HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CAT IS HEALTHY?

To help keep them independent and wonderfully uncooperative, remember to check your C.A.T.S.

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SIGNS OF A HEALTHY TEMPERAMENT

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ENERGY

It may be (Opens in new window)hard to tell if your cat is sleeping 14 hours a day or 16, but their energy level and playfulness are a great gauge for their health.

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CASUAL CHAT

You can probably tell the difference between your cat’s "Pet me!" meow and their "Feed me!" meow. Pay attention for new vocalizations that may be cries for help.

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GOOD AIM

A litter-box trained cat should hit the target 99.9% of the time. If your cat suddenly starts Opens in new windowleaving the worst kind of surprises around the house, talk to your vet.

CHECKING YOUR C.A.T.S.?

Watch your cat’s ball explain signs of a healthy temperament.

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“As natural hunters, cats are programmed not to show weakness until they absolutely have to.”

— Angela Hughes, Global Science Advocacy Senior Manager at Mars Petcare

YOUR CAT’S TEMPERAMENT IS UNIQUE

Cats are as different from each other as their owners, so it can be hard to know when to act. Here are a few tips.

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For the most part, cats' personalities aren't closely tied to their breed. The feline family is much more closely related than their canine counterparts.
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Is your cat a lap sitter or a solo act? If your cuddler is suddenly keeping their distance or vice-versa, they may be trying to tell you something.
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Your cat's personality can change as they age. They tend to settle into their personalities around the age of two. After that, sudden changes are uncommon.
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INFORMATION PROVIDED BY 
DR. ANGELA HUGHES, GLOBAL SCIENCE ADVOCACY SENIOR MANAGER AT MARS PETCARE (opens in new window)

 

As a professional researcher and veterinary geneticist, Dr. Hughes has spent her career sharing her expertise on pet health. Her work has been featured in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, PLOS One, PLOS Genetics and Large Animal Internal Medicine.

IAMS HELPS SUPPORT YOUR CAT'S HEALTHY TEMPERAMENT

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CONSULT AN EXPERT

Interested in contacting a veterinarian or learning more about the health of your cat? Banfield Pet Hospital can help

Checking your C.A.T.S. can help you discover the early warning signs of something that’s not quite right with your cat, in addition to yearly wellness exams for adult cats under 10-years old and twice a year for cats over 10.