the subjects your veterinarian is well versed in. Cats are obligate carnivores and require a protein rich diet, but, as not all protein sources are created equal and the pet food industry is not well regulated, speak to your veterinarian about any concerns you may have.

While some cat diseases have a special diet as part of treatment, changing up your healthy cat’s diet may actually hurt your cat so always ask your vet before making changes. Once your cat is on the correct diet, remember that portion control is key to weight management. It has been shown that overfeeding your cat by as little as 10 kibbles a day equates to that extra pound over a year and when you only weigh 10 pounds to begin with, that extra pound is a lot!

A balanced lifestyle is something we all try to achieve, and if we have the nutrition side under control then we need to focus on exercise. Now we can all lecture our cats to get on those treadmills and work out, but we know that is not in their nature as they are too busy watching the birds fly by and resting in the sun. Playing with your cat for as little as five minutes a day is enough to not only help boost their metabolism, and achieve weight management, but is enough to keep their minds healthy as well.

Try different toys as some love to chase after laser lights whereas others may prefer to “hunt” after toy mice or chase after balls. Whatever toys you are using, to reduce the risk of accidental ingestion of a foreign body, make sure they are durable, check them often for signs of wear and replace toys that have been enjoyed too much.

Although cats are the more popular companion, they consistently receive less veterinary care then their canine counterparts. There is a misconception that cats require less medical care. That isn’t true — they are just a heck of a lot less fun to take to the vet and are a lot more subtle when sick. If you dread taking your cat to the vet, please know that you are not alone. My own cats hiss and growl at me when I need to bring them in and then it takes days for me to be forgiven after a vet visit. But I won’t deny them the care they need because it makes me feel guilty.

There are several movements in Canada and the U.S. to make guardians aware that cats need regular veterinary care and I would encourage every cat guardian to check out www.healthycatsforlife.com. This website was part of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) “subtle signs of sickness” campaign a few years ago. Apart from summarizing the signs and symptoms every cat guardian should know about, it has an entire section on getting your cat to the vet with lots of helpful tips.

Remember, achieving a state of good health to meet your own potential takes work but is definitely worth it. Your cats deserve the same effort to ensure they’re in top health for as long as they’re with you.

—Dr. Liz Ruelle, Willow Park Feline Clinic, is a proud member of the AAFP and CATalyst council and works daily to ensure that Calgary cats have full and healthy lives.