Kittens and cats can provide a lot of love and companionship for us. They seem at times to be so independent that it appears they don't need us. This is far from true. They depend on us for just about everything. They need us to play with them, to provide a healthy diet for them, a litter box with fresh litter that stays clean, to groom them and cut their toenails.
We have found that the more active your cat is, the healthier he or she will be. It is important as they age to try and keep them active. We know of a cat in his early twenties that had become rather lazy and sedentary. This cat became thin and bony.
The owner started exercising his cat by putting the cat's feet against a wall, with the cat laying down, and pushing the cat's back toward the wall. The cat would resist with his legs and back. After about 2 months of this and some extra walking and running, this cat built up more muscle in his back and legs and felt much stronger. So keep your cat active as he gets older.
Did you know that it is important for your cat or dog to eat the proper food for his or her best health? A puppy or kitten should be on puppy or kitten food for his first year. You can then switch him to a good maintenance diet until about seven years old. At this age you should switch him to a senior diet. If you have a large breed of dog, Nutro, Iams, Eukanuba and Science Diet makes a special diet that contains glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints. These ingredients are also in many of the senior diets. Iams, Nutro and Science Diet even make a special diet for cats that have hair balls. Science Diet and Nutro also make a food for cats and dogs with sensitive stomachs or skin. All of these brands make a special blend for weight control for your pet. Nutro, Eukanuba and Science Diet all have diets for good oral care, which helps prevent plaque and tartar build up on cats and dogs. They also make a lamb and rice formula for a pet that may have allergies or be sensitive to some of the common additives in dog food.