A Pre-Valentine's Day Love Story

Once upon a time, there was a brown-eyed girl. She was always looking ahead, pondering what her future might hold.

What the brown-eyed girl didn't know was that there was a starry-eyed boy out there made just for her.

These two, their love story began when they were young.

And that love story, it continues on to this day, even after all these years. Five years, to be roughly exact.

Well, that tale was short, sweet, and downright cheesy, wasn't it? The real story is far more cut-and-dried than it is flowery. The plain and simple reality is that my parents' cat Trapper loves him some Astrid, and he always has. He loves her smell, he loves sitting with her, and sitting on her. It doesn't matter if said pup wants her personal space, because Trapper is simply not going to allow for that if the pup is around.

In case you were curious, that last less-than-quality photo was a quick shot taken just last night, when Astrid visited my parents' house after her walk. When pup Astrid goes to my parents' house, Trapper always finds her. Always. Whether Astrid likes it or not. Romantic, huh?

Obviously, I had to doodle something up for these lovebirds.

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Our Tip of the Day:

Our current topic of conversation stems back to the fact that it is National Cat Health Month. Yesterday, in our tip regarding diet, we made a comment on the fact that your kitty's weight will indeed help determine the best diet for them. Today's tip is a continuation of that topic of weight. If your cat is overweight, for example, then portion control is of course important, as is the type of food, frequency of feedings, and other such factors. There are weight loss cat foods on the market, these often focusing on high protein intake, but do be sure to discuss with a veterinarian your kitty's weight and the best diet to help them live a healthy, fit life. Similarly, if a cat is underweight, such as due to an illness, diet can play a large role in increasing their weight and overall health. Again, discuss with a veterinarian what type and quantity of food to feed your cat in order to achieve an optimal weight.

Moving on from diet, though, we'll now briefly discuss activity level. We'll primarily discuss this in terms of overweight cats, as activity level indeed affects this greatly. So, especially if your cat is overweight, engage them in various activities and games each day. You can grab a toy and play chase or catch with them. Wand toys, as you all certainly know, are often great at getting cats up and moving. You can also enlist the help of more advanced interactive toys, which can keep your cat busy without you having to do all the work. Anything that is safe yet that also keeps your kitty's interest and prompts them to move around and participate in daily activity can be a great benefit to their body condition and overall health.

The above being said, if your cat is in any way ill or injured, such as with asthma or an injury, do be sure to discuss with a veterinarian what types of activity are safe for them. Diet and activity level will both of course play a large roll in keeping your cat's weight in a healthy range, but not all diets and activity levels are suited for all cats. So, if your cat is overweight, or even underweight, perhaps do some research, discuss your individual kitty's condition with a veterinarian, and then remain motivated and optimistic about getting your kitty healthy and fit.