With the announcement of the UK’s next Prime Minister coming in the next hours, we’re turning our attention to one of the longest serving members at Number 10 – Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, Larry the cat – and we wondered if you’d be interested in a feature idea?
Larry has outlasted a number of Prime Ministers throughout his long life of 15 years.
The tabby cat, adopted from Battersea Cats & Dogs Home, has remained a constant presence in the Prime Minister’s household throughout the ongoing political turmoil and recently reassured fans (via his popular Twitter account) that he’ll remain in residence when Boris Johnson moves out in the coming weeks.
With this in mind, the experts at ORIJEN Petfoods are sharing their five top tips on how your cat can maximise its nine lives and live a life as long and healthy as Larry:
Keeping boredom at bay
Playtime is imperative for all pets and cats are not the exception. Despite having a reputation for lazing around all day, cats get, and enjoy the ‘zoomies’ (hyper behaviour making them run around) too! They require large amounts of stimulation (both mental and physical) to stay happy and healthy. Toys such as scratching posts, wands, balls and tunnels (not to be played with or given all at once!) can provide valuable enrichment for their cognitive and physical development – both in kittens and adult cats.
Move it along!
You may hear the security outside Number 10 telling people to keep moving along, however, the message resonates for Larry and other cats too: exercise is incredibly important to keep your cat healthy, as well as happy. Remember to take into account the size and age of your cat when going about exercising your cat. They typically play and move around with short bursts of energy, so ensure you keep each activity or movement relatively short. A good, rough, guide is around 10-15mins, but it will depend on your cat. Repeat twice throughout the day to ensure they get their blood pumping and are achieving a healthy dose of endorphins. Think about also training your cat to walk on a leash (if and when they’re comfortable with it) so you can enjoy adventures with one another.
Catching the Zzz’s
Cats are experts in sleep. No matter the condition, weather or time, rest assured they’ll find a comfy spot to doze off. Whilst biologically programmed to be most active at night – as hunters, they use the disguise of night to capture their prey – domestic cats can be trained to sleep through the night with frequent naps in the day. As kittens, they’ll sleep for most of the day before growing up as adults and cutting down the amount of sleep needed. Try and enforce a sleeping schedule as soon as you can to ensure there are no instances of erratic behaviour in the middle of the night when they’re no longer tired. Exercise and a proper diet will help them feel less lethargic too.
Grooming glory
Cats also enjoy being groomed and kept clean and are in fact naturally self-cleansing animals. Taking some time to brush their pearly whites and comb their coats is also an excellent opportunity to bond with your cat – you’ll be surprised how much you enjoy the ritual too!
You are what you eat
Your diet should be reflected in that of your cats. Like humans, cats need a balanced diet with lots of nutrients and protein. By nature, they are carnivores which is important to consider when choosing their food, as is their age, size and other dietary requirements they may have. The taste test is equally as important! We’d recommend ORIJEN Guardian 8 for adult cats. The entire ORIJEN range – from kitten to adult -, is specifically formulated for a cat in each of its life stages. They are also biologically appropriate thanks to the abundance of fresh and raw WholePrey animal ingredients including meat, organs and bones – meaning your cat can eat as its ancestors once did. The health benefits of Guardian 8 include immune and digestive system support, a healthy coat and skin as well as joint health for senior and older cats like Larry. Remember, it’s always important to do your research into the best food fit for your cat. Visit the ORIJEN site to find out more.
