Process Analysis Essay

 Process Analysis Essay

                                    Josh Mosley

A Guide to a Health Happy Cat

            There are many reasons that people get cats, but one that is frequently included in the bunch is the ease and convenience of cats.  Cats do require less maintenance than most other pets, but they are not maintenance free like it seems some people believe.  There are many different things that people forget or don’t even realize that are very important to not only the physical needs of the cat but also the emotional needs as well.  There are several things you can do every day to help extend and expand the life of your cat.

            

           First, is the same way that most of us begin our morning; it starts with food.  Obviously just like with people the quality and the quantity of food given to the cat is very important.  In recent months the media and pet food stores have tried to raise awareness of the importance of a balanced and substitute free diet.  So it is important to give them a quality cat food portioned to the size and weight of your cat, most often specified on the bag.  It has also been discussed that it also important to add wet or canned food to their diet.  There are several benefits to the addition of canned food one is the extra moisture in the diet.  Wild prey that cats would eat is nearly 75% water and this is how they would get most of their moisture.  With just dry food they are missing out on a huge source of moisture intake.  This higher moister content is also vital for older cats or cats with kidney problems, because it dilutes the urine and can alleviate the frequency of many symptoms.  Canned food also has more protein than dry food and which is great for the development of younger cats and kittens.

 

The next and equally important part is water.  Cats are also very susceptible to urinary infection diseases which in most cases ends in a very expensive trip to the vet, or in some cases can lead to major infections and death.  The easiest and most effective way to combat that is lots of fresh water.  Cats like moving water, there are several reasons that this is believed.  One is that cats instinctually think that moving water is safer than still water, and another is that cats cannot see very well directly in front of them and sometimes can not judge the depth of a bowl very well.  Most vets will also encourage the use of a pet water fountain to encourage them to drink plenty of water and not just enough, like they might do with a bowl.  A fountain is also usually equipped with some sort of carbon based filter that provides healthier cleaner water to the cats. 

            The third thing that you can do is to help your cat maintain its hygiene.  Most people think that since their cat is always cleaning itself that the cat is clean and doesn’t need much else.  This assumption is not always correct, cats do a very good job cleaning themselves, but they need some help with other things.  The first thing neglected with not only cats but most pets is brushing there teeth. Proper dental hygiene is just as important to animals as it is for people.  This is one of the major advantages of dry food, but it can not be used instead of brushing.  Also, you should trim the nails of the cats.  Although this may seem like a dangerous mission, it is very important.  Nails that are not trimmed can get extremely sharp and be dangerous to the cat or other cats around them, and also to their owners and their processions.  One other thing that people forget, is to brush your cat regularly this will help promote healthy skin growth and also prevent hairballs.  It is also important to clean inside the cats ears, if this is neglected it could lead to infection.

            Another thing that a cat needs is stimulation.  Lots of people get a cat, because they are much easier to leave during the day if you work long hours.  This is a definite advantage to cats, and is very possible with the proper accommodations.  Some cats behavioral experts say that you need to create different “play stations” around your house.  If you have a cat you notice when they play it involves lots of running, darting, and jumping. The spots idea uses this so they can dart form place to place.  Having different spots for them to go to makes it more fun for them and also promotes more movement and exercise.  It is also encouraged to have places for the cats to lay and look outside.  Most cats raised indoors don’t have much of a desire to go and stay outside, but giving them to opportunity to watch outside or be in a screened in porch will be beneficial to them.  Another very important toy that must be included in this list is a scratching post.  Cats have a need to scratch, it helps them file and keep nails healthy, it can also be a way of marking territory or showing dominance.    

            Lastly, it is very important to remember to just let your cat be a cat.  Sometimes cats do weird things and make the most peculiar noises that don’t make sense to us, but that’s just what cats do.  Since most cats spend most of their lives inside it is important to be conscious of all these things so that you can help promote the most balanced life possible for your cat. A healthy cat makes a happy cat, and that is what we all want.  Cats are more sensitive then some people think, but with some easy daily steps you can make all the difference in their quality of life.