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Purely Electric

Did you know your cat carries electricity? This happens as a result of the static electricity in your cat’s fur. While this is not among the most common discussion topics about cats, it is a subject that quite a few cat owners face, especially during the colder seasons.

Where does static electricity come from?

Static electricity comes from dry air. Your home’s heat system tends to make the indoor air dry, and is likely the root cause of a static electricity problem, especially as the weather gets colder. In fact when the humidity level in your home drops below 30% the static electricity between you and your favorite feline might be s-h-o-c-k-i-n-g!

Static electricity can also be generated  from your cat rubbing against:

    • blankets
    • couches
    • carpets
    • certain clothing fabics
    • towels
    • and other household items

When your cat comes in contact with these types of items, static accumulates on their fur. Then voila,  when you stroke your cat’s fur you get a zap of electricity!

What you can do to minimize the static electricity in your home?

There are four ways that you can protect your cat and yourself from possible static shock. Not surprisingly, the key to solving this scientific problem is to add moisture back into your environment and your cat’s fur.

Bathing your pet with moisturizing shampoo (one approved for use on pets) and increasing the moisture in the air can help remedy the problem.

Using a humidifier to add moisture back to the air, especially in carpeted rooms where static electricity seems to be worse is also a useful solution.

You may want to use a safe doctor recommended moisturizer onto your cat’s fur coat. These great products come in a spray or wipe and usually don’t have chemicals that harm them.

You may also spray a pet safe anti-static, anti-cling fabric spray onto your furniture or kitty’s favorate pillow bed or chair. Products like these, located in a supermarket or general store, could contain chemicals that might irritate your pet’s sensitive skin. To avoid this experience, be sure to consult your veterinarian prior to purchase.

Moisturizing and humidifying may help make your new year less shocking, but also a lot more joyful.

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Three Protein Choices: Chicken, Fish, and ?

Supermarkets and pet stores alike sell so many different brands of cat food. Delving into this topic further rendered various opinions. According to specialists, at least three types of meat provide optimal nutrition for your cat: chicken, fish and lamb. These three meats serve as high-quality protein sources when they are blended into well-balanced commercial cat foods, and they can satisfy your kitty on several counts. I’m not sure how my cat fits in but I will introduce her to lamb and a dry food high in protein this year.

Although cats are notoriously finicky, most felines find the mild flavor of chicken appealing. Fish, on the other hand, may be a good choice for a cat that hasn’t been eating well, advises Tracy R. Dewhirst, DVM, who writes a pet advice column for the Knoxville News Sentinel. The stronger flavor and aroma of a fish-based cat food may tempt your cat to eat. Lamb isn’t a familiar taste for many cats, so introducing the flavor to your kitty may pique its interest. If you offer your cat a taste test involving one of the three proteins, make sure you dish up wet food at the right temperature. “Most cats prefer a freshly opened can at room temperature,” says Dr. Dewhirst.

  • These protein sources, combined with the amino acid L-carnitine, can help your cat build lean muscle while burning fat to maintain a healthy weight. Fish, such as tuna and salmon, provide omega-3 fatty acids.
  • If your feline is in good health and consumes a cat food with high-quality chicken, fish or lamb, your kitty should have proper muscle tone, a trim physique, bright eyes, healthy gums and a plush, shiny coat.
  • For cats that develop food allergies, lamb can be a viable protein alternative. “For many cats, it’s a novel protein that the animal has likely never been exposed to,” explains Dr. Dewhirst. Introducing a new protein source, such as lamb, is therefore useful if other proteins trigger allergies.

Chicken, fish and lamb are great protein sources, but specialists caution that table scraps or meals you prepare specifically for your kitty don’t match your cat’s nutritional needs. Most notably, commercial cat foods contain taurine, an essential amino acid that prevents blindness and heart failure in cats. So, the option to make homemade catfood is off the table. Remain committed to find the right (palitable) protein source for your loved one.