Connecting with people
When a cat appears in our lives, regardless of its age, we become surrogate parents for it, cat moms and dads. Most of us consider cats to be an integral part of our family. This bond with your pet is formed through play, grooming, petting, and various ways of spending time together.
And although some cat breeds (for example, Bengals) do not like to sit on the laps of their owners, they still have a very strong bond with them.
Bonding with cats also has a significant therapeutic effect on humans. Surely you have noticed that the presence of a warm purring body next to us has a hypnotic relaxation effect. It is not surprising that the therapeutic properties of cats are used for elderly or sick people.
What if my cat doesn't like being petted?
Let's remember the survey results. There are few such cats, but they still exist. And these are not necessarily street cats. Some indoor cats that were born and raised indoors may not like being stroked. These are usually shy animals that still prefer to keep their distance.
And this does not mean that the cat does not love you. Just let her determine the type of interaction that is convenient for her.
Respect your cat's personal boundaries, and perhaps over time she will begin to allow you more.
Food
Like many people, cats love to eat good food and snack between meals. Cat snacks are probably healthier than most of our “junk foods.” However, if there is a problem of overeating, or overfeeding, then the pet's health can seriously deteriorate.
When it comes to healthy eating, there are three main types of cat food including:
Fresh or frozen food
In the mid-20th century, studies were conducted that confirmed the benefits of raw foods for cats.
Canned food
Canned food is the next best choice for cats after fresh.
Dry food
In today's society, when people are away from work for a long time, raw or canned food can spoil, so dry food is used.
People who love them
Cats love tenderness and affection, especially when their loved one pays attention. If you constantly ignore your pet when he wants attention, then he may ignore you in the future. It's fair game, so remember this the next time your cat refuses your affection. In addition, as with combing, you need to monitor your pet’s reaction to affection, otherwise you may become a victim of a little aggression.
Source
Water
Fresh water is the basis of life on our planet. Cats love cool, running water and often drink it straight from the tap. Some cats even play in the water, especially breeds like the Turkish Van. There is nothing wrong with this, and if your cat loves to splash around in the bathtub, you can throw toys into the water to keep your cat entertained.
How much water does a cat need?
About 67% of a cat's body is water. Dry food contains a minimal amount of water, only about 10%, and cats that eat it regularly definitely need a lot of extra water to maintain proper fluid balance in their bodies. Closely monitor the amount of water your cat consumes, as excessive thirst is a symptom of feline diabetes, feline hyperthyroidism, or chronic renal failure. Make sure there is always clean water in your pet's bowl.
How to pet a kitten?
Not all adult cats enjoy human contact, but a kitten can be trained to receive regular petting. If you give him a treat after petting, he will want it and will continue the habit into adulthood.
With a new animal, you won’t immediately understand where you can touch and where you can’t. Many kittens do not like having their ears and paws touched. You can accustom your pet to stroking his ears: you need to do it slowly and give him a treat. This way the cat will understand that nothing bad will happen.
Keep in mind that overstimulation can also occur in kittens, who are often curious, irritable, and excitable. You have to be especially careful not to make them too angry while petting them so that you don't get bitten or scratched.
Read also: Why is aspirin banned in Europe?
Dream
Most cats love to sleep, and devote 14-18 hours a day to this activity. This may seem excessive to us humans, but for cats it is quite natural. It seems that it doesn’t matter to them when, where and how to sleep.
Cats also like to wake up their owners at night. These habits are not natural for us and can lead to insomnia.
What do cats love most?
Like any living creature, cats also have their own preferences, which can be expressed in fairly familiar forms or not (if we evaluate this by our standards). Of course, purrs most of all adore what brings positive emotions - good nutrition and care, tenderness and affection, and much more. But there is something else that cats love, and it wouldn’t hurt for everyone to know it – both those who already have this pet at home and those who are just about to get one.
First of all, it must be said that cats really adore warm places. This means that any corner where there is a ray of sunlight or artificial heat directly attracts the animal to itself. Hence the seemingly wild preference of a pet for a computer or laptop keyboard - it’s warm, don’t the owners know that? The same applies to cozy sofas, armchairs and beds, window sills and radiators, so you shouldn’t drive an animal that has settled so comfortably off of them every time.
Cats also love eating together, namely, they love to eat when their owners do so. By the way, they also will not refuse to try food from the master’s table under any pretext, unless it is something completely inedible.
Cats love to have shiny, clean and combed fur. But you need to understand that this animal is wayward and therefore, in order to carry out various procedures with it (combing its fur, untangling tangles, etc.), you need to catch the right moment. This means that the cat should allow all manipulations to be done, and not be a victim of experiments.
What else do cats love besides the above? Well, probably a rare cat will refuse to taste a homemade flower, as if specially placed on the windowsill. The pet will especially like tender, young sprouts, which she will then certainly vomit onto the carpet. Do not rush to scold your pet - it is quite possible that she lacks some vitamin or microelement.
Cats love to have a dry, clean and always accessible toilet. And this rule applies not only to “apartment” pets, but also to those who have access to the street.
Cats can’t help but climb to the very top of the furniture, climb onto the curtains, sharpen their claws on the sofa and wallpaper, and maneuver their “snake” between fragile things (crystal vases, glasses, etc.).
The cat will be very, very unhappy if they interfere with her sleep. And let the sleep last 3-4-5 hours - so what? Does she have the right to her leisure time? And it’s good if at this moment there is a quiet, friendly atmosphere in the house and quite possibly calm singing can be heard (cats generally love peace and tranquility).
All guests who come to the house must know what cats like - this rule is not discussed in any way. This means that they will certainly bring the animal something tasty and will not bother you with affection until the cat allows it.
But most of all, cats, no matter what breed they are, sometimes love to catch a mouse or a low-flying bird, or play with a small ball or paper ball. That’s why several “play” sessions with the owner or with other cats every day are simply impossible for a very graceful and beautiful animal to miss - it’s necessary to maintain its shape, even if it’s a domestic one, but it’s a real predator?
Games
Play is extremely important for cats. Both kittens and adult cats will happily hunt for their prey, be it a toy or a human hand. The game for a cat occurs at the level of instinct, because in the wild, representatives of the cat family are forced to chase and kill their prey in order to survive. Toy manufacturers know this and make products that are perfect for these predators, including toy mice, birds, butterflies and other “prey”, as well as laser toys to chase a beam of light.
Bird watching
Cats love watching birds through a window or in a cage. Probably the main reason is that birds are prey and cats are predators. And the sight of a chirping, feathered creature jumping on a windowsill or even on a TV screen will immediately attract the attention of even the most bored and sleepy cat.
Sharpening claws
Scratching any objects is one of the basic needs of these animals. Typically, this occurs when the top sheath of the claw delaminates, causing it to fall off with the help of scratching. When cats sharpen their claws, they experience muscle tension and relaxation. Such physical exercises are another reason for tearing up the sofa or scratching post.
Do you know people who bite their nails when stressed or embarrassed? When cats sharpen their claws, they calm down when they are scared or stressed. Be sure to purchase several scratching posts that can satisfy your pet's natural needs and also protect your furniture.
Where you don't need to iron
Unfortunately, few people even think about how to pet a cat. A person is inclined to take into account only his own need for affection, and does not know how to accept a refusal from an animal. In this paragraph, we will look at several areas where it is better not to pet a cat, and why cats should not be petted against the grain.
Stomach
Why pregnant women should not pet cats or have contact with them
In principle, you should not deliberately touch a cat’s belly, let alone stroke it. Even when your pet is sleeping peacefully with its paws up, you should not bother it by scratching its belly; this is a task best left to dogs.
Note! Typically, animals that do not protest against belly scratching are inclined to play rather roughly with grabbing a person’s hand.
Care
Most cats love to be groomed by their beloved owners. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the pet enjoys this procedure. Some cats, especially those prone to feline hyperesthesia, may run away or become aggressive. So choose your grooming tools carefully and observe his reactions so you know when to stop. And as soon as you finish brushing your cat, offer her her favorite treat.
Cats enjoy being groomed
Cats have a reputation for being very clean animals.
There are several reasons why cats spend so much time grooming their fur:
- Washing your cat helps control its body temperature. Wool acts as a protective layer between the body and the environment.
- Grooming not only helps cats remove dirt and odors from their fur, but also prevents predators and prey from detecting them.
- The pet also washes itself in order to cool down. When it's very hot, cats moisten their fur with saliva to cool down. The cat smoothes its fur so that the fur allows air to penetrate between the hairs, which cools the skin.
- Washing them keeps their skin and coat healthy. Regular grooming distributes the oils naturally produced by your cat's skin and fur, keeping the coat healthy, shiny and moisturized.
- When several unrelated cats gather and mutual agreement is established between them, they lick, wash each other and play with each other. Mutual washing is a unique form of communication, an expression of love and friendship.
Not every cat likes to be groomed by its owner, but if he likes it, try brushing his fur with a natural or rubber brush.
How to show your cat your love and affection
People who have little interest in domestic cats may feel that these animals are such aloof creatures that they are incapable of showing and receiving love. In fact, this is an erroneous judgment. Although cats are independent creatures, they form strong bonds with their owners and suffer from lack of attention or love.
Of course, like a dog, you shouldn’t expect a cat to show feelings. But attentive attitude towards your pet, care, as well as attempts to understand the animal’s mood at a certain moment, will allow you to establish contact with the cat and enlist “support”. After all, cats can be real companions, almost like dogs.
The relationship of a cat to a person
There is an assumption that domestic cats, unlike dogs, live with a person under the same roof solely for mercantile motives, evaluating exclusively their own benefit. The opinion is erroneous, since cats with an independent character require love, affection and attention.
Smart animals, with a noble nature, reciprocate the feelings of a person who shows respect and love for their pet.
If the owner does not pay attention to the pet or pet, does not create comfortable conditions for existence, and does not give warmth, you should not count on love from the animal.
It is not difficult to understand that a cat is showing love or sympathizing with its owner. It is enough to carefully observe the habits of the mustachioed rogue. It is recommended to establish contact with a small kitten that appears in the house from the very first days, creating a comfortable environment. An unfamiliar and unusual place is stressful for any cat. Adaptation to new conditions occurs with the help of smell and auditory analyzers. It is necessary that during the adaptation period of a new family member, there are no sharp sounds, and the smells are the most pleasant - favorite food or delicacies.
Feeling safe, the cat will relax and tune in to the right mood, building a relationship with its owner. Rudeness and disrespect towards a cat are not acceptable. The feeling of peace and security that the owner gives to the cat remains with it for life. But how can you understand that a cat considers its owner a friend?
