WE LOVE OUR CATS

At Loyal Friend, we love all types of animals and strive to understand their different temperaments and personalities. While dogs may be known as "man's best friend" and are typically considered to be more active companions, cats are usually shyer, quieter, and appreciate their solitude. We at Loyal Friend would like to help you to cater to the cat's lifestyle with the hope of making them more comfortable and happy in their own domain.

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ADOPT A SHELTER CAT

We have a serious issue with pet abandonment in the United States. With so many millions of domesticated pets, a large percentage of them end up in shelters and are eventually euthanized. When you're in the market for a new pet, we want you to be aware of your options. Of course, you can buy a new cat from a breeder or pet store, but you can also go to a local shelter and adopt a cat in need.

 

Some prospective pet owners get nervous when it comes to adopting pets because they worry that sheltered pets have social and physical problems, but most sheltered pets are not sheltered because of problems, but rather because of their former owner's financial and convenience issues.

 

Before you begin looking for a pet and decide on where to find your loyal friend, some important things to consider are companionship, entertainment, and the life-lessons you can learn from a pet. Studies have also shown that owning and loving a cat can decrease your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as reduce depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

 

Cats can help children, in that they learn higher self-esteem and social skills, as well as seniors who need companionship and a sense of self-worth and purpose. With an adopted cat, you can find all of these things and more, and have the peace of mind and pride that you helped an animal in need, who otherwise would've likely remained abandoned or eventually euthanized.

 

Visit ASPCA to learn about shelters in your area: Find a Shelter

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FEEDING 

Cats are extremely food-conscious animals, who are extremely aware of what they eat, and when they eat it. To keep your cat healthy and active, healthy cats should be fed high-quality and nutritious food in order to maintain and repair body tissues. Of course, the amount an adult cat eats depends on its size, but also on its energy output, as cats with extremely high activity levels require much more sustenance. Cats with normal energy output require little more than enough food to maintain, whereas cats who play and run more should be given that amount, plus 20-40%. Cats should also be provided fresh water in a bowl at all times, and the water bowls should be cleaned every single day.

 

Remember that cats are carnivores, and they require taurine -- an amino acid that is important for their heart functions, vision, and reproduction. While most mammals can make up for the lack of taurine in their diet with other foods, cats cannot, so they should be given a meat-based diet to meet their nutritional needs. And as a general rule of thumb, cats should be fed twice daily (8 to 12 hours apart), using the portion-control feeding method that is included on most cat food packaging.

 

If you have the extra time and energy and want to add some variety to your cat's diet, try:

Portion-Control Feeding - Measure your pet's food and offer it as a meal, thereby controlling the amount of food they consume.

 

This method is used primarily for weight-control programs:

 

Free-Choice Feeding - Make food available at all times, where your cat can eat as often as it wants. This method is most appropriate when feeding dry food, which will not spoil if left out.

 

Timed Feeding - Make a portion of food available to your pet only at specific times of the day. Once that time has passed, you must remove the bowl and food.

 

Finally, keep in mind that milk is not as good for your cat as you might think cats do not have enough lactase to break down the lactose in milk and it should never be provided to your cat as a substitute for water.

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PLAYING

As youngsters, cats are very fond of playing and embrace their social side. As with dogs, it is important to get your cat accustomed to play early in their life so that they become used to it and understand the joy that can come from socializing. For cats, play can be a complex learning process that helps them hone their physical and mental skills, but it should also be a fun release for them. Typically, cat play comes in three distinct forms, including:

 

SOCIAL PLAY

The most basic and fundamental style of play, where cats interact with their siblings and other pets, as well as their owner. Through social play, cats test the boundaries of their space and learn their place in relation to the outside world, and develop their personality through these personal and physical interactions.

 

OBJECT PLAY

This involves more interactive play, including poking, batting, and tossing. Object play represents the way a cat deals with pray and will help them develop survival skills -- which is usually depicted by a cat stomping on her toys and flipping them over, then mimicking a sense of control over the "prey."

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LOCOMOTOR PLAY

An active cat can only become more active through locomotor play, which helps a young cat increase strength and flexibility, and stimulates their appetites. Through locomotor play, cats learn that playing can be fun, as they jump and run with other cats and animals, as well as humans.

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SLEEPING

Cats are naturally and historically very cuddly and sleepy animals. Despite their excitement and enthusiasm, they love to rest and be comfortable in their own space, which is why it's very important to supply them with a cozy environment that they can crawl into whenever they please. We believe it is healthier for a cat to have its own bed rather than sleeping with its owner, and if you introduce this early on it will only help you in the long run.

 

Regardless, it is important to know that cats are sleepy animals. They can sleep up to sixteen hours a day, which is more than any other mammal. The reason for this is that they are predatory animals, and predators who have few physical enemies can afford to sleep for longer periods of time. They also exert a great deal of energy (typically in short bursts) when they are hunting, which makes them tired over time.

 

Cats sleep in two different but distinct ways -- light and deep sleep. In light sleep, cats appear to doze off and lie their heads on their paws, in an alert position. This type of sleep allows them to wake up and pounce at any moment. However, if they are relaxed they will move into a deeper sleep, when they stretch out and roll to one side, and it becomes harder for them to be riled in this kind of sleep.