Cat Parenting 101

As a cat parent, raising a cat kid comes with responsibilities, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Here are a handful of helpful cat parenting tips to keep your interspecies household filled with healthy treats, playtime, and eco-friendly cat litter.

Strike a balance between rest and play

Cats are predators who sleep roughly 15 hours a day to conserve their energy for hunting, even if they’re just hunting dust bunnies. They’re also wired to play — it satisfies their hunting instincts, boosts their mood, and helps them develop their problem-solving skills.

For rest time:

• Make sure your cat kid has safe and cozy spots to sleep, whether it’s atop a cat tree or sprawled across a cat bed near a sunny window.

For playtime:

• Set aside time every day to play with interactive toys like stuffed mice or DIY toys such as sweatshirt strings.

Treat them to some human foods (and steer clear of others)

Want to give your cat kid a boost in vitamins and minerals? Let them try:

• Veggies like steamed broccoli and plain carrots
• Fruit including banana slices and the occasional washed blueberry

Avoid:

• Chocolate and grapes
• Onions and garlic
• Peanut butter (some artificial ingredients may be harmful)

Switch to an eco-friendly litter

Your cat kids deserve the best. One of the ways to deliver on your cat parent promise: fill their litter boxes with a natural cat litter — specifically, Naturally Fresh. Made from walnut shells, Naturally Fresh organically eliminates odor better than clay litter, corn litter, wheat litter, pine litter, and paper litter. It’s soft on paws, non-toxic, and free of silica dust, so it’ll help everyone breathe easier. And it’s sustainably made, making it as good for the planet as it is for your cat kid.

Consider becoming a cat foster parent

If you’re already a cat parent and would like to add cat foster parent to your resume, check with local animal shelters and rescues in your area for opportunities. Make sure to:

• Prep your home similarly to when you brought your first cat kid home or introduced a cat sibling to the family
• Give your foster cats their own space and plenty of patience
• Read up on Petfinder’s Cat Foster Parent advice (including lots of info for cat parents and kittens)
• Gather tips (and tons of cuteness) from cat foster parent Jess Thoren of kittenbnb, who fosters litters of kittens in her NYC-area home