Some people prefer cats over dogs for their quiet and independent personality. They don’t seek attention as dogs, which solely thrive on this. Plus, training the furry friends and maintaining their overall health is easy. When you consider her nature, you rarely refer to her loyalty. On the other side, this specific quality is naturally linked with dogs. Why is it so? Does it mean your cat is not loyal? You can be surprised to learn that cats avoid traveling or car rides due to their loyalty to the people and houses they adore. They want to stay close to them for protection. However, such behavior is not quickly discernible and is misinterpreted promptly as a lack of love or attachment. But it’s not the only thing that is misunderstood about them.
Many pet parents label cats as aggressive without understanding the reasons behind their behavior. As a hurting human reacts angrily, cats demonstrate aggression when they cannot decide anything in this human-dominated world. It comes from the same quality of independence that you appreciate about her. She only wants to express herself in matters related to her welfare and be respected. Of course, it doesn’t imply she will develop a feeling of resentment toward you if you give her a cold bath or ignore her meows. The cat will also not feel guilty if you punish her. Her cowering and shying away is a response to your anger and nothing else.
These highly cognitive creatures, much like humans, can get easily stimulated due to their heightened taste, touch, hearing, sight, and smell sensibilities. All these prove so much about the feline that is still to be learned. Does it make you feel you should understand your kitty a little more? Let’s make it fun by answering your cat’s life questions that you may presume she would have asked if she spoke like humans. A few cat lovers do an exercise like this on a particular date in January every year to celebrate their cats and their bond with each other. So, here are some pertinent questions an intelligent cat can pose, triggering pet parents to analyze their decisions or choices about her life.
Q. Why can’t I drink your milk?
A. Adult cats find it challenging to digest milk due to lactose intolerance and succumb to health challenges like vomiting, upset tummy, and diarrhea. However, you can look for a lactose-free option if she is keen on having it, and you also want to feed her. Pet stores can be the right place to search for it. Or, you can replace it with protein treats like beef, chicken, tuna, banana, melon, berry, eggs, oatmeal, etc. Nevertheless, some cats can tolerate lactose and digest it well. Those cats can try to sip milk from your glass sneakily. Instead of serving a reasonable quantity, you can give your kitty a small amount and observe her health. You can add milk to her diet if everything goes smoothly.
However, all types of milk contain calories, which can increase your cat’s body weight. An obese feline can consequently suffer from other diseases. That’s why moderating your cat’s milk intake is necessary. Give it occasionally, like other treats. The only thing your pet can have in a generous amount is water.
Q. How do I pass my time when I am alone at home?
A. Your work responsibilities and some household chores may keep you away from your feline for a few hours, no matter how much you despise leaving her alone. However, it’s better to deal with those scenarios properly for your cat’s well-being. Otherwise, she will suffer. Fortunately, plenty of pocket-friendly choices are available to keep her engaged and entertained when you are somewhere else or busy with your work. Give her paper bags, crumbled newspapers, cardboard boxes, food puzzles, scratching posts, cat trees, etc. You can also provide her with regular toys, such as jingle toys, balls, stuffed animals, etc. Rotating these toys and giving them some things at different times would be great. The cat will enjoy playing with them without getting bored.
Another small practice you can embrace is leaving curtains or blinds slightly open to let your furry pal enjoy the worldly views outside and wait for your arrival. Do you play movies and TV shows at home? In that case, you can play cat-centric YouTube videos, DVDs, and other media content for her enjoyment.
Q. Why don’t you accept the gifts I bring home for you?
A. Sometimes, cats like to give their beloved owners a mouse or bird they hunted down but get confused when they show strong disapproval. While such reactions are natural, a pet parent must probe the psychology of their little friends and tweak their behavior accordingly. Kittens grow up seeing their mom cat bring prey and teach hunting skills. So, your cat repeats that behavior with you as your guardian. She wants you to hone your preying skills and become a better cat. Likewise, some cats gift their toys to draw pet owners’ attention or to play with them. When your kitty does something like this, you can have an extended play session with her.
Q: Why do you prevent me from jumping on the counter?
A. Climbing is spontaneous for cats, empowering them during hunting or self-protection. Plus, cats are naturally curious beings who like to scan everything. Your countertop becomes enticing for them because of its many mysterious items. Explaining why you don’t let your cat jump on it can be slightly challenging. However, you can adopt other avenues to cater to your pet’s curiosity and climbing instinct. You can equip your kitchen with a cat tree or cat shelves, where your furry companion can hop on and explore everything on the counters from a distance. Some pet parents convert every corner of their house into a small jungle for their furry friend by incorporating window perches, cat trees, and shelves almost everywhere.
Q. Why do you compel me to visit the vet clinic?
A. Her hisses and snarls indicate how much she hates traveling to a vet clinic. Some can be exceptions, but most exhibit displeasure. No matter what, regular health checkups are necessary for their wellness. Vets can monitor their health and aging signs. Hence, it has to be done nonetheless.
Q. Why do you pet me so much, even when I am uncomfortable?
A. Her soft, silky coat can make you run your fingertips through it. However, you suddenly stop when she bites your arm. Behaviorists call such kitty act petting-induced aggression, a simple response to let her owner know that the constant petting annoys her. Unlike small dogs that enjoy belly rubs a lot, cats have a limit to how much pressure their tender bodies can take. However, she is still sensible and will not bite you immediately. Her dilated pupils, tail whipping, pulled-back whiskers, and flattened ears are the telltale that you should stop petting now. If she butts or rubs her head against you, your cat is displaying her affection.
Q. What is this obsession with my poop and pee?
A. A pet parent needs to observe how often his furry friend relieves herself and if that goes smoothly. While it can be disgusting to look at a thing like this, poop says a lot about kitty’s health through color, texture, and frequency. Not pooping enough or doing it too often is not a great sign. Plus, runny, bloody, and dark poop also signal lousy health, which only a vet can judge better. The same applies to pee. A trained cat knows the litter box is the right place for this. However, peeing accidents can indicate problems in the urinary tract, stress, and anxiety. One has to be alert, especially if they ensure the litter boxes are clean, because cats tend to be fussy about these things.
Q. Why don’t you let me loiter outside?
A. Cats love exploring the world around them. Their boredom with the indoor environment makes them seek outdoor adventures. If your cat shows frustration for not getting permission to go outside, you can try some alternatives. Create a safe outdoor space or cat that lets her explore. You can build sunrooms, porches, and patios with screens for their security. These will help her soak in the fresh air hassle-free. Another option is taking them on leash walks, just like the dogs. Of course, they need training. Or, you can buy a stroller with a see-through covering so she can be safe outdoors.
People keep their pet cats indoors because of health risks. They can fall prey to toxins, poisons, wild animals, and stray cats without supervision. The risk of getting ill can be high due to ringworm, breathing infection, etc. The indoor cat can also hurt other cats and animals despite being fully fed.
What are your thoughts about these questions about your cat’s different aspects of life? These are easy ways to learn more about your furry friend and understand her needs. Such knowledge is also necessary to spend quality time with her and let her be when she needs her space. It can be an excellent way to bond with your feline.