That being said, there are certain misunderstandings I think people have about the feline species, misunderstandings that I even believed until I became the cat lover I am today.
Hopefully today's post will shed some light on feline behavior for any of you who haven't had any kitties as pets, or anyone who claims to be "anti-cat." By all means, I don't expect everyone to share my love for the little buggers...that's not the point of this post. But I do want to clear up some common misunderstandings. Now that I've spent years of time researching my kitty friends, I want to try and set the record straight about what I find to be the Top 5 Things to Know about Cats. Let's get this party started...
#1 Cats are not dogs!
I've noticed that many "anti-cat" people claim to be so because cats don't react to humans the way dogs do. They don't greet everyone with a wagging tail or bark at the mailman. They don't necessarily act loyal 1000% percent of the time the way dogs do. They don't react to bones or play with the same toys as dogs. Why? Because they're NOT DOGS. This doesn't make any one species better than the other, it just makes them different. It cracks me up how many people allow themselves to be disappointed in cats simply because they don't behave like another species of animal. Variety is the spice of life, and this applies to pets also! Embrace the life spice, people!
#2 Cats can be and are affectionate!
One of the main arguments against cats, especially by self-proclaimed pro-dog/anti-cat people, is that cats aren't affectionate. Dogs are pretty well-known for being creatures of loyalty, which I think adds to the misgiving that cats are the polar opposite of that--unloyal, disinterested buttholes. On the contrary, while they might not always be attached to their owners' hip, cats have so many ways of showing love. I think the difference between cats and other animals is that you really have to earn a cat's affection. You have to let a cat scope you out from afar, sniff you out a bit, and see what you're all about before you can expect them to take any type of interest in you. Once you've earned a cat's trust and love, you will see that their affection knows no bounds. I've NEVER had a pet (or even a human) snuggle me as long and hard as Roland does when I get home from a long day at work. Does he want to snuggle 24/7? Absolutely not. Does he act like a jerk? Sometimes. But the many parts of his personality make me love him even more--cats are as temperamental as human beings, and we put up with humans all the time. Plus, cats are much cuter than people during a good old-fashioned temper tantrum.
#3 Cats are headstrong
This is one of the biggest lessons I've learned with Roland. When it comes to discipline, it is important to remember how stubborn cats can be. If they want to do something, they're pretty much going to do it. Yelling, spanking, or reacting in any way unfortunately tends to be null and void in the face of a cat. I have found with Roland that the best way to get him to stop being bad is NOT to react. When he was smaller, he had a tendency to attack our feet and keep us up all night, every night because he wanted to play and be crazy. I tried to yell at him, swat his little behind, and throw him out of the bed to get him to understand that I wasn't having it. This did nothing but fire him up even more. I felt like my cat was trying to sabotage me on purpose. Finally, I decided to ignore him completely. It was so hard at first, but once I just let him get the little bit of energy out of his system, it was like he got over it almost immediately. Since then, I have found that by ignoring him completely when he is behaving badly, he quits the behavior pretty quickly when he realizes that it won't get my attention.
Also, don't forget that cats are strong-willed because of their curious nature--they need to know, see, and smell everything within their territory. By denying them this right, they will want it even more, so you might as well just let them fulfill all their sensory needs. Nine times out of ten, kitty's interest in said unwanted behavior will wane almost immediately once they give it an uninterrupted whirl.
#4 Cats love routine, and you will too!
Another thing I've found to help with any small behavior issues with my cat is creating a routine. We all wake up as a household at the same time every day. We feed Roland at the same time, the same number of times, each day. We even play with him for a scheduled amount of time each day. I have noticed that the routine we have created has helped immensely when it comes to behavior and energy management! Cats are natural hunters, so it is important to schedule their day around hunting (ie PLAYING), eating, and resting. If not, you will no doubt see unexpected spikes in your kitty's energy, whether you are ready for them or not!
#5 Declawing your cat is THE WORST! (This is related more to cat owners than the cats themselves, but hear me out)
I recently read about a medical circumstance that made de-clawing in a cat necessary, but that is such an exception! Unfortunately, most people don't realize that de-clawing is not only unnecessary, but in almost all cases, downright inhumane. It is literally the equivalent of cutting off a person's fingers at the knuckle. It has the potential to cause a number of medical conditions that can affect your cat's quality of life. Not to mention, providing a scratching post, utilizing specific toys, regulating playtime, and products like nail caps, are all ways to overcome the issue of cat scratching without resorting to de-clawing. There is an amazing documentary on Netflix called The Paw Project. The Paw Project describes in depth the implications of de-clawing your cat and discusses the influence of culture and business/money-making on the practice itself. In order to not get preachy and annoying, I will leave you with the trailer for this film and highly suggest that you watch it.
Not everyone will agree with the things I just wrote about, but that's okay. If I can help at least one reader understand a bit more about my favorite furry friends, then it was worth it.
Xo*
Jess
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