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I know everyone who visits this blog knows a thing or two about cats. However, there is always room for improvement. And even people who have had cats their whole lives may stumble every now and then. So, as a refresher course, here are 5 things to never do with your cat. I consider this a slightly advanced list, because you already know the basics.
If you have lived with dogs before, or were a dog owner before becoming a cat owner, you may have ingrained canine behavior patterns.
Keep in mind that cats and dogs speak different languages and respond differently to things like love and discipline. Cat love is more gentle and calm than dog love. And cats don’t respond well to discipline at all. They don’t care about being rejected while dogs hate letting you down. The cat expects you to make a better choice if you want her to stop the behavior. It is completely different from how you treat dogs.
If you’re familiar with dogs and wondering what’s going on in your relationship with your cat, take a step back and make sure you don’t treat them the way you would treat your dog.
This guy trips a lot of cat lovers because what can I say? We do not resist. It’s hard not to touch us nonstop because we’re so cute! But honestly, most cats prefer to keep cuddling, snuggling, picking, and messing to a minimum. If your cat loves you, she will bravely tolerate it for longer than she is comfortable with. But they will feel very comfortable if you hold all these things for a few seconds and stop before they start looking for a way out.
And yes, there are cats that love being cuddle and picked up by their humans. But note – they have to do it on their own terms. They love it and you do it. And if so, that’s great! But if your cat doesn’t seem to enjoy the kind of attention you give her, you might consider giving her attention the way she wants. This can include chin and face movements, playtime, and candy. Love does not always mean complete manual contact.
We cats are delicate creatures that are easy to squeeze. Despite the way we sometimes have misbehavior, it can be hard to believe. And when humans become frustrated with their cats, they may burst out and start screaming, or physically grab the cat and pull it away from an unwanted location. This is really scary for a cat, and it can harm your relationship with it.
Before you start yelling or ringing at your cat, take a deep breath. Then approach the cat in a calmer manner. And while you’re at it, think about what might work to encourage your cat to do something different. Because again, cats need options, and it can take time to find that sweet spot that will solve the problem.
Is it okay to yell at your cat? Yes, only in this case: when the cat is about to do something that threatens its safety. For example, stepping on a hot stove or chewing on a plant can be poisonous. But in this case, you are not screaming out of anger, you are distracting them from danger. And you probably shouldn’t do this outside because the cat may be in danger of being disoriented rather than walking away. But these cases are very rare, so it’s not a part of this you don’t.
I get it. When your cat has problems in the litter box, it can drive you crazy. But behaving in an angry and irrational manner will only make matters worse. Your cat does not use the litter box for one of two reasons. They are either sick or stressed, and expressing your anger will only make things worse.
Cats want to use the litter box. They hate doing their business somewhere that might cause trouble. It is really important to get to the heart of the problem, whether it is about veterinary care or the intervention of a behavioral specialist. Any emotional outbursts on your part can prolong the problem and will certainly damage your relationship with your cat.
Just because cats don’t jump up and down excitedly every time you see them, that doesn’t mean they lack a need for company. The problem is that cats are quiet companions that are easy to neglect. Even a human can do that. It gets buried in writing or editing photos and videos so that hours can pass—hours you would have taken a break to play with me or have a practice session. And while she might find me crooked and napping, it might be out of boredom and not the need for an extra hour of sleep.
Cats rarely come and ask for your attention, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to. (Although see number 2 above – they might want to pay attention, but not that kind of attention!) So offer to play and have fun often. Give them a cute pet a pass to let them know you care. Have training sessions to mentally stimulate your cat. Be present for your cat. They will appreciate it.
This is what I have for you today! What mistakes have you made with your cats that have you learned from? Let me know in the comments!
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