The spring & fall equinox, winter & summer solstice & the forming & melting of snow - these are the significant events that impact all life that surrounds us.
It is these continual changes, occurring slowly over time, which control our circadian rhythms. This rhythm typically occurs over a 24 hour period & ensures that our bodies take the time to complete various physiological & behavioural processes. All of these processes are completed in an effort to promote personal health & wellbeing. Once we start looking beyond our daily circadian rhythm the human internal calendar begins to fall apart. We must then rely on various other natural indicators to determine date & time accurately.
Amazingly though, in the natural world, it is these subtle changes that living things rely on as their internal clock. Changes in star location, & day & night length, all combine to provide living things with the cues they need to signal the appropriate time to change various physiological or behavioural processes. If these cues were not cyclic & relatively constant, living things would not be able to determine the appropriate time to start hibernating, migrating, caching food, changing colours, losing leaves, or reproducing; making survival that much harder.
Regardless of whether your little lion has indoor/outdoor access, seasonal changes can have a profound effect on their mental & physical health.
An indoor kitty may not be as active as their outdoor counterparts, but they still go through the same metabolic change.
A lack of daylight hours triggers the metabolic response in all felines.
As the temperatures plummet over the autumn & winter months, your little lion will eat approximately 15% more food during the colder months; this serves as fuel for the energy required to maintain their body temperature.
However, indoor kitties can become very under-stimulated, both mentally & physically & come New Year, we're all setting resolutions for them {& us!} to lose their {& our!} winter chub!
Not only is this likely to result in obesity, but changes in energy levels, appetite & sleep patterns can have a noticeable effect on their temperament.
Sound familiar?
Although our little lions may not be formally diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD {the mood disorder that causes people to experience symptoms of depression during the colder months} I, along with guardians & veterinarians do recognise a similar pattern.
So how can we prevent our little lions from spiralling into the upside down?
A healthy diet & stimulating environment is key & I'll be going into more depth in my next few posts.
Task:
Now is the perfect time to reassess your feline's menu to reflect their dietary needs.
