People who own cats always hope that their beloved feline friends are healthy and happy, accompanying them always. In light of this, veterinary experts have shared 5 tips in hopes of helping you achieve this goal.
Senior lecturer in veterinary medicine at the University of Sydney, Anne Quain, wrote in an article on The Conversation website saying that research shows cats, contrary to people’s stereotypes, are not antisocial creatures and can indeed form close relationships with humans.
She mentioned, “The more we understand about cats, the more we realize that they are complex individuals with unique personalities and preferences, capable of learning.”
According to her, here are 5 tips to improve the lives of cats and make them happier:
Quain pointed out that cats communicate with humans using body language and sounds. Although cats may meow at humans and their vocalizations can vary based on the environment, humans are not inherently good at interpreting them.
For instance, a slow blink from a cat may express a positive emotional state. An unhappy cat (such as not wanting to be touched) may freeze, walk away, flatten their ears, hiss, or in extreme cases of feeling cornered, scratch or bite.
Cats should always have the option to opt out of any interaction (like being touched). If you’re unsure, you can “ask” them by stopping petting. If they walk away, they’re not into it. If they head-butt you, they want to continue interacting.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society of Feline Medicine agree on five pillars for a healthy environment for feline animals:
– Providing a secure space for cats to retreat when startled.
– Offering multiple key resources (food, water, litter box area, scratching area, play area, and rest or sleep area) for the cat to comfortably engage in daily activities.
– Providing opportunities for play and predatory behavior, like playing with toys that simulate hunting.
– Engaging in active, consistent, and predictable human-cat interactions that respect the cat’s choice on whether to interact and how to interact.
– Avoiding negative stimuli (such as strong smells and loud noises) and providing sensory stimulation that cats require, like catnip, respecting their sensory needs.
Cats prefer to stay in the litter box during and after elimination, and they generally prefer larger litter boxes. Poor hygiene conditions in the litter box can lead to urinary issues in cats, even life-threatening ones.
A survey of over 12,000 Australian cat owners found that urinary problems were more common in homes with fewer litter boxes per cat, infrequent removal of feces, and the use of crystal cat litter.
If you want to change the type of litter, it’s best to transition slowly to allow the cat to get used to the change.
If you have two or more cats, tension may arise between them, which isn’t always evident as fighting. Signs of tension between cats may include prolonged staring, or preventing the other cat’s access to resources like the litter box or cat door. The American Association of Feline Practitioners notes that this can lead to chronic fear, anxiety, and stress-related illnesses in cats.
Learning to identify and manage tension between cats can improve the welfare of each cat. However, many cats prefer being the only cat in the household and may not get along with other cats. If a cat can interact with familiar and trusted humans, even if it’s just one cat, it’s less likely to feel lonely.
Around 65% of Australian cat owners always keep their cats indoors, while 24% restrict their cats indoors at night.
The main reasons cat owners keep their cats indoors are to prevent them from hunting wildlife and to avoid potential issues from roaming, such as fights with other cats, infection with diseases, or accidents. However, cats that are entirely restricted indoors are more likely to exhibit problematic behaviors.
Ideally, cats should not roam freely unsupervised to prevent harm to wildlife, even within your property boundaries.
In conclusion, by giving cats choices, respecting their “catness,” focusing on their needs, and trying to see the world from their perspective, your cat will be happier.