September is Happy Healthy Cat Month. Which is a good excuse to talk about something cat parents don't hear enough about.
Cats hide things.
Dogs will tell you when something is off. They limp. They mope. They give you sad eyes. Cats? Cats will act completely normal until something has been wrong for months. It's a survival instinct, and it's inconvenient for the humans trying to keep them healthy.
That means being a good cat parent is really about paying attention to small changes, not waiting for obvious ones.
The small things that matter:
- Water intake. Cats are notorious for not drinking enough. Watch the bowl.
- Litter habits. Frequency, amount, consistency. All of it tells you something.
- Weight. Cats can lose or gain a pound and you might not notice. Weigh them monthly.
- Coat quality. Dull, greasy, or shedding more than usual? Something's up.
- Sleep spots. Sudden change in favorite spots can signal discomfort.
- Grooming. Cats who stop grooming (or over-groom) are telling you something.
Then there's what goes in their bowl.
Most commercial cat treats are packed with fillers, artificial flavors, and mystery proteins. That's because cats are picky, and manufacturers get around picky by adding flavor coatings that mask what's really in there. The cat likes it. The cat's gut doesn't.
The cleaner move is single ingredient.
Shrimply Irresistible. One ingredient: freeze-dried cooked shrimp. Made and sourced in the USA. Cats go feral for it.
Tiny Fins. One ingredient: freeze-dried minnows. Also made and sourced in the USA. Whole tiny fish, high value, no additives.
Both work as an everyday treat or a topper for meals. Nothing hidden. Nothing to react to.
A simple monthly cat health check:
- Weigh them
- Look at their coat
- Check their teeth (breath, buildup, gums)
- Watch their water bowl for a full day
- Check litter box output for a full day
- Notice their favorite sleep spots
Do this once a month and you'll catch things way earlier than you would otherwise.
"A cat won't tell you they don't feel good. That's why the small stuff is the big stuff."
with love, Ava
