French research published in Animal Cognition has found that your cat recognises when you are talking to them. Most people use a different tone or pitch when speaking to their cat as compared to speaking to other people. Cats recognise the difference, but this does not necessarily mean they will listen…
The researchers found that cats respond to their owners’ cat-directed speech; they don’t respond to a stranger’s cat-directed speech.
This implies that the bond a cat has with a person influences their behaviour and highlights the importance of relationships between cats and their owners.
To find out more click here to access the full article.
Cats can be quite particular creatures, and pet parents know that their unique purr-sonalities can be very different.
Even in the same household, and from the same litter, our furry friends can vary quite a lot when it comes to their individual habits and quirks.
Researchers have found five cat personality types, and find most cats fall into one of the following categories – Neurotic, Extraverted, Dominant, Impulsive or Agreeable.
“A deeper understanding of cat personality traits can be highly beneficial to their health and wellbeing. Knowing more about our cats allows us to provide the right kind of interactions based on their individual personalities. The “personalities” of domestic cats found in the study (agreeableness, impulsiveness, dominance, extraversion and neuroticism) can help determine how to manage causes of stress in our cats and allow them to be at their very best. These findings are important considerations in human-feline relations.”
– Dr. Jo Gale BVetMed CertLAS MRCVS
It is worth noting that most “undesirable” behaviours are just cats expressing their natural behaviours, but perhaps in a place or at a time which isn’t appealing to us as humans!
Whether your cat is a Nervous Nala, a Spontaneous Simba or a Bossy Bella, read our top tips for ensuring a fuss-free feline friend below.
Nervous
Cats who score in this category tend to be more highly-strung than others, and can also be the most shy.
These cats love a hiding spot, so give them plenty of spaces around your home for them to retreat to.
Over time, and with the right support, these cats can become just as confident and cuddly as any feline, albeit only to those they truly love (which makes it even better!)
Top Tips for Nervous Cats
Give them space – Boxes, cat tunnels and other “safe spaces” are very important to nervous cats.
Reduce “triggers” – If possible, try to determine and avoid things that may cause anxiety for your cat. For example, if your cat is scared of the hoover, take them to another room before flipping the switch.
Be patient – It may take a while until your cat is comfortable enough for a cuddle, and some cats just plain don’t like it. Respect your cat’s personal space and try to read their body language.
Try distractions – If your cat is triggered by something beyond your control, such as fireworks, try shutting the curtains and playing soothing music or television (ours love a bit of Attenborough)
Keep calm and purr on – Your cat is an expert at picking up your vibes, so try to stay cool, calm, and collected, and hopefully your cat will do the same.
Make a routine – cats are creatures of habit, and aren’t too fond of change, so bear this in mind, try to sync your schedules and don’t interrupt nap time (this goes for humans, too)
Outgoing
Cats in this category are much more extroverted and often more noisy than most cats.
They’re also the kind who like to get into the most trouble, mostly due to how easily they get bored and resort to destructive behaviours to get attention (we’ve all been there).
Top tips for outgoing cats
Work hard on playing hard – Provide plenty of toys for your cat to play with, and be sure to replace them with fresh toys as they can soon stop smelling quite so interesting to cats.
“Baby”-proof your home – If your cat has a naughty habit of opening cupboards and doors, invest in kid-proof door stoppers to keep what’s inside from falling into the wrong paws.
Reward good behaviour – When you notice your cat playing nicely, for example not biting your guests’ ankles, be sure to let them know how pleased you are with a treat or some fuss and attention.
Keep distractions close to hand – A tactically-placed scratching post or well-timed play session can greatly improve the longevity of your sofa.
Use “time-outs” – If your cat gets a bit too overzealous with the rough-housing, consider placing them in “kitty jail”. A few minutes in a designated empty room can help to calm down their zoomies (just make sure it isn’t where you keep your priceless art…)
Be patient – Cats can be quite wild at times, but remember that they lack the capacity to do things out of spite or meanness, though it can seem this way sometimes.
Bossy
Cats who fall into this category tend to be the most dominant, and are especially easy to spot in multi-cat households – they are the ones at the top of the pecking order (including you).
These cats know just how to manipulate their owners, and can wrap you around their little toe-beans.
Top tips for bossy cats
First impressions matter – when introducing new members of your pet family, use the “two-door method” to gradually let them get to know each other, slowly removing the barriers until they can get acquainted.
Share the love – For households with more than one cat, be sure to show equal attention and affection for each member of your clique, you may have a favourite, but they don’t need to know that.
Food, the great motivator – You’d be surprised how quickly your cat can straighten up and fly right when dinnertime comes into question, if you have more than one cat, provide separate feeding areas and bowls to avoid the dominant cat taking the lion’s share.
Tough love – As much as we’d like to let them think our lives revolve around them, sometimes a cat needs to know that it isn’t the boss. Whether it’s by feeding yourself first before them, or simply not jumping to attention whenever they call, just don’t expect a pleasant reaction when you try to take back your favourite spot on the sofa…
Consider a permanent “fix” – Neutering or spaying your cat can help to control the hormones responsible for some undesirable behaviours. If needed, a specialist veterinary behaviourist can help you live in harmony with your cat.
Live with it – Cats, while fairly resilient and adaptable, can be set in their ways. If they’ve been “top cat” for too long, you may just have to deal with the fact that you’re seen more as a servant than a parent, in which case you should just be grateful to have such a merciful ruler.
Spontaneous
These cats are the most impulsive, and tend to have a lot of energy, which sometimes is released all at once.
Whilst all cats go through a “scatty” phase as kittens, some cats stay “young-at-heart” and keep their youthful exuberance. Particularly, it seems, in the middle of the night…
Top tips for spontaneous cats:
Tire them out with play – Keeping your cat amused with plenty of toys can help them spend some of their seemingly boundless energy. Consider an automatic or interactive toy for them to entertain themselves with, especially when you’re trying to sleep.
Never “scold” your cat – Shouting at a spontaneous cat will likely raise their levels of anxiety and increase any erratic behaviour as a result. Plus, it isn’t very nice and rarely works with cats, instead, try positive reinforcement for good behaviour.
Start a regimen – Scheduling feeding and playtime to the same time of day can help to instil a sense of routine that can help keep your cat calm (just be sure NEVER to be late, no one likes waiting for dinner…)
Read your cat’s body language – Try to identify the things that set your cat off, or how they behave in the lead up to the “zoomies”. This can help single out any triggers that are causing the nervous energy, or if your cat is simply a weirdo (the best ones are, after all…)
Synchronise your time-zones – Some cats are nocturnal, preferring to run around your home in the wee small hours. Try to keep them entertained and awake throughout the day to change their body-clock. If all else fails you could always join them on the night shift, after all, compromise works both ways.
Agreeable
This type is the very definition of a “cool cat”. Super chilled, sociable and with plenty of the laissez-faire attitude that cats are known for.
This agreeable personality is usually the result of proper socialisation as a kitten. The dude abides…
Top tips for agreeable cats (like you need them!)
Consider expanding the family – Agreeable cats are perfect for multi-cat households, often taking younger cats under their wing and passing on good habits. This type of cat is the ideal role model for newer additions, particularly rescues who can re-learn behaviours much quicker than from humans.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – Whatever you’re doing, it’s working. A well-adjusted cat can provide an endless amount of comfort, care, calm and cuddles. Just know that it’s incredibly rare that a cat will fetch your slippers (though you’re welcome to try).
Of course it goes without saying that every cat is unique and has its own personality, just like us!
However, being attuned to your cat’s personality can help you to understand their individual needs and personal likes (and dislikes), which is one step closer to purr-adise.
Cats are wonderful companions – just being around them is beneficial for both your physical and mental health. Stroking a cat causes your brain to release serotonin and dopamine, which helps you to feel more relaxed. Cats are also relatively low maintenance compared to other pets, although they do still need care and attention. It’s important to do your research and evaluate your lifestyle before committing to giving a cat a home, particularly if you’re considering a kitten as they can be more work than you’d expect.
Before getting a cat, ask yourself the following questions:
Do you have a stable home environment?
If you don’t own your own home, it may not be the best time to get a cat. Even if you’re renting and you’re lucky enough that your current place allows pets, it’s still risky. Renting can be unpredictable and you could be forced to move at any time, which is not only stressful for a cat, but it can be very difficult to find another home that accepts pets. You could then be faced with rehoming your cat which is heartbreaking for everyone.
Do you have enough space?
Many cat rescues or shelters will require that home inspections are carried out before they allow you to adopt a cat. They will typically have a list of criteria you have to meet – some common ones are having a cat flap, living away from any busy roads and having enough space for a cat to explore.
If you live in a small flat or apartment, you’ll need to ensure that you’re getting a breed that will be happy living indoors and doesn’t require much space to run around. This really varies depending on the cat, so it’s important to do your research.
Do you have enough time?
Although cats don’t need to be taken on daily walks, they do still need stimulation to live a healthy life. It’s up to you whether your cat is allowed outdoors or stays indoors, but if they are indoors, they will need plenty of toys and playtime to keep them entertained.
Kittens are especially time consuming. They need a lot of attention from you and a lot of play. Make sure you have plenty of safe toys for your kitten and if your kitten would be home alone all day then consider either getting an older cat or having someone come over to play with your kitten while you are at work.
Can you afford the upkeep?
With a cat comes many new expenses – food, beds, toys and vet bills. It’s a good idea to get some rough costs for each item and add up the monthly estimate to ensure that you can afford it. Vet bills are typically one-offs and can be hard to plan for, but you can make the costs more manageable and predictable by taking advantage of pet insurance.
Does anyone in your household have allergies?
If you have any doubts about a household member having a cat allergy, we would recommend trying to visit a friend with a cat or getting tested before committing to getting a cat. Cat allergies can have quite serious implications for some people and could force you to rehome your cat should someone be allergic. You can avoid this heartbreak by finding out beforehand.
If you feel you are ready for a cat, contact a breeder or cat rescue centre to help you find a cat that is best suited to living with you. After all, it is not just about your happiness, your cay’s happiness is equally important!
* Originally written by William O’Brien for ProtectaPet
In recent times, the act of working remotely from home has become a massive trend, especially during and after the lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A lot of us find it much easier and less restricting than having to go into the office five days a week, and we get to work from the comforts of our own home.
However, where there are pros to working from home, there are all sorts of unique challenges that arise in these new working environments, especially for owners of demanding pets. For us cat owners, working from home can mean more quality time spent with our feline friends but it can also present challenges that you need to overcome in order to establish a healthy balance of work time and play time.
If your cat is particularly demanding, giving them access to the outdoors whilst being protected from the usual risks can help your cat to exert that additional energy. ProtectaPet offers a range of Cat Fencing solutions to keep your cat safe outdoors, available for DIY or installation.
Set Boundaries
Most of us will know that cats do as they please and when they want. They stroll up and down their palace corridors deciding where they want to sleep, eat and relax. A lot of us have transitioned into working from home either on a flexible or permanent basis, so setting some boundaries between you and your cats might be the best option for you.
If you’re trying to have an important meeting, or if you are working towards a big deadline then you might need to think about not allowing your cat into the office or training your cat to not climb up onto your laptop and sit on your keyboard. Cats have a reputation for doing what they want, especially for love and attention, so training your cat might be the best option for you, as just shutting the door on them might cause some distress. Training them will take time, but it will be worth it when your cat stops knocking over a hot coffee onto some important documents!
Set a Routine for You and Your Cat
Just because working from home can be a comforting way to work, we still need downtime and who better to do this with than with our cute cat companions. Also, setting aside time for you and your cats will ensure that you are giving them enough love and attention so that you can go back to work undisturbed, leaving your cat satisfied. Ensure that you are the one to initiate the playtime, so that they can learn that you are the decider when it comes to when the work ends and when the fun starts.
Cats also respond well to routine, so setting up a daily schedule for you and your cat might be the best option if you live with a demanding one. Make sure they have their own safe space, with their own scratch posts, fresh water, toys and a comfy bed.
Cat-Proof the Office
If you are letting your cats into your home office, you need to make sure that there aren’t any items lying around on the surfaces or the floor which your cat could potentially swallow or knock over. Make sure to never leave your pet in your office unattended so that they can’t damage anything or hurt themselves. Also ensure that there are no cables lying all over the floor because they have been known to chew through these, so keep this in mind too.
Over time your cat will hopefully become accustomed to the do’s and don’ts of the home office workspace and naturally will avoid causing too much destruction or annoyance during stressful work times.
Be Flexible and Patient
Creating and maintaining a harmonious relationship with your feline friends whilst you’re working from home may seem like a challenging prospect now, but with time and patience you will be rewarded with an even better understanding and deeper love for your cats.
Understand that they are an animal with intuition and instinctive behaviour and although successfully training a cat might seem impossible, it is achievable. There might be setbacks but in the end they are extremely smart creatures that with your love, patience and flexibility, they will learn to understand your needs as well as you understand theirs.
Most of us look forward to the festive period; the food, the guests, the tree and decorations. However, for cats, Christmas may be a time of stress and risk of injury. As a species they enjoy routine and are sensitive to changes in their environment, making the celebrations challenging. In addition, the season means certain toxic plants and food may be accessible to curious cats. At International Cat Care we have consulted our veterinary members to ask them what injuries they see at this time of year. Based on this information and with the input of the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) this article offers advice on what to keep out of reach and what to do to minimise the disruption to keep our cats happy this Christmas.
Poisonous pants and food
Poinsettia, mistletoe, holly, ivy and Christmas cherry can cause a tummy upset and should be kept away from inquisitive cats.
Chocolate is not just toxic to dogs, it is also toxic to cats, although the amount a cat needs to eat to make them ill is a lot higher than for dogs. Signs of chocolate poisoning including being sick and passing diarrhoea, drinking a lot, appearing drunk, trembling or even having a fit.
Similarly, grapes and raisins, known for causing kidney damage in dogs, may affect cats but poisoning is much less common.
A little left-over turkey will be enjoyed by the majority of cats without harm, excessive treats and human food could make a cat poorly so do try and stick to their normal feeding routine this time of year; they won’t know they are missing out!
Another hazard can be cooked poultry bones – they are hard for cats to digest and can get stuck in the digestive system so make sure your cats can’t raid the bin after the Christmas lunch.
Christmas decorations
Be careful with candles! As elevated locations are still accessible to most cats, candles should be kept where you can keep an eye on them.
Keep your cat away from tinsel, lametta (the long decorative strips of tinsel), ribbons and string (around meat or used to hang decorations).
Many cat owners have had the experience of their cat climbing the Christmas tree and it falling over. (My childhood cat did this one year!) Your cat can get injured during the fall, but is more likely to get injured by pieces of glass from broken baubles. Dirk loves the shiny baubles so I put matt ones on the lower branches of my tree as he’s less likely to bat those.
Chewing lights and wires can be a problem for some cats, especially for nosy kittens.
How to make Christmas less stressful for cats
This time of year means lots of changes to a home, and for cats who often thrive on predictability, routine and the perceived safety of their territory (their home and garden), this can be distressing. The furniture is often moved around to accommodate extra guests, the tree is brought in, lights and decorations are put up, music is played, all making their home look, sound and smell different. In addition, unfamiliar people, and worse still unfamiliar dogs may visit the house or even stay for several days, again at variable times, interrupting the normal routine. In order to minimise distress during this season consider the following:
Ensure your cat has several safe and comfortable places to hide and get away from the noise and hustle and bustle. A cardboard box or igloo bed above the wardrobe or under the bed can provide security. If new beds are added to the home at this time, make them smell familiar by adding bedding already used by your cat.
Advise visitors not to approach the cat if it is in its bed, but only to stroke the cat if it initiates contact. Visiting children may be keen to see and cuddle the cat but gentle stroking on the cat’s initiation must be insisted upon.
Guests can be given cat treats and toys to help teach the cat positive associations with the new people.
Ensure there is always an open door to allow the cat to get away from any noisy parties or dinners to a quieter part of the home.
Consider plugging in a ‘Feliway’ diffuser into the room the cats spends most time several days before the festivities begin. This product (available from your vet) contains feline pheromones which can help the cat feel more secure. Ensure it is switched on continually throughout the festive season.
If visitors are sleeping in one of the rooms the cat usually uses, for example, for sleeping, eating or toileting, be sure to provide the required resources (beds, food or litter tray) in other quieter parts of the house and ideally, before the visitors arrive so that changes occur gradually and the cat is comfortable with the new location.
If the cat’s litter tray is positioned in a place that will mean more people traffic or noise during the Christmas period, it is good practice to provide an additional litter tray in a quieter part of the home.
If the cat is particularly sound sensitive, avoid crackers and party poppers.
If a dog is visiting it may be helpful to restrict its access to the cats retreat areas using for example baby gates on the stairs.
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