December is the most wonderful time of the year. When the weather outside is frightful, curling up on the couch with a loved one is delightful. And you get to pamper the little ones with toys and treats. We’re talking, of course, about National Cat Lovers’ Month!
To celebrate this joyous period, here are some fun facts and helpful tips about our feline friends:
Fun Cat Facts
- Ancient Egyptians were the original cat lovers. As depicted in wall carvings and paintings dating back thousands of years, cats lived with people, providing companionship as well as protection from rodents and snakes. To show their appreciation, ancient royals dressed their cats in gold and let them eat leftovers from their posh dinner parties. The human-feline connection often continued into the afterlife, as many cats were mummified alongside their owners.
- While Ancient Egypt modeled the goddess Bastet after a cat, the town of Talkeetna, Alaska, elected a cat as mayor. With a scarcity of viable human candidates, residents led a write-in campaign for an orange tabby cat named Stubbs, who won the election and went on to hold office for 20 years.
- House cats are small but mighty. Studies show that they share a whopping 95.6% of their genetic makeup with tigers. Like their striped brethren, they can be fierce predators known to pounce.
- Cats are also freaky fast. They can even reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour!
Feline Friendly Tips
Aside from boning up on feline trivia, here are some other ways you can celebrate this month and make your cat(s) as happy and healthy as possible:
Take your kitty to the vet: Like us humans, cats can get in the habit of hiding signs of illness or pain. Their primal survival instincts take over when they’re feeling under the weather because appearing weak in the wild makes them easy prey for predators. Veterinarians can see through cats’ sneaky behavior with diagnostic testing and early detection.
Give your feline friend a spa day. Take them to a groomer for a makeover and a nail trim. A grooming session is a good chance to remove dirt and debris from their coat and to prevent walking / scratching issues from their long nails. Plus, they’ll love the special attention!
Fit their fitness into feeding time: To combat feline obesity, which affects 50% of cats in the country, try incorporating physical activity into their meals by using toys that release food as your feline friends play with them. You can also set their food bowls in different areas throughout the day.
Make them more comfortable. Cats are creatures of habit with preferences for where they like to sleep or just hang out. You might want to consider getting a window perch for your furry friend(s) to watch over the neighborhood and enjoy the snowfall this season. A new, warm cat bed would be a good gift as well.
Want to learn more about your cat and keep them in tip-top shape both physically and emotionally? Call (402) 322-2842 to schedule a visit with us!
