Back-to-School: Cat Edition

~ About an 8 minute read ~

It’s that time of year… the days are starting off cooler so layers are a must. The sun is rising later and setting earlier… and it’s time for school to start! There’s always a sort of anticipation and excitement in the air at this time. I haven’t been in school in a looooong while, but I still feel it. (And still have those anxiety dreams where I need to write an exam for a class to which I’ve never been. Please say I’m not the only one!)

I thought it might be fun to jump on the back-to-school bandwagon and make it about cats. What’s better than the thrill of a new school year? Setting your cat up for a new school year! Here are some tips and tricks to set your cat up for success for the year. The classroom … is your home! And the teacher… is you! 

Closet Declutter: Litter Box Refresh

I used to go through all my clothes before a school year, donating items that I no longer fit into, and generally organizing my room. Similarly, it’s time for a kitty declutter! Start your September out right and give your litter box a full clean with water and dump out the litter. Avoid using any strong smelling scents (any cleaning products ending with -sol and bleach, for example). Fill up the box with litter to your cat’s desired depth. It’s so nice to have a clean “bathroom” to start out the school year.

Back-to-School Supplies: Cat Toys! 

Purchasing new toys for your cat is always fun. I try to expand their horizons with new textures (crinkle, squishy, paper), different shapes and sizes, and varying types of toys (independent play versus co-play). A new toy injects some excitement and introduces a new smell for the cat to explore. If your cat isn’t interested in a particular toy, think about donating it to your local cat rescue!

You can also rotate your current toys. Collect all your cat’s toys into a basket or bin. Leave out two or three, and put the rest away in an inaccessible spot. Then rotate through on a weekly or monthly basis. This will reset the scent on the toys that were put away and your cat will want to “kill” them again. Rubbing some catnip on the new toys can also help increase interest.

Visit to the Doctor: Annual Exam & Vaccinations

What better way to remember that it’s time to go to the vet than the start of a school year! Get those vaccinations up to date and get a check up. It’s always easier (and less expensive and less painful) to prevent illness, than to react to illness. Annual exams will establish a baseline and will determine what is normal for your cat before the onset of illness.

Remember that cats are excellent at hiding illness. They are built to keep moving through pain. Additionally, seeing our pets every day means we miss subtle changes in their bodies and behaviour. Do they hesitate before jumping on the bed? Are they vomiting on and off? Are they less tolerant of touch? It’s easy to miss it when it’s a slow gradual change over the months and years. It takes a village to take care of these little beasts!

Packed Lunches: Cat-Chuteries

Without adding too much more to your plate (pun intended), try infusing some variety into your cat’s diet. Try a new protein, a new texture, a new treat… and if you put it on a wooden board, we can call it a cat-chuterie. (And also please send me a picture on instagram. I would love to see your #catchuterie.) It’s so much fun discovering food that your cat loves… or hates! It’s all good information! 

Get Ready to Learn: Gut Health

You might be wondering .. why gut health if we’re talking about learning? Well gut health has a strong link to memory, learning, and attention. If we support the gut, we support learning. So check out your cat’s litter box: how are the poops? Are they stinky? Voluminous? Too hard and crumbly? Additionally, does your cat have environmental allergies? Or food intolerances? Support your cat’s gut health with moisture- and protein-rich diets that are lightly processed. Talk to your vet about adding a prebiotic and probiotic. Also consider adding a fish oil such as sardine or herring to your cat’s meal. A healthy gut goes a long way to support learning.

Order Gym Clothes: Daily Physical & Mental Exercise

I remember having to purchase gym clothes before the school year started… just me? Anyways! One of the best things we can do for our cat is to provide them with physical and mental stimulation that is suited to the individual. That could be daily playtime before bed (remember to end with a snack), watching a bird feeder from the window sill, or hiding treats around the room. Our cats are little lions so we want to fulfill their hunting instincts and provide stimulating brain activities. Our cats may be little lions but they’re also smart!

The hardest part is implementing this into your daily routine. Try pairing playtime with something that you do everyday. For example, add in 5-minutes of clicker training after you brush your teeth at night. Scheduling it alongside an already established habit can be the key to implementing daily playtime.

Update Contact Information: Microchips

If you haven’t already, have your veterinarian or local shelter microchip your cat. This is a rice-sized chip that is implanted just underneath the skin between the shoulder blades (although it can move around!). With a microchip scanner, a number will pop up that is registered to a particular chip company. This company will have your contact information. So if you’ve moved since your vet or rescue took your information, it’s time to get that updated. If you don’t have the microchip records, have your vet scan the chip at your next appointment to determine which chip company to call with your new information. 

Microchips are not tracking devices but will get your cat home to you if they are picked up by animal control, a rescue group, or a concerned citizen. One of the best things that can happen when working in rescue is when you find a stray cat and they have a chip. Make sure that your contact information is up to date!

Class Schedule: Enroll in Training Classes

I loved choosing my classes in high school and university. I remember reading the entire course calendar before my first year of university because I was so excited. #nerd. Guess what! This same joy can be extended to your cat! There are so many fun things your cat can learn. Carrier and pill training, tooth brushing, and nail trimming are excellent skills that are great for every single cat to know. Then there’s the party tricks like “sit”, “prairie dog”, and weaving through your legs… for example. Cats are so much fun to teach and your bond with your cat will strengthen. I think of training as establishing a language between you and your cat. If you think you and your cat are inseparable now? Just wait.

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As we enter the back-to-school time of year, I wish you, your human children, and your pets (your animal children) all the best for the school year. It’s such an exciting time that it makes me want to go back to school too! 

~ Thank you for reading! ~