Pet Appreciation Week is here!

By Latasha Ball

Marketing Coordinator

Did you know that Pet Appreciation Week is June 2-10? As pet parents, every week is Pet Appreciation Week so why not celebrate this special call-out for our four-legged family members and show them a little more extra attention and appreciation? This holiday was created by the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1981 to not only create awareness of the importance of our pets in our lives, but to appreciate them for everything they do to enrich our lives.

Our pets do so much for us—from show us endless love and affection to alleviating stress when we had a rough day and keeping us healthy with daily interactive play sessions. The skies the limit on how we can show them how much we appreciate them but here’s a few tips to get you started.

Cats are amazing hunters so why not stimulate their instincts with stalking, chasing and playing catch games using teaser toys! You can also introduce them to some news toys and watch the fun begin!

If you’re working this week but still want to find a way to make the week extra special for your cat and ask a family member or friend to stop by your house and give them some extra TLC while you’re out of the house? Your cat will be getting some extra exercise while enjoying the one-on-one time and getting the extra socialization that’s always good for their well-being.

Because exercise is good for everyone, why not introduce your kitty to a harness and leash? Slowly introduce them to walking outdoors. It will mean the world to them and they appreciate any extra time with their one special person, YOU! Plus, exercise is good for your cat’s health and well-being.

As much as cats may dread going to the vet, it’s always important to keep their health top-of-mind. Pay extra attention to their health this week by making an appointment with your local veterinarian for a checkup, brush their teeth and give extra attention to overall appearance by checking for unusual growths or lumps. This may seem not-so-fun for them but it’s always good to keep an extra eye out for their overall health and make sure all is good with them.

Some cats love getting groomed. What’s even better is getting groomed is an act of love because you’re helping them to stay clean and in good shape! If you have an older kitty or a kitty that’s injured, it’s best to take him to a professional who can groom him with the extra care he deserves.  

Take the extra time to visit your local pet store and find a new toy such as a Kong cat puzzle toy or a new Kong plush toy. There’s nothing we love more than seeing how happy our kitties get when they first set eyes on a new toy to play with. After all, our kitties can’t have too many toys, right?

Feeding your kitty a healthy diet to ensure they’re staying healthy from the inside out is very important! Finding the best cat food that fits their health needs is very important. What’s great about Fussie Cat is it comes complete with vitamins and minerals to contribute to your kitty’s health! With many recipes from our Market Fresh Salmon Recipe to our Market Fresh Quail & Duck Meal Recipe, we have something for everyone!

It’s important to take the time to get to know your kitty and what makes him tick because every cat is different. Not all cats enjoy cuddling and others love to be cuddled. Pay close attention to your cat’s body language and get to know your cats likes and dislikes.

With that said, we all know how we like our personal space and cats can be the same way. As much as we love giving our kitties endless attention, if they’re stilling by the window looking outside, it’s safe to assume they don’t want to be bothered and want to enjoy their time gazing outside at all the birds and wildlife moving about.

Finally, if your cat can use a sibling or another playmate, why not consider visiting your local animal shelter and adopting a new pet? With 6.5 million companion animals that enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide, a new friend for your cat may be right around the corner! Not ready to adopt? Consider volunteering at your local animal shelter so you can show your appreciation for those shelter kitties. You can even take it a step further and organize a food, toy or blanket drive!

Now that you’re off to a great start, we asked a few of our Fussie Cat team members how they show their kitty (or kitties) how much they appreciate them for Pet Appreciation Week:

“I will be showing appreciation for my cat Chupi (pictured below) by buying him a new cat bed with a heating pad!”-Kristin, Finance Lead

“I’m going to give my cat Mystic (pictured below) some extra play time with the water in my kitchen sink”-Rich, Business Development Manager

“Blue and Victor (pictured below right and left), are our baby fur babies at just over 3 years old.  We love to show appreciation to them by taking Blue for walks outside on a leash and allowing Victor to perch on our shoulders.  We feed them the very best cat food, Fussie Cat Tuna with Salmon Formula being both boys’ favorite.  We also play fetch with Blue who may think he is a dog. Victor just loves to be cuddled and so sharing our covers is a must for him. He just had surgery about a month ago to remove a cyst in his ear and he is finally bouncing back to his old self. Our whole family loves Blue and Victor very much.”-Chelsea, Finance Associate

“Katie (pictured below) gets appreciation every day. She get her special Fussie Cat Tuna & Salmon Recipe. She rules our house and even rules the dogs!”-Geoffrey, Senior Manager, Accounting & Finance

Think about what you can do this week to show your pets how special they are and how much they mean to you! No gesture is too big or small for them and they will appreciate it all!