Your cat can have his or her best year ever by making these three changes.

2018 has been an interesting year. It certainly hasn’t been dull, especially with four cats in our household. Still, I’m always looking for ways to improve my cats’ lives and make them happier.

Simple Ways To Improve Your Cat’s Life

You may not know it, but there are ways to improve your cat’s life without spending a dime. Other changes may require a bit more buck for your bang (wait, did I say that right?).

Grow Your Own Catnip

I did this without any effort at all! Actually, the only catnip that lived through the summer was the wild catnip, not the stuff I planted.

Store-bought catnip is less of an effort, but think about how long it’s been on the shelf! It’s old and stale compared to fresh catnip. Growing your own catnip also ensures a more potent effect, even if you dehydrate it for storage.

To get started, you can buy seeds from your local Menards or plant nursery, or you can buy this DIY catnip growing kit.

Make The Switch To Raw Food

This is definitely the rock I will build my cat church upon.

The truth is that a raw diet is physiologically necessary for optimum cat health. Why? Because that’s what cats are designed for.

Veterinarians that say a raw diet is dangerous are ignoring the fact that a cat’s stomach is made to digest raw materials, including the meat, organs and bone of their prey. Cats in the wild do have a higher mortality rate, but it’s not because of their diet. Environmental factors, predators, and accidents (like getting hit by a car) are the real contributors.

My cats have been on a fully raw diet for over two years. Ever since then, we’ve been to the vet a lot less (Tippy was going at least once a month before switching to raw) and their health has improved dramatically. Their fur is soft, they’re highly energetic (not always a blessing, especially at 2am), and their poop is a lot less stinky (sometimes there’s no smell at all!).

The best raw food diet is one you make at home, but if you’re looking for commercial diets, my top two are Darwin’s Natural and Primal Pet Food (this is the one we feed our cats).

Switch Out Beds, Toys And Collars

Cats don’t care much for fashion, but it’s still refreshing to wear a new collar or find fresh catnip toys around the house. Cats deserve to get treats now and again!

Not only will they love a new cat bed or collar, but you should clean their bedding and toys regularly to prevent general yuckyness. Donate old toys, etc. to your local animal shelter.

[BONUS] Set Aside Playtime EVERY Day

This is a tough one because we, as humans, are busy with work and chores around the house. Even ten minutes of throwing catnip mice seems like an eternity when you have a busy workload.

Cats, however, need our time and attention too. Your pussycat may be aloof and ‘self-sufficient’, but it’s important to engage with them in play. Not only does it form a bond between you too, but it keeps your cat healthy in both mind and body.

It will improve your cat’s life, and you can feel less guilty about giving her those healthy treats you told her were junk food.

Will you be doing any of these things in 2019? What other ways can you think of to improve your cat’s life? Let us know in the comments, and we may just include your suggestion in our next post!