You want your cat to live a long, healthy, and happy life. Are you doing everything you can to ensure you cat is living her best life? Here are our top 5 tips for helping your cat live all 9 lives with the best quality of life.

1. Keep them inside

It used to be assumed that cats needed the opportunity to go outside to explore and hunt to be happy. Now, we know better. There are an infinite number of dangers outside, and there are plenty of ways to keep cats happy and safe inside. Transitioning a cat from enjoying some time outdoors to being an indoor-only cat can be difficult. Ultimately, though, it’s worth it for the well-being of your cat (not to mention local wildlife). If possible, do the transition during winter, when cats prefer warm spaces anyway. Gradually leave them inside for longer and longer periods while providing an interesting life indoors. Hopefully, your cat won’t be itching to run outside once spring hits.

2. Keep them active

The biggest problem with indoor cats is that they tend not to get enough exercise and frequently wind up obese. Obesity can lead to a number of health issues that will impact your cat’s quality of life. While many people perceive cats to be lazy, the truth is often that they are bored. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to help keep your cat active.

3. Provide a cat tree

Cats love vertical space. They love the opportunity to look down on the world, and a well-placed cat tree can also provide a great view through a window of the outside world, where they can watch wildlife without putting themselves or the wildlife in any danger. Very tall cat trees are perfect for homes with multiple cats, as each cat can have their own perch. There are also a variety of window perches that can be attached in front of, or even inside of a window (like an air conditioning unit), to help your cat enjoy the outdoors from the safety of your home.

4. Rotate toys

You know how you rarely pay attention to the artwork or photos on your walls after they’ve been up for a while? They just sort of fade into the background of your mind. Your cat feels the same way about her toys. You should always keep a good portion of your cat’s toys in storage and rotate them out frequently to keep her interested and active. Even an old toy can seem new again when your cat hasn’t seen it in a while.

5. Pay close attention to their health

Cats are notorious for hiding their pain and discomfort, so you need to be a sleuth to determine the health of your cat. Litter box habits can be one way of determining your cat’s health. Has your cat suddenly stopped using the litter box? Are they using it more frequently than usual? Are they crying when they use it? Does anything about their urine or feces look different than usual? You should also pay attention to your cat’s eating habits and weight. Is she eating more or less than usual? Has she gained or lost a lot of weight? These can be signs that it’s time for a trip to the vet. Even if your cat seems healthy, yearly vet visits are recommended to help spot health problems before they become serious enough for your cat to show symptoms.