OPTIMUM® Cat News #4
Inside this issue:
Cats can soothe your soul
A number of scientific studies have now proven that just the motion of stroking a cat can immediately reduce a person's heart rate and blood pressure. A survey performed at The State University, New York which studied a group of stock-brokers with hypertension, concluded that owning a pet stimulated positive health effects like lower blood pressure even in highly stressful environments.
As time goes on, researchers are constantly discovering more and more positive health influences for cat owners. For example, affection from cats can actually boost self esteem and companionship from cats can help reduce stress, loneliness and depression in elderly citizens.
Research has also concluded that cats can be beneficial to children, assisting in the development of empathy, self-esteem and sense of responsibility. A survey of 100 cat owners aged 13 years and under found that 87% of children regard their cats as close friends and 81% would rather chat about their feelings to the cat rather than their familiy or friends.*
It's clear that a positive and enduring relationship with a cat can provide more than just an emotional reward. The simple act of being with your cat can help to keep you healthy too.
*Source: Emma Osbourne, UK, 10th International Conference on Human-Animal Interactions, October 2004
Let's get physical!
Before cats were domesticated and we provided them with all of their daily nutrients, they would catch their own food out in the wild. This gave them all the physical and mental stimulation they needed. These days, we need to keep them physically and mentally active with exercises that continue to hone their feline hunting skills like stalking, pouncing and chasing. Why don't you try some of these games at home:
- Thing on a string - Pulling mouse or birdlike toys up stairs or over sofas with string is bound to engage them in the chase.
- Ball in the bath – If you can manage to place your cat into a dry bath tub, also throw in a ping-pong ball and see what happens.
- Remote control cat – One of the more modern additions. A cat will chase a little red laser dot almost anywhere you can point it. Be wary of eyes.
However you decide to exercise (or play!) with your cat, it's important to keep the pace up for around fifteen minutes at a time to truly call it a workout. Your cat will be well worn out and ready for dinner to be served!
Find more cat advice here
The secret of great looking hair is no longer a secret
We guarantee that by switching your cat from regular cat food to OPTIMUM dry you will see noticeable differences in your cat's overall health and vitality, including visible improvements in skin and coat condition.
The secret ingredients are protein and selected essential oils. So it's a good thing that OPTIMUM dry has the highest levels of protein (43%) of any other cat food in the supermarket. Protein helps to build and continually repair the coat, keeping it smooth and strong. Essential oils work to increase the gloss and shine.
There are extra measures you can take to help improve the overall look and feel of your cat's coat. Even though cats are famous for constantly self-grooming, they can still use your help to remove loose fur and to enhance the appearance of their shiny coats, particularly cats with longer coats.
- Introducing the brush
It can sometimes take time for catsto get used to being brushed. We recommend using a soft brush, starting lightly and gently moving deeper into the fur as the cat becomes more comfortable with the idea.
- The right direction
Always brush with the growth of the fur. Going against the direction of the hair can irritate the skin as well as the cat. Otherwise you risk your cat being "rubbed up the wrong way".
- The handy brush
Try storing your brush close to where you are likely to be patting and sharing time with your cat. That way your cat will already be quite relaxed as you cleverly switch from hand strokes to brush strokes.
Take care to let your cat know that being brushed is a reward, not a chore. If all else fails, remember that cats rarely do something for nothing, so try bribing them with a handful of OPTIMUM dry food!
Learn more about the OPTIMUM dry range here.
OPTIMUM Cat News Spotlight
 | Caralyn Jefferyes |
 | Sebastian |
 | Moggie |
 | Thomastown, VIC 3074 |
Q: What we think of the OPTIMUMTM:
A: Loving every meal time, especially the kitten food. Sebastian is always satisfied after every meal, lots of paw licking afterwards
Q: Our favourite place to go walking is:
A: Everywhere around the house. Sometimes things are accidently knocked off shelves but Sebastian disappears quickly.
Q: Our favourite place to relax is:
A: On the couch watching movies with the family.
Q: We'd describe our lifestyle as:
A: Happy with lots of love, Sebastian loves hugs from my two children aswell.
Q: Sebastian's favourite place to sleep is
A: In bed with the electric blanket on, next to his best friend Kimba.
Q: Fondest memory of Sebastian:
A: Watching him open the door by pulling down the handle and swinging open the door.
Q: I would describe Sebastian's personality as:
A: Cheeky, smart, loving when he wants to be, vocal and energetic.
Q: Tell us how Sebastian entertains you:
A: Everywhere I go Sebastian follows me and wants to be involved with all activities.
Q: What we've learnt from the OPTIMUM® Pet Health Drive™:
A: Not only does Sebastian enjoy Optimum cat food, he has kept a healthy weight and grown into a beautiful cat, being hand reared as a kitten made him a smaller size cat and he needed quality food, Optimum was my choice and it works.
Q: Any other comments?
A: Sebastian Loves Optimum.
You must be registered to enter your cat in the Pet Star Gallery. Click here to join now.
