How to take proper care of your cat
There are only five rules, but they are very important. If you follow them, both the owner and the pet will become happier.
Let’s face it, our adorable cats are great manipulators. With the help of meows and purrs, violent protest and complete indifference, velvet paws, sharp claws, insolent antics and innocent eyes, they are able to twist ropes out of us. A person’s devotion to a pet sometimes reaches the point that it is no longer clear whether a cat is taken into a house for people or people live for the sake of a cat. In order not to be enslaved by a fluffy deity, it is worth remembering a few rules of experienced cat owners.
In raising a kitten, as in raising children, two things are important: consistency and persistence.
What is prohibited today should be prohibited tomorrow. “Well, okay, only today I am allowing you to sit at the dinner table.” The cat understands this as “from now on it is allowed.” Therefore, it is better to determine from the very beginning what exactly you are not ready to allow an adult cat, and strictly ensure that the kitten follows these rules.
Behavioral problems in cats that make life difficult for the owner are the result of health problems of the cat.
“A cat’s health affects various aspects of its behavior,” says Mars PhD expert. Natalia Malkova… – In particular, the use of the toilet. Ignoring the litter box and urinating in the wrong places may be the first sign of urolithiasis. It is imperative to have a regular annual veterinary check-up in order to recognize the disease at an early stage and take action in time. A balanced diet can provide disease prevention. ”
The cat has everything like people. There are basic vital needs: safety, communication, rest and exercise. Only by providing them, you have the right to expect good behavior from the pet.
If the cat is unable to hide and get away from people and pets, it can become too cowardly or aggressive. The cat is a predator, it needs to move and hunt. If the energy has nowhere to throw out, it can begin to hunt you. Provide the cat with its own secluded “house” (basket, shelf in the closet, convenient viewing platform), if necessary – the ability to move on the upper tiers (shelves, cabinet surfaces) to avoid contact with the dog or persistent small children. Spend your energy trying to find litter and scratching posts that your cat will like (some people can be very picky), this will save your furniture and nerves. And, of course, play with the cat a lot, using all kinds of toys (but not your hands!), This will bring you closer and give the cat the necessary load.
Believe it or not, you don’t need to punish the cat, just stop it. When a kitten starts some undesirable action (tries to write past the tray, tears up furniture or bites your hands), it is not worth punishing, especially after the fact: the cat will not associate the puddle with punishment in any way. In the early days, until the baby gets used to it, just do not leave him alone in a room where there is something to spoil. Began to spin in search of a toilet – take it to the tray. I put my claws into the chair – take them away from the chair. Grabbed the hand playing with him – remove your hand. Usually, kittens quickly figure out what actions lead to the end of pleasure, and avoid them. If you are caught especially persistent, try scarecrows and noisemakers: a spray bottle with water, clap your hands, etc. Pronounce at this moment the prohibitive word – “Fu!”, “No!”, “You can’t!”; at a more mature age, it will be enough to stop the wrong action.
5. Decide for yourself who is the boss
The cat “cried” by the refrigerator – you were moved and gave food. The cat “cried” at the door – you regretted it and opened the door. “It’s not difficult to train a person,” the cat concludes, “you just have to shout as loud and shrill as possible.” Do not want to be trained in this way, especially at night, do not fall for this bait. If the presence of a cat in the bedroom interferes with your sleep, you have the right to close the door and not open it in response to the meow. After making sure that it is pointless to beg, the cat will calm down pretty soon.
“Cat owners often complain that their pets wake them up in the middle of the night or at dawn, demanding food,” says Natalya Malkova. – And the cat can really eat both day and night – this is a feature of her behavior. Therefore, leave her a part of the daily allowance (indicated on the package) overnight: in the morning and in the evening, we recommend giving the cat wet food, and during the day – dry food. Most importantly, be sure to check the availability of clean water – your pet also needs it at night. “