Cats provide companionship and enjoyment to millions of people. Many are now being kept indoors, sometimes with other cats, but this can cause health problems associated with stress and obesity. Cats have an average lifespan of seven to15 years. Like all pets, they rely on us to give them the things they need to be healthy and happy, in return for the enjoyment they give to us.
All animals, including cats, need five things to be healthy and happy:
These are called the five welfare needs and under the Animal Welfare Act (2006) all owners need to provide these five things for the pets they keep. The following sections give information on how to care for gerbils, and how we can meet their five welfare needs to ensure they stay healthy and happy.
