Humans have been living with, and caring for, cats for more than 8000 years. We’re rather fond of these four-footed creatures and some of us – the ancient Egyptians – even worshipped them. We have domesticated them so much that they’d be hard pressed to survive out in the wild, as they used to do some millennia ago.

This means that we as their care givers should try to look after them in the best fashion possible. They need us for protection, food, and a tiny bit of TLC. In return they give us endless laughs on LOLCats.

There are more than 5 signs of neglect but this article will only cover 5 for the sake of brevity.

A clean cat is a happy cat; therefore, a dirty cat might not be entirely happy. This is a sign of neglect. It may not apply to young cats; this is something that generally applies to older cats who no longer see the need for grooming. Take charge of your older cat’s grooming to ensure that they remain clean, happy cats.

Cats, as all other domestic animals, need identification. Cats without a cat ID tag may wander off somewhere and disappear, to never be found again. Prevent this from happening with some sort of identification on the animal. Pet tags are available in many different shapes, colours, and sizes to ensure you can find the right one for your little one.

An overweight cat can’t possibly be a happy cat. Overweight cats are more likely to suffer from diabetes, heart disease and urinary tract problems. The latter is because obese cats are not as active as their skinnier counterparts. You can prevent this by only feeding them one meal a day and not overfeeding them, especially when you’re away for a couple of days.

Losing teeth is a sign of bad health in a cat, especially in young ones. Dental disease can manifest as bad breath, drooling saliva, lack of appetite or mouth pain. Prevent this by taking your cat to regular examinations by the local vet.

Cats with fleas are a sure sign of neglect. This is one of the most irritating things that can happen to any animal and it can’t be too pleasant for their carers. Prevent flea infestations with regular interventions. Use tick and flea powder, collars, sprays or dips. Newer products include oral and systemic spot-on insecticides.

Author bio:

Pet Tags wrote this article about the signs of pet neglect.