INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If, as they say, the way to a man's heart is his stomach, the same can be claimed as one way to demonstrate affection toward (and receive it from) your cat.  It is best to talk to your veterinarian regarding your cat's particular nutritional needs, but generally speaking, most cats need three to four smallish meals per day, preferably of high-quality cat foods.  Some human foods are all right for cats, but others are not, and it is best to check with your vet.  Give treats responsibly. Take care not to give the cat too many calories so deduct part of their regular food to compensate when giving treats. Forget about the saucer of milk. Cats have difficulty digesting cow's milk, and should instead be provided with clean water at all times (that is, keep the dish full of fresh water 24/7). Cats are often more sociable than people give them credit for, but they still like having some spots all to themselves.  Even if your cat likes to sleep on or near you regularly, provide it with a soft, comfortable, semi-isolated space of its own for sleeping and lounging.  Old (but clean) blankets, bedding, and pillows can do the trick. Likewise, your cat's litter box should be in a quiet yet accessible space, and should be cleaned daily.  If you have more than one cat, add one extra litter box (three boxes for two cats, for instance) to help prevent any “turf wars.” Your cat may not see it as such at the time, but what in the long run shows more affection than doing everything you can to ensure your cat lives a happy, healthy, long life?  Veterinary care recommendations for cats will vary according to factors such as age, health history, and vet preference, but one to two checkups per year is common. Starting as a kitten, make sure you keep your cat up-to-date on its vaccinations. Refer to How to Take Care of a Cat for detailed information on veterinary care and warning signs of cat illness to look out for. True enough, cats are quite adept at keeping themselves clean and looking good.  But a little help from you, properly applied, will be beneficial and (at least sometimes) appreciated.  Most cats will permit themselves to be brushed, if done gently and with the proper tool.  Try a pin brush for long-haired cats and a slicker brush for short-hairs.  Brush as needed to keep matting of fur to a minimum.  There are also specialized brushes and tools for more sensitive areas such as around the eyes. Brushing also provides an excellent opportunity to check for fleas and ticks. While less appreciated, brushing your cat's teeth and/or bringing it to the vet's office for dental cleanings is good practice as well.  How to Take Care of a Cat has information on feline dental care as well.

SUMMARY: Nourish your cat properly. Provide your cat with personal space. Take your cat to the veterinarian as recommended. Keep your cat well-groomed.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you are experiencing depression, talking about your feelings to friends and family can be very useful. They won’t necessary be able to give you any advice, but the fact that they are there and are willing to hear everything you need to say is usually enough to make you feel loved and less isolated. Depression during pregnancy is often caused by relationship problems, worries about the future and anxiety concentrated around the much expected baby. In addition, it is a well-known fact that women have more in-depth experiences while they are pregnant, due to hormonal imbalance. So, even though support from others is generally an important factor of human life, it is especially essential during a woman’s pregnancy. It is very important to know that you have people to count on. However, what's more important is to actually count on them. More often than not, depression is caused by feelings like loneliness – asking for help when you need it can make you feel infinitely better.  Carrying a child changes your mind and body in a lot of ways and that might sometimes make you feel misunderstood, scared and isolated from everybody else. This is why support is a key part of dealing with depression during pregnancy – if you ask for help when you need it, your loved ones can help these miserable feelings disappear. What's more, your mom/sisters/cousins/friends may have been right there too! Even if currently you don’t feel much support from your loved ones, you should explain to them why you need it – keep in mind that they have no way of knowing what is going on in your mind and need to be told that their help is required. Often in depression we fail to forgive ourselves and others over minor mistakes. We are being cruel to ourselves and others needlessly. Try to accept things with an open heart. No one is perfect and rigid thinking is never helpful. Healing comes through forgiveness and letting go. Pregnant women often find themselves being moody and irritable for no reason. They see themselves nagging and being hurtful when they know inside they don't mean it – it's just the hormones talking. Those around you know that you're at the whim of your mood swings, so forgive yourself too! Not just those around you. Underlying core negative thoughts (also known as negative automatic thoughts) often remain unrecognized. This is pivotal as they are the main source of depressive rumination. Identify these thoughts, write them down and practice replacing them with positive ones.  When you catch yourself thinking, "Life has never been good to me," stop for a second. After that thought, think to yourself, "No, that's not right. Though there have been hard times, life has also given me happiness and pleasure." Try to omit should and musts from your life. Don’t demand excessively from yourself, environment or others. This will help you a lot. These consist of small coping cards, on which you have written positive statements for yourself. Here are some ideas:  You can make coping cards using colorful paper, charts or any other material. Cut it in small cards and write positive and forceful statements that help you change and cope with negativity. For example, "I have always coped well and I have the strength to do it again." Cue cards can be pasted anywhere in your room and whenever you start feeling depressed or start thinking negatively, they can remind you to stop. They are very helpful in distracting and reducing cycles of negative thoughts. Make your activity schedule on an A4 sheet or card and paste it on your cupboard or nearby place. Daily, mark the activities you have performed to check your progress. This is very helpful in dealing with depression and will give you insight regarding your progress and will motivate you to further action. Living in the past, constantly thinking about negative events does not allow to focus on the present. Enjoy today, focus on what you have and try to live in the here and now. You're about to bring a life into the world! Living in the future is almost as bad. Constantly worrying about how you'll make ends meet or what kind of mother you'll be will get you nowhere. The fact that you're worrying at all means you care – which is the first step. Focusing on what you can do now to improve the present will also improve the future.

SUMMARY:
Surround yourself with loved ones. Be open about how you're feeling. Try to forgive and forget more often. Identify the negative thoughts that cause you problems. Make your tool kit for better coping. Remember to live in the present.