This Wednesday, October 29th, is National Cat Day in the United States, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than spoiling your beloved fur baby to pieces.  Here are some ideas for giving your kitty just a touch more love than he or she is used to:

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    Swing by the store and grab a shiny new toy!  For extra points, choose a noisy toy with moving parts…and don’t forget to cover it in catnip!

  • Bake a special treat.  Of course, you’ll need to consider any dietary restrictions that have been prescribed by your vet, but if it’s allowed, try out a few homemade cat treat recipes.  We really love THIS RECIPE, provided by Joy the Baker.  We also really enjoyed the photo montage of her cat, and we’re positive that you will too.
  • Schedule a little extra cuddle time.  If your kitty loves your lap, schedule out some time this week to just sit and snuggle.  We guarantee that the downtime will be mutually beneficial, and this suggestion is extremely budget-friendly!  It won’t cost you a dime!
  • Give the gift that keeps on giving.  …and by “keeps on giving”, we are referring to a nice fresh odor-free home.  This week, splurge on that self-cleaning litter box that you’ve been thinking about buying for years.  It’s certainly not a “set it and forget it” kind of contraption (you’ll still have to put some work in – sorry!), but it definitely lightens the load, so to speak.  You will love how much easier litter box duty will be, and your cat will love having a nice clean litter box to visit.
  • Give a donation is his or her honor.  Although fluffy won’t ever notice that you’ve done this, it’s a cute idea that can make a positive impact.  Contact your local shelter and offer to make a donation in your pet’s honor.  Every penny helps when it comes to the care and feeding of shelter animals.

It is estimated that approximately 4 million cats enter shelters each year, and of those 4 million, about 1-2 million are euthanized.  It’s a dreadful tragedy, and we should all be doing our part to reduce those numbers.  That’s the purpose behind National Cat Day:  to raise awareness and hopefully change these statistics for the better.

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Before adopting a kitten, be sure to think it through carefully.  Make sure that you are up to the large task of caring for another living thing.  If, later in life, you find that you are no longer able to provide for your cat, do everything you can to find a suitable home before relinquishing him or her to a shelter.  Last, but absolutely not least, spay or neuter your cat when he or she is old enough.  Talk to your veterinarian about what age is best, and schedule that appointment as soon as you can.  It’s the most important thing you can do to prevent unplanned litters.

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