Lora Lee 
It is that time of year. The time when we all start thinking about creating a healthier lifestyle for ourselves. For at least the month of January, people to the gym, promising that this will be the year they stick with it. Shopping lists include more fresh fruits and vegetables. “A New Year, New Me” is the motto at the beginning of every year. Even I am participating in a 30-day Yoga Challenge. They say that it takes 30 days before something becomes a habit. That is my hopes with this Yoga Challenge.
All this “New Year, New Me” stuff got me to thinking that maybe a challenge to help my cats live a healthier lifestyle is needed. When we try to get healthier, we start exercising, taking supplements, improve our diet and incorporate other things like meditation. All of those are areas that can also benefit your cat’s health. So, I present you with the New Year, New Cat Challenge. A few things that you can do to improve the health and happiness of your cats this year.
Playtime
This is probably one of the biggest and easiest things that you can do to help your cat be happier and healthier. There are so many great toys out there now. Toys that can be played with independently. Some that requires you to engage with your cat. Both are equally important for your cat’s wellbeing. Providing your cats with toys that they can play with independently helps with their mental and physical stimulation as well as emotional.
And while providing your babies with toys for them to play with is important, interactive playtime between you and your cats are crucial to their wellbeing. Committing to 15 minutes a day of completely engaged playtime with your cats will provide them with their needed stimulation, but also help strengthen their bond with you. Coco Crazy Cat Toys from The-Two-Crazy-Cat-Ladies and CocoTherapy are the perfect toys for your cats and their New Year, New Cat Challenge.
Supplements
I have talked about adding supplements to your cat’s routine before. And I still stand by that. Just like we take our daily vitamins and minerals, your cats can benefit from daily supplements as well. I rotate through a variety of supplements, depending on what my cats might need or areas that I want to focus on. Right now, we are doing daily B12, OxyCat and Catalyst from The-Two-Crazy-Cat-Ladies. They also get some mushroom therapy 2-3 times a week. This provides them with necessary Omega-3. As well as a probiotic to help with gut health. Adding some supplements to your cat’s daily routine will definitely help improve their wellbeing and keep them on track for the New Year, New Cat Challenge.
Diet
When we try to get healthier, one of the first things that we do is change our diet. We cut out the junk and processed foods and replace them with healthier options. We know that our bodies need healthier foods in order to function properly. This same thought process applies to our cats. We can’t expect them to get, and stay, healthy without giving them the resources to do so.
Over the past year, I have realized just how vital this aspect is to their overall health. I have talked about the importance of a species appropriate raw diet for your cats. If you are not ready to fully transition your cat to a completely raw food diet, there are simple ways that you can incorporate raw into their diet. Making small changes to improve the quality of their food will go a long way. Paying attention to the ingredients in the food that you are feeding is just as important for your cats as it is for you. It will help them stick to their New Year, New Cat Challenge.
Extras
In addition to increased playtime, adding supplements and improved diet, there are other ways that you can help your cat live happier and healthier. Now, while your cat may not actually practice meditation, there are ways that you can provide them with the same kind of stimulation. Allowing them to use self-selection with herb gardens from Naturally Cats is an excellent step to a healthier life. You can also provide them with some mental stimulation by creating an Outside Sensory Box. This is as simple as getting a box and filling it with different things from outside. Things like leaves, rocks and twigs will provide your cat with a lot of different smells that will help their mental stimulation.
New Year, New Cat
As we try to become a better, healthier version of ourselves this year, why not include our cats for the journey. There are so many things and ways that we can implement to improve their lives. Making the commitment to provide them with a healthier way of life is just as important as the commitment to our own healthier choices. Making small steps can have the biggest impact. And who knows, maybe committing to helping them live a healthier lifestyle will help you stick to your own healthy lifestyle goal.
‘The cat does not offer services. The cat offers itself.’ – William Burroughs
