Personality Match Is Essential
Before you go ahead and adopt a dog or vice versa, its important to ensure a dogs personality type is going to match with a cat. For example, an aggressive or possessive dog isnt likely to get along with an aloof or easily startled cat.
Moreover, a reserved and older dog will also not like sharing his space and attention with a naughty kitten. This is usually where the problems set in. Its a common belief that certain dog breeds such as Golden Retriever, Doodles, Basset Hound, Bichon Frise are among some breeds that get along well with cats.
So, if youre someone who owns one of these dog breeds, go ahead and welcome a kitten into your affectionate home. To learn more about which dog breeds are less aggressive towards other pets, there are certain websites you can check, such as We Love Doodles.
Your Cat Has Skin Allergies
Your cat could have skin allergies such as feline acne, bacterial infections, yeast infections, or ringworm. All of these can result in dry, itchy skin, along with other symptoms like bumps or flaky patches on their body.
When you itch your cats bottom, you may be rubbing a section of skin that has one of these problems, and your cat might feel some relief.
If you notice anything off about their coat or fur, you should take them to their vet for treatment, as most of these conditions will not go away on their own.
What If My Cats Scratching Is Anxiety
Cats can become tense or anxious for many different reasons and the causes are not always easy to identify by owners.
Excessive scratching is rarely the only sign that your cat might be distressed, so you should keep an eye out for other changes in behaviour. The solution to scratching that is territorial lies in identifying the underlying cause and this is usually best achieved by consulting with an expert.
If you are concerned that your cats scratching is anxiety-related, you should contact your vet for referral to a behaviour specialist.
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How To Encourage Your Cat To Use His New Scratching Post
The last thing that you want is to invest your money into something that your cat will not use.
Fortunately, cats are curious by nature. They will readily investigate their scratching posts. To encourage your pet to use his scratching post, there are a few things that you can do.
The first thing that you need to do is to make the scratching post interesting for your cat. One of the easiest ways to do that would be to place toys on or near the scratching post. You can even place his food bowl near as well as a few enticing objects like empty boxes and catnip.
Under no circumstance should you carry your cat to his scratching post and rub his paws on it. This will only cause your cat to feel anxious.
Finding Your Cats Spots
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It Is Possibly A Leftover Behavior From Kittenhood
When kittens are newly born, they cant really do anything for themselves. They cant even keep themselves warm without help from their mom.
Another thing young kittens need is to help to remember to urinate and eliminate. So their moms will lick them in the euro-genital area to stimulate elimination after nursing.
It is possible cats remember this even into adulthood and will raise their backside in familiarity with their humans.
Where Do Cats Not Like To Be Petted
Every cat is different, but most will avoid being pet on the:
- Belly
- Base of the tail
- Legs
These are vulnerable areas that are full of nerves. It can be dangerous or just over-stimulating to be touched here. Likewise, felines are cautious animals and dislike having the option for escape taken away. If you pin the legs, hold them, or rub them, the cat may feel trapped. It would need to struggle against you to back away, and thats an unpleasant realization.
Aside from that, resist the urge to cradle your felines head in your palms. Most people often do this to their own babies, as it helps to support the head and relax the children. Cats, however, do not like this. It inhibits their ability to move, back away, or bite defensively. Even if youre not harming the cat, it will feel trapped and may react aggressively.
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Can You Stop Your Cat From Scratching
Is it possible to prevent a cat from scratching completely? The truth is you cannot prevent your cat from scratching. And even if you can, that would be cruel to your pet.
Even if you let your cat go outside his urge to scratch will remain when he stays inside your home. The better option would be to provide your cat with an acceptable outlet for this instinct. Without an acceptable outlet for scratching, your pet will turn his attention to surfaces that are readily available in your home, including your pricey pieces of furniture and your curtains.
This is where a scratching post comes in handy. Apart from providing your pet with an acceptable outlet for scratching, a scratching post can be used for playing and exercising your pet. And when your pets mind and body are engaged and stimulated, he is less likely to exhibit bad behaviors.
This Is Where Your Cat Wants To Be Pet End Of Story
Cats are mysterious creatures who basically seem finicky, flighty and totally bonkers most of the time.
And cat people know that when it comes to stroking, each cat seems to have very specific preferences – and not doing it right can have some harsh consequences.
Koshka Schweig-PalombaSarah V. Schweig
For instance, in my own household, Brioche prefers the facial area, while Koshka prefers the tail base … depending on the time of day and who is petting her.
Human beings, the most curious animal, decided to investigate where cats generally prefer being pet most.
Image modified from: www.pet-happy.com
Sarah Ellis, a feline behavior specialist at International Cat Care, and her colleagues at the University of Lincoln in the U.K. were determined to get to the bottom of where cats like being pet most and why. So they teamed up to delve into studies to help cat owners understand.
After experimenting with the petting of different areas on a cat in different orders and coming from different people, the results were quite interesting – and Katzenworld sums up the rather complicated findings very well.
Image modified from: www.pet-happy.com
Oddly enough, despite Koshka’s preference, most negative reactions occurred when cats were stroked at the base of their tails.
And it also found that Brioche is definitely not alone in her enthusiasm for face-pets.
Two cats with two very different petting-style preferences.Sarah V. Schweig
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Scratching Your Cats Butt Is Relaxing For Them
If your cat is prone to getting anxious or stressed out, scratching its butt can be an easy way to get your cat to relax and calm down.
The gentle repetitive movement will soothe them, and your butt scratches act like a massage for them. Your cat loves this because they want to be in a relaxed and meditative state.
Why Do Cats And Dogs Love A Good Head Scratch
17 June 2017
Why do some cats and dogs practically melt with joy when they get a good head scratch?
The answer is different for Fluffy than it is for Fido, although they do share a few reasons for why they sink into complete bliss whenever their furry little heads are massaged.
For instance, petting a cat or a dog on the head gives the animal attention, which it might crave, said Dr. Nicholas Dodman, a professor emeritus at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Moreover, it’s difficult for cats and dogs to touch the tops of their heads with their paws, and it’s impossible for them to lick it with their tongues.
“It’s a relatively inaccessible area that you can reach for them, so you’re doing them a favor in that sense,” Dodman told Live Science.
From there, the reasons cats and dogs like a good head rub diverge. For cats, a friendly caress on the head, cheeks or chin might remind them of their grooming routine, when they lick the backs of their paws and rub their heads. The head scratch could also remind them of their mothers, who licked the tops of their heads when they were kittens, said Dodman, who is the author of “Pets on the Couch: Neurotic Dogs, Compulsive Cats, Anxious Birds, and the New Science of Animal Psychiatry” .
So, cats may perceive a head scratch as either a “personalized grooming service provided by owner,” or see the owner as their mom, because “that’s what mummy cat does,” Dodman said.
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Theres A Right Way To Pet A Cat Does That Mean Theres A Wrong Way
Yes! Cats are very particular about physical touch, and one wrong move can have them running in the opposite direction. If your cat doesnt enjoy being petted, respect her desire not to be touched much. Cats are like peoplesome enjoy a lot of physical contact with others, and some enjoy only a little, Nigbur says.
Cats typically dont like being petted on their tummy, legs/feet or tail. Of course, there are always outlierssome cats will love every bit of affection, no matter where theyre touched or whos doing it. But generally, you shouldnt pet a cat you dont know on their stomach or extremities.
If youre unsure whether or not theyre enjoying it, keep an eye out for these signs of tension:
- Suddenly jerking their head to face you or your hand
- Batting your hand away with their paw
- Hissing at you
- Twitching the skin on their back
- Shaking their head
How To Trim Your Cats Nails
Clipping nails should be done every 2-3 weeks.
Here are some other tips:
Start young: It is easier to start kittens on the right path than to retrain an adult cat, but even older cats can learn to enjoy having their feet handled and to accept nail trimming.
Go slow:Paws are one of the most sensitive parts of a cats body. They will often pull away from you and make the job more difficult. If your cat is sensitive, try warming them up to the concept during petting sessions. When the cat is most relaxed, touch one of her paws. Then, gently push on their pads, extending a claw, gently praising the whole time. Respect when shes had enough, and thats all for that particular session. A minute or two is a good chunk of time. When your cat is accepting of that feeling, then try clipping. One or two nails per session is fine, at first, getting them used to the sensation while having a positive connection with your praise and gentle touch and perhaps a treat afterward.
Catch em napping: You can often clip a nail or two or three on a sleeping cat with no stress whatsoever. Be gentle and quiet. If he wakes up and pulls away, thats okay remember, cats take many naps every day. Youll have another chance soon! You can also use the same holistic formula that Jacksons office cat, Mojo, uses, to keep him calmer during nail trims. Stress Stopper can help to reduce any animals stress during short duration disruptions like nail trims, the vacuum cleaner, or house visitors.
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Why Do Cats Go Crazy When You Scratch Above The Base Of Their Tail
Finding that your cat goes crazy about certain things is great and its a clear sign that youre doing something right, but even in good things, moderation is important. For example, if your cat goes crazy about tuna or cheese you still cant indulge them all too often.
You might wonder why do cats like the base of their tail scratched, and failing to see how petting and scratching your cat can turn into something negative and there are a couple of reasons for this to happen.
Clipping Nails As A Last Resort
Clipping their claws can prove to be effective. Indoor cats do not have the exercise to wear their claws and hence clipping claws can help to avoid damage to your furniture. Ensure that you take your cat to the vet to clip their claws as it could lead to infection and pain at times. Trimming the nails should be used as a last resort as it is unnatural for a cat to be without its claws which make it difficult for the cat in its regular activities.
Trimming a cats nail is a delicate process as the blood vessel is present in the nail and you need to avoid clipping it and hence you should not attempt it at home and leave it to the professionals if you dont have any experience in this.
If you have the luxury of time, keep a watch on your cat. Frequent tutoring can help you train your humanely and safely.
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Where Do Cats Prefer To Be Petted
Once youve gotten to know each other a bit, Fluffy will be able to relax. Remember that when it comes to petting a cat, less is more. Unlike dogs , cats are often indifferent when it comes to human interaction. This will require some restraint if youre the type of person who sees a small animal and thinks: Must. Pet. Now. Give them as much choice as possible, and they may reward you with some snuggles.
Cats tend to like soft, gentle strokes that move in the same direction of their fur, rather than back and forth petting, Samantha Nigbur, an ASPCA Behavioral Sciences Team Counselor, says.
Generally, the best places to pet a cat are where the scent glands are located around her face. If you extend your hand and they meet it with pressure to their head or cheek, this means they are depositing their scent onto you, a practice called bunting. Bunting leaves a scent marking their territory, but its also a way of showing affection. Hotspots where most cats like to be petted include the scent glands that are located between the ears, at the base of the ears, on their cheeks, and under the chin. They may also enjoy light pressure down their neck and back, stopping right before their tail.
How Do I Know If The Amount Of Scratching My Cat Does Is Normal
If the scratched locations are widespread throughout the home, particularly around doorways and windows, then it is likely that your cat is signalling a general sense of insecurity. Whether the scratching represents claw maintenance, marking or both depends on the dynamics of your cat household, the pattern of locations and various other factors. Even if the level of scratching is normal for your cat, if attractive scratching posts or areas are not provided indoors it is likely that damage will occur to furniture, wallpaper or carpet!
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Why Do Cats Need Scratching Posts
Cats need a scratching post because of their instinctive need need to scratch. Cats need to scratch their claws on surfaces for two reasons: to remove the old outer layer of their claws and to mark their territories.
A more accurate way of putting it would be that you need the scratching posts to protect your furniture at home. Your cat can get by with any type of surface, scratching post, or otherwise.
Should I Pet My Cat While He Or She Is Sleeping
While your cat is sleeping, you should be careful not to startle or scare them. By approaching them and startling them when they are asleep, you are more likely to make your cat anxious, scared, or more unlikely to enjoy being petted or touched in the future. However, if your cat is asleep on you or falls asleep while you are petting them, then you are less likely to startle them and can certainly continue petting them into a relaxing blissful cat nap.
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