A healthy cat will move with speed, agility, and elegance thanks to its toned upper body, which will look to have supple strength. Watching a cat bend down while hunting for prey and move slowly back and forth is like watching poetry in action. His structure is flawless, and every bone, tendon, and muscle in his body works in synchrony.
The muscular-skeletal system of a healthy cat
When standing stationary and viewed in profile, a healthy cat will appear balanced. He can keep his head high because to the strength in his neck and shoulders. His rib cage protects and encloses his heart, lungs, liver, and gallbladder. When a cat is at a healthy weight, its ribs can be touched but are not very noticeable. The limbs of a healthy cat have strength, movement, and speed thanks to systems of muscles, ligaments, and tendons that cover and support the bone structure.
The front feet and legs of the healthy cat
The front legs of a healthy cat are used for balancing, running, climbing, and grabbing prey. The elbows are held close to the body while walking and standing. When a cat extends laterally or vertically to scratch a scratching post, the front legs may be almost straight and fully extended.
The Procedures a Healthy Cat Follows
Because they walk on their toes rather than our heels and balls of our feet like we do when we walk, cats are digitigrade mammals. Plantigrade mammals, which include people, rabbits, and bears, walk on the entire sole of their feet. Horses and dogs are digitigrade mammals as well. Due to the coordination of their front and hind legs, cats walk differently from other animals. A far smaller, quieter trail is left behind as a result of this natural defense mechanism, which makes it more challenging for predators to find and follow.
Cat’s front toes and claws
A healthy cat typically has 10 toes on its front feet. Multitoed polydactyl cats, also called “Hemingway Cats,” are the exceptions. Cats have exceptionally strong toes that they employ when climbing to elevate their bodies higher. When chasing a rubber ball (or a mouse), a cat can simply curl its toes and claws inward to keep it in place.
A crucial part of the cat’s claws are his feet. The first “multi-use tool,” they may be used for climbing, catching and killing prey, and self-defense against intruders and predators. A temporary sheath covers the sharp, exposed nail portion of a cat’s claw, which is connected to the P3 toe bone via ligaments and tendons. To maintain sharp claws, cats scratch rough objects like trees, wood posts, sisal, and even furniture or carpeting. More effectively than actually sharpening the claw to a razor edge is the removal of the transparent sheath that served as protection. On rare occasions, one may discover these sheaths on the ground.
Exercise is good for cats: scratching
Take a look at a cat scratching on a tall pole. He will extend his forelegs and spine to the top of the blog post, where he will then securely grasp the substrate with his claws. To build strong, flexible muscles as well as healthy joints and tendons, this workout mixes resistance and range-of-motion exercises.
Using a Sick Cat as Toilet
Cat owners who worry that their cat will scratch their furnishings frequently think that declawing is the best option. Some veterinarians agree that the cat will be put to sleep if this doesn’t happen, but others disagree. Some surgeons even regularly offer to declaw cats as a “combo” with spay/neuter surgery because the cat only needs to be anesthetized once.
Many people, including myself, believe that spaying and neutering, which have social and medical benefits, are preferable to declawing, which is brutal to cats and has no positive effects. Look at the example below. Imagine severing the first toe joints entirely with a guillotine. Declawing is frequently completely unnecessary, especially in light of the many humane alternatives. Sometimes a doctor will urge an immunocompromised person to “eliminate the cat” or have it declawed. Typically, no two situations are same, thus each person must choose what to do. In my opinion, that is one of the few valid grounds for declawing (The other is emergency surgery to repair a badly injured foot.)
Healthy Coat of a Cat
The coat of a healthy cat should be glossy and mat-free, whether it is called “hair” or “fur.” Your cat’s coat will remain lustrous if you maintain a good diet. Cats commonly get a dry, coarse coat when fed “grocery store” food. I’ve heard countless tales of the amazing changes in cats’ coats after they’ve been eating high-quality cat chow for a few weeks. Any “coat supplements” found anywhere in the world will not compare to the daily feeding of a superior diet.
Hairballs, Mats, and Grooming
A cat rarely needs assistance with cleaning up, unless he frequently attends shows. Cats are fantastic at keeping their fur clean with routine, brief grooming sessions throughout the day. Their tongues include tiny comb-like barbs that clean the individual hairs and remove any stray hairs to help avoid matting. Unfortunately, the cat frequently ingests those stray hairs, which can cluster together to form unpleasant hairballs and, if ignored, lead to bowel obstruction. While all cats eventually develop hairballs, those with long hair or cats with thick undercoats are more likely to do so.
Uncomfortable, ugly matting
You could rapidly deal with tiny mats if you periodically catch them early. A guide to de-matting a cat is provided here. Large hair mats can build quickly in older, arthritic cats who have trouble adequately grooming specific areas of their bodies. Not only are mats ugly, but many animals find them to be extremely painful. Normal cat lying down causes discomfort because the cat pulls against the skin. If you accidentally missed seeing these mats, an aged cat lying upright is a warning indication for impending matting. In addition to being uncomfortable, they act as a haven for fleas, fungal illnesses, and skin irritation. cat
Regular grooming can help you avoid skin problems, hairballs, and hair mats. Check and clean your cat’s ears, trim its claws, check and wash the cat’s teeth, and brush or comb the cat’s coat are other things you should do. Consider the following times:
- Brushing: Make sure you brush your teeth every day and at least twice a week.
- Yearly ear examination and twice-monthly (or more regularly) claw trimming only when absolutely essential
If you suspect your pet is sick, contact your veterinarian straight away. When in doubt about your family pet’s health, always see your veterinarian. They have examined your pet, are aware of its medical history, and may be able to offer the best guidance for your pet.
Wondering about Cats’ Urinary pH and Their Health? Check it out on our latest post!
