Expert advice: What you should do every day to keep your cat healthy and happy

Many cat owners overlook a basic part of daily care, experts say, and that neglect can endanger their pets’ health.

A healthy routine involves more than food. Cats need balanced nutrition, sufficient water, daily play and mental stimulation. Jackson Galaxy, the cat behavior expert known for hosting “My Cat From Hell,” has long stressed the importance of meeting cats’ natural needs and instincts.

Galaxy recommends spending 10 to 15 minutes playing actively with a cat before each meal. Rather than simply switching on an automatic toy, owners can use a wand or feather toy and move it across the floor, hide it behind furniture, then bring it back into view. The cat should be able to stalk, run, jump and eventually catch the toy.

This sequence gives the cat physical exercise while engaging concentration, distance judgment and coordination. Offering food after play creates a natural pattern that resembles hunting, catching prey, eating and resting. For many cats, depending on age and health, dividing the daily food allowance into three meals can be practical.

Wet and dry food can form part of a balanced plan when it suits the individual cat. Owners should also pay close attention to water intake, since cats often drink less than expected. Wet food can help increase total fluid intake. Automatic toys remain useful when a cat is alone, but direct play also provides mental stimulation and strengthens the bond between pet and owner.