ST. GEORGE — Cats demand respect.
Humans can heed the call by celebrating Respect Your Cat Day on Tuesday, March 28. This begs the question: What is the proper way to show a cat the respect it requires? Read on for some “purrfect” ways to help cats live long and “pawsper.”
Create a healthy ‘catmosphere’
Jude Figlo, manager of the PetSmart Cat Room in St. George, on behalf of Jackson Day Animal Rescue, said cats need enrichment to be healthy and happy.
“What that means is we give them the things they need to exhibit their natural behaviors,” said Figlo.
“That’s going to be giving them things to scratch and perch on like towers and posts, and playing with your cat daily to stimulate their natural prey drive.”
Feeding domestic cats what they would eat in the wild is another way to show respect. Cats are carnivores, so the food people give them should be high-quality products that have meat listed as the first ingredient on the label.
“If you think about what cats eat in the wild and prey, they’re made up of protein, some fat and a little bit of carbohydrate,” said Figlo.
Proper hydration is an important health issue that can be tricky with cats because they have a low thirst drive. One way to combat this is by feeding cats wet food which contains moisture. Figlo also recommends having plenty of water bowls in the house and experimenting with fun ways to entice cats to drink through things like water fountains.
No one likes a dirty restroom, including cats. Show your cat respect by scooping out the litter box daily and disinfecting the structure on a regular basis. Figlo recommends using unscented, clumping litter. This way, owners can monitor the amount of urine the cat is producing. If it’s more or less than “normal,” consult with a veterinarian.
Like kids, cats can get bored with their toys. Rotating toys keeps things fresh and interesting for cats.
Finding ‘furever’ homes for felines
The best way to show respect for cats is to make sure each one has a great place to live. Organizations like P.A.W.S. match homeless cats with people in need of furry companions. One big advantage to adopting a cat from a shelter in Southern Utah is that it will already be spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.
Lulu Hart, Rescue manager at P.A.W.S., said microchipping is important for all cats, not just the ones coming out of shelters and rescue operations.
“If he’s microchipped, the number will come up and we’ll put that into the database and your name and number will come up,” Hart said.
Another tip for respecting cats is to keep them well-groomed. This includes trimming their nails and brushing their coats on a regular basis.
“The more you brush your cat, the better their coat is going to be,” Hart said.
Alley cats
Feral cats who come into shelters are generally un-adoptable. This can lead to euthanasia. Kris Neal, founder of One More Chance Cat Rescue, said the best way to combat the problem of feral cats in the community is with a process called Trap, Neuter, Return.
“We respect feral cats by fixing them and stopping the behavioral issues and making them good neighbors,” Neal said.
Feral cats in the Trap, Neuter, Return program also are vaccinated so they’re not spreading disease. Neal said it’s important to respect feral cats by letting them live outside where they were born.
“We provide them with food, water and medical attention and just enjoy them from a distance,” Neal said.
While there is much that cats require from humans to be healthy, the No. 1 way to respect them is through love and attention. Just a few minutes of play and cuddle time each day can keep both parties feline fine.
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