A topic that I love to discuss is whether pet ownership is not only enjoyable but also beneficial to our health as pet owners. So let’s take a brief look at some of the talk around whether pet ownership leads to a healthier life.

Research

Much research has gone into studying the health benefits of pet ownership. Science studies in Australia, Britain, Germany and the United States during the 1990s have come pretty close (in social science terms anyway) to establishing that pet ownership produces health benefits in some shape or form. But pet ownership is not necessarily all smooth sailing. Both benefits and detrimental effects can be experienced, often to the same degree as the highs and lows of a relationship between two humans.

Direct and indirect benefits

It is important to note that the very definition of health needs to be looked at in a broader sense when thinking of the benefits of pet ownership. There are many direct health benefits attributed to pet ownership such as:

• reduced risk of asthma (in children)
• reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
• improved physical condition of older people within the community.

Studies also suggest that there are also many indirect benefits of pet ownership. Typically this is the general well-being of the pet owner that is improved, from a physical and mental aspect. Companionship is the common reason for increased well-being; the very reason why many pets are adopted by owners. In addition, recent news has indicated that the indirect benefits are being taken more seriously - a good example of this is a published news article from the Australian newspaper the Herald Sun, reporting that a Victorian prison had recently taken on the rehabilitation of greyhounds as domestic pets for prison inmates with great success.

In my opinion

For me, there is no doubt in my mind that pet ownership at the very least encourages greater social interactions with other people (E.g. interacting with other like minded pet owners - this may well be one reason you are reading this post!) not to mention pet ownership often being the social catalyst that helps alleviate loneliness and isolation. This of course is experienced at various levels depending on the pet owner, their social situation and the pet, but I would take a guess that at least once, every pet owner has felt calm and with company having their pet around whilst they are on their own.

I for one are thankful for my cat Charlie’s company whilst my partner is away from home; Charlie and I have a strong bond and Charlie seems to even understand that more of his company is needed when I am on my own! Very smart cats those Tonkinese!

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More and more cat owners are keeping their cats indoors on a permanent basis. This can be for many reasons, such as to avoid outdoor risks such as traffic, fighting with other cats and diseases. Due to these reasons, indoor cats typically live longer when compared to outdoor cats.

Indoor cats do however have special needs that if considered will avoid behavioural problems from being indoors all the time. Below are Buzz Pet’s Top 7 Tips when keeping an indoors only cat.

Tip #1 - Litter trays

Litter trays are a fundamental requirement for any indoor cat. General rules that apply are:

• 1 tray per cat, placed in an accessible, quiet location AWAY from where the cats sleep and eat
• Most cats prefer larger trays with no cover (so try to avoid the covered trays with a cat flap)
• Litter preferences also matter (you may want to read my post on litter); if you find a litter your cat seems to like then do not change!
• Clean the litter daily, and rinse the tray each week.

Remember the better the hygiene the happier your cat (and lets face it this is not much different to us humans!).

Tip #2 - Scratching poles

Cats love to scratch and scratching is a fundamental activity for all cats; the trick is to provide the “right” options for your cats to scratch, rather than the expensive furniture! Scratching poles are great, available in a variety of colours and most these days come with replaceable covers - when the cover wear’s out, simply replace it. Locate poles near the entry of rooms and sleeping areas - cats also scratch to leave their scent.

Tip #3 - Cat trees

Cats love to be up high so that they can observe life going by. Cat trees provide this opportunity and can serve two purposes as most trees these days have scratching poles built in. Many trees have multiple levels for your cat to enjoy, some with the additional of toys hanging off each level to keep your cats amused.

Tip #4 - Toys

There are literally thousands of cat toys available, but finding the right toys for your cat can be a challenge. Try both hunting style toys such as mice and birds, and less traditional toys such as balls, string etc. Sometimes the simplest of toys such as scrunched up paper or ping-pong balls can provide hours of cat entertainment. Make sure you rotate the toys and leave them out for play when you are not home.

Another hot tip is to set up a fish aquarium at home; this will provide hours of entertainment for your cat (just make sure that they cannot get access to the water!).

Tip #5 - Outdoor Cat Enclosures

Cat enclosures really provide the best of both worlds for you and your cat by allowing your cat to get outdoors in a safe environment. There are professional ready-made cages down to DIY home-made ones; you are really only limited by your creativity (and your where you live of course).

Tip #6 - Cat walking

You can also train your cat to wear a harness and walk on a lead; this can be a slow process at first, one good approach is to allow your cat to feel comfortable wearing the harness before heading outdoors. One trick is to train your cat to associate wearing the harness with fun things such as playing with a certain toy. Similar to most training, it is best to begin this from an early age whilst your cat is still a kitten. Note that some breeds (I have had some success with Charlie our Tonkinese) will adopt walking very quickly, whilst others may take more training. Patience is the key!

Tip #7 - Indoor plants

Cat grass, cat herbs, potted plants -anything that grows indoors may well take the eye of your cat. Most cats like to graze on grass at sometime so it is worth considering setting up a simple “cat garden”.

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Two very good friends of mine have been going through a tough time this week. Oscar, their male Tonkinese kitten has been fighting for his young life after contracting Feline Panleukopenia, a highly contagious virus caused by the feline parvovirus. This virus has in the past been the leading cause of cat death but today is rather uncommon due largely to the effectiveness of vaccines. I personally have never heard of this virus let along a kitten contracting a serious virus after being desexed (which occurred in Oscar’s case). Needless to say my heart sank when I heard the news and I wish Oscar a full recovery (apparently he is a tough little thing and is hanging in there, under observation at the vet).  I will keep you all posted on how Oscar progresses.

Further reading on Feline Panleukopenia (FP) can be found via the links below:

• American Veterinary Medical Association
• Wikipedia
• Zoologic

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Checking your cat’s teeth on a regular basis and keeping them clean is vital to your cat’s overall health. Put simply, your cat’s teeth are very important - if they lose their teeth, they will have no way of eating! Below are some great tips to point you in the right direction.

Visually check

Visually checking your cat’s teeth and gums on a regular basis is a good start. First of all check your cat’s breath. If your cat’s breath is strong / bad then this could indicate an infection of the gums or a tooth.

Tartar and plaque

Similar to us humans, cat teeth need to be free from tartar and plaque to stay healthy and problem free. Your cat’s gums are an easy thing to check - if they appear a healthy light pink in colour then chances are they are healthy. If however they appear red and/or are bleeding, there may be a problem so it is probably best to take your cat to the vet for a check-up.

Cat brushing

You can purchase special brushes from good pet stores to brush and clean your cat’s teeth. As with most training and behaviours, starting to clean your cat’s teeth at an early age is the best approach. Another method is to put a little bit of baking soda on a rag to rub your cat’s teeth. The mild abrasive qualities of baking soda will clean your cat’s teeth in no time.

Cat rinsing

A similar approach to brushing your cat’s teeth but a little easier for you and your cat, is to rinse your cat’s teeth. Simply rub a little mouthwash to a rag and rub on the cats gum / teeth. Just make sure that the mouthwash you use has been approved for pet consumption!

Diet

There are various options with diet, from special cat chews for teeth cleaning right through to the rather simpler approach of feeding your cat raw chicken bones. All teeth friendly diets work on the basics of abrasion - as your cat eats the food gently rubs against their teeth and removes any plaque and/or tartar.

A word on chicken bones - it is critical that any bones fed to your cat are RAW. Cooked bones are dangerous for cats particularly older cats where the likelihood of the bone splintering and being lodged in the cat’s throat are increased. Raw bones are also no hassle - often the butcher will give you chicken necks for free and our cat Charlie loves them.

In summary

My advice is simple - prevention is yet again far better than the cure when dealing with your cat’s teeth health. At an early stage of your cat’s life, get him/her used to regular teeth checks and eating teeth healthy food such as chicken necks and raw bones. Doing so is a great way to prevent any teeth problems further in your cat’s life.

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Correctly washing your dog’s coat on a regular basis is essential for a healthy coat and reduces the chance of skin irritation for your dog. Below are some handy hints to get you started.

To shampoo or not

It is a definite “yes” to using shampoo, however the shampoo must be specially made for dogs. Dogs pH levels are different to that of ours, so a shampoo that is specially designed for dogs will ensure your dog’s skin will remain healthy and reduce the chance of skin irritation.

Frequency

The general rule is to wash your dog no more than once a fortnight. Dogs have natural oils that protect and treat their coats, so too frequent washing can start to remove these oils and cause skin irritation.

Flea prevention

Prevention is far better (and easier) than cure when dealing with fleas. Spot-checking your dog for fleas and the regular use of a flea shampoo will reduce the chances of your dog being infected. Remember, there are plenty of dog shampoos on the market that all claim similar benefits. The important thing to remember is to use the shampoos regularly and as directed.

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