Happy Cats Wellness

Pets often don't show obvious signs of the illness or distress they're experiencing. This episode will help you sense when your pet needs medical attention. There is no sure way for you to always recognize these subtle signs, which makes regular wellness exams with your veterinarian crucial to your pet's health and happiness.

This episode outlines how caretakers can transform their homes into feline havens by prioritizing a cat's psychological and physical requirements. A primary focus is on providing safe retreats, which are private, elevated spaces where a pet can rest without feeling trapped or threatened. Furthermore, we emphasize that food, water, and litter boxes be kept in separate, low-traffic locations. By ensuring individual access to these necessities and encouraging natural predatory play, owners can foster a secure atmosphere in a predictable habitat that honors a cat's instinctual need for safety and autonomy.

This episode offers a comprehensive guide to responsible cat handling, emphasizing both the cat's well-being and human safety. We provide detailed advice on proper interaction techniques, such as understanding feline body language to recognize signs of comfort or stress, and appropriate petting locations.

We highlight safe methods for picking up cats, strongly discouraging outdated practices like scruffing. Preventative measures for aggression are discussed, along with the benefits of environmental enrichment.

This episode focuses on the AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines. The guidelines emphasize that a cat's comfort with its environment directly impacts its physical health, emotional well-being, and behavior.

The article outlines five key pillars for a healthy feline environment: addressing these needs leads to happier, healthier cats and a stronger bond between cats and their human companions.

This episode, sourced from the American Veterinary Medical Association, provides a detailed explanation of microchipping pets as a means of identification. It covers how microchips work, including their components and the scanning process, and emphasizes the significant benefits of this technology for reuniting lost animals with their owners.

We also clear up some of the misunderstandings about what the chips do and do not.

In this episode, we stress the critical importance of regular veterinary care for cats, highlighting that many felines don't receive the care they need. We discuss the challenges posed by cats' natural ability to hide illness and the stress associated with veterinary visits, which often leads owners to delay or skip appointments.

To address these issues, we introduce two key initiatives: Fear Free Certified Practices and the Cat Friendly Practice® program, both designed to reduce anxiety and create more positive experiences for cats during veterinary care.

This episode provides comprehensive information on how cats communicate, focusing on vocalizations and body language. We explain common sounds like meowing, purring, hissing, and chirping, detailing the various meanings behind each, ranging from greetings and demands to signs of stress or pain.

Additionally, we discuss how cats use body language, including tail positions, head movements, and even kneading, to express emotions such as happiness, fear, anxiety, and contentment.

Recognizing these communication signals is crucial for strengthening the bond between cats and their human companions. And it helps to identify potential health issues.

Visits to the vet can be stressful for the cat and for you. But there are ways to significantly reduce that stress.

This episode highlights two prominent programs aimed at improving the veterinary experience for companion animals: The Cat Friendly Practice® program, powered by feline veterinarians, focuses specifically on reducing stress for cats during veterinary visits by training staff and optimizing the clinic environment to cater to feline-specific needs and behaviors. Similarly, Fear Free® offers a broader approach, providing science-based strategies to alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress for all animals across various professional settings, including veterinary practices.

Both init...

Adopting a new cat is an exciting yet potentially stressful experience, and this guide emphasizes the "3 P's"—Patience, Planning, and Preparation—as crucial for a successful integration into your home, especially in multi-cat households.

Before bringing your new feline friend home, it is essential to gather necessary supplies and establish a safe, separate space for them to acclimate, as cats are territorial creatures. Furthermore, prioritizing veterinary visits for both new and existing cats is critical to prevent the spread of illness and ensure overall well-being.

By following these steps, you significantly increase the chances of your cat...

An essential requirement for your cat’s health and happiness is regular and predictable, loving interaction with you. It's the only way to develop and maintain the all-important bond of trust. Building this trust depends upon patience and consistency. Without trust, your cat will never be comfortable and happy in your home.

This episode is Part 3 of a 3-Part series that emphasizes the need to understand feline behavior and senses to ensure a cat's well-being and reduce stress. We discuss creating a sense of familiarity and security through gradual introductions to new experiences.

We explain calming strategies by focusing on a cat's highly sensitive senses: smell, recommending scent preservation and synthetic pheromones; hearing, advising low noise levels and soothing sounds; touch, suggesting gentle, appropriate petting and whisker-friendly bowls; and sight, encouraging slow movements and providing private retreats.

This episode is intended to equip cat owners with practical tips...

This episode is Part 2 of a 3-Part series that emphasizes the need to understand feline behavior and senses to ensure a cat's well-being and reduce stress. We discuss creating a sense of familiarity and security through gradual introductions to new experiences.

We explain calming strategies by focusing on a cat's highly sensitive senses: smell, recommending scent preservation and synthetic pheromones; hearing, advising low noise levels and soothing sounds; touch, suggesting gentle, appropriate petting and whisker-friendly bowls; and sight, encouraging slow movements and providing private retreats.

This episode is intended to equip cat owners with practical tips...

This episode is Part 1 of a 3-Part series that emphasizes the need to understand feline behavior and senses to ensure a cat's well-being and reduce stress. We discuss creating a sense of familiarity and security through gradual introductions to new experiences.

We explain calming strategies by focusing on a cat's highly sensitive senses: smell, recommending scent preservation and synthetic pheromones; hearing, advising low noise levels and soothing sounds; touch, suggesting gentle, appropriate petting and whisker-friendly bowls; and sight, encouraging slow movements and providing private retreats.

This episode is intended to equip cat owners with practical tips...

You know your cat better than anyone else, and your veterinarian needs to know what you know about any changes in your cat's behavior that have occurred since the last exam.

Cats are skilled at hiding pain and illness, so early detection is crucial for preventing or treating physical and emotional disorders. Your participation as part of the veterinary team is key to helping your cat stay healthy and happy.

This Foundation episode is one of two that make up Creating a Cat Haven, which is discussed in detail in other episodes. In this episode, we outline the FelineVMA and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines, emphasizing that a cat's comfort with its surroundings is fundamentally tied to its physical health, emotional well-being, and behavior.

The guidelines are structured around five essential "pillars" that provide a framework for a healthy feline environment.

By understanding and proactively addressing these needs, veterinarians, owners, and caregivers can help reduce stress, prevent stress-related disorders, and mitigate unwanted behaviors in cats, ultima...

The core philosophy centers on the owner as the Cat Champion, a proactive healthcare advocate who works in partnership with the veterinarian by maintaining a wellness journal and performing daily observations. This approach emphasizes that routine veterinary checkups are essential for early intervention, especially because cats often conceal illness, and the source encourages owners to seek out a certified Cat Friendly Practice® (CFP) to minimize stress during these crucial visits.

Your cat wants to tell you something, but you must understand behavioral cues to decipher what it's saying.

In this episode we emphasize the critical link between a cat's behavior and its overall physical and emotional well-being. We explain how subtle behavioral changes are often the first indicators of underlying illness, pain, or stress in felines.

Ultimately, this episode underscores the importance of understanding and mitigating stressors in a cat's environment to improve treatment outcomes and enhance their quality of life.

This episode provides a comprehensive guide from The Drake Center for Veterinary Care on successfully introducing a new cat into a home with an existing feline resident. It emphasizes the importance of careful planning and a slow, gradual introduction process to ensure a harmonious multi-cat household.

Key recommendations include matching cat personalities, ensuring the resident cat's physical and mental readiness, and implementing a step-by-step introduction method involving scent exchange, separate spaces, supervised interactions, and consistent monitoring.

We offer post-introduction tips for long-term peace, such as separate feeding and ample resources. We emphasize the importance of contin...

This episode, sourced from the ASPCA, decodes the complexities of feline vocalizations, particularly meowing, emphasizing its unique role in cat-human communication.

We also provide advice on identifying and addressing excessive meowing, ranging from ruling out underlying medical conditions through veterinary consultation to implementing behavioral modifications.

Each season brings unique challenges and potential hazards for cat owners. From the blooming plants of spring to the holiday decorations of winter, every time of year presents specific safety considerations that require attention and preparation.

Understanding these seasonal patterns helps you anticipate potential dangers and take proactive steps to keep your feline companion safe throughout the year.

Your pet relies on you to recognize when something isn’t right. Cats and dogs often hide their discomfort, making it difficult to spot illness in its early stages. However, there are key signs that indicate your pet may be unwell.

By learning to recognize these symptoms, you can seek veterinary care sooner and improve your pet’s chances of a swift recovery. In this episode, we present some (not all) of the common signs of illness in cats and dogs that every pet owner should watch for. Always consult your veterinarian anytime your pets behavior changes, even...

You know more about your cat's behavior than anyone else and your veterinary team needs to know what you know. The weekly exam is necessary to make sure subtle signs of distress or illness are recognized before becoming major medical concerns. Record any changes you notice in a journal and refer to your notes when you phone or visit the veterinary clinic. It's easy to forget something when worried about your cat's health. The purpose of comprehensive journaling is to empower pet owners to become active participants in their cat's preventive health care and to ensure that subtle changes...

When disaster strikes, every second counts. Whether facing hurricanes, wildfires, floods, or other emergencies, the No. 1 instruction for pet owners is to bring your pets with you when evacuating. If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS OR ANIMALS BEHIND. It is unlikely for pets or larger animals to survive on their own. Even if they do, you may not be able to find them when you return.

When emergencies strike, having a well-stocked pet first aid kit can make the difference between a minor incident and a serious crisis. Just as you maintain a first aid kit for your family's human members, your feline companions deserve the same level of emergency preparedness. A comprehensive pet first aid kit enables you to provide immediate care while seeking professional veterinary assistance, potentially saving your cat's life and reducing the severity of injuries or illnesses.

Providing your cat with good healthcare, especially preventive care, can allow her to live a longer, more comfortable life. However, this cannot happen unless you take your cat to see the veterinarian routinely.

Many cats are fearful or distressed when going to the veterinarian because the practice is unfamiliar, as is the carrier and the car. Here are some tips from Happy Cats Wellness, the pet preventative health coaches, Cathryn and Gene Jirleds, that can make trips to the veterinary clinic a positive experience for you and your cat.

This episode summarizes research into cat vocalizations conducted by Susanne Schotz at Lund University in Sweden. The article highlights how Schotz's studies, detailed in her book "The Secret Language of Cats," help owners decode what their pets are trying to communicate. A key finding is that meowing is primarily used by cats to interact with humans and acts as an attention-seeking sound with various meanings, such as requesting food or play. The author also notes the importance of combining an understanding of vocalizations with interpreting a cat’s body language to fully grasp their requests.

Feline cognitive dysfunction (FCD) is a common age-related decline in cats affecting memory, awareness, and behavior. We emphasize that while FCD can cause issues like inappropriate elimination and disorientation, it's crucial to rule out other treatable medical conditions before attributing changes solely to old age.

Additionally, we provide practical advice for managing FCD symptoms through environmental adjustments, consistent routines, and potential medication, advocating for a mindful and compassionate approach for supporting aging cats.

Happy Cats Wellness is built on the fundamental belief that "the animals we share our lives with are deserving of dignity and respect. They share with us the same rights for access to necessary resources and the kind of lives that lead to contentment, good health, and happiness."

Their mission is to share what they've learned about feline care to help all cats live happier, healthier lives.

Key tenets of their philosophy include:

“Welcome to Happy Cats Wellness, where we help you keep your cat happy and healthy. We're Cathryn and Gene Jirlds, and we're certified pet preventive healthcare coaches. We are not veterinarians. Always consult your cat's medical provider when you have questions or concerns about your cat's health.”

From Happy Cats Wellness: Who We Are, 1 Nov 2025