As another year comes to a close, as pet parents, it’s time to reflect and ask ourselves what we would rather do differently in 2017. Here are a few New Year’s resolutions to get you going.
Catify your home
Ever wonder what your cat does when you’re away? If your cat gets into mischief, the New Year can be a good occasion to finally redesign your living space with your kitty in mind. Plenty of vertical space provided by cat trees and wall mounts can help to keep your cat exercising Likewise, providing horizontal access to sunny windows can make for cozy sleeping spots and hours of bird watching fun!
Volunteer with or donate to rescue organizations
It’s a well known that pets have a lasting impact on a person’s emotional and physical health. Having a feline companion can help you get through some really tough times. If you find yourself without a cat, but with plenty of love to give, consider becoming a foster pet parent. You’ll give an animal a loving home and prepare them to pay it forward to their future adoptive parents. If you don’t have the space or the time to take on such a commitment, you can help these organizations continue to find loving homes for cats in need of care and attention.
Make time to play with your cat
If your cat had a New Year’s resolution, it would probably be to spend more time with you. You cat misses you when you are away. Cats can also be prone to loneliness when you’re home but not paying attention to them. While they don’t have much control over when you come and go, they do go out of their way to be affectionate with you. Take a moment to return the favor, and even try to initiate 15 minute play sessions for them twice a day. Remember, they may be only a part of your world, but you are their entire world.
Strike a balance with good cat news
With an especially tumultuous presidential election season and the passing of many beloved celebrities closing out 2016, many are feeling distraught over the volume of negative headlines on their newsfeeds. If you like to stay informed but feel overwhelmed by the news, balance it out by taking some time to read up on what’s happening in the world of cats. Love Meow, The Dodo, Cole and Marmalade, and CatCon Worldwide are all great channels to tune into when you need a pick me up.
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Candace Elise Hoes is a pet sitter and blogger at Katie’s Kitty. She is a graduate of the MFA Writing Program at California College of the Arts.
photo by manuelsvay on flickr