14 things NOT to do if you have a Cat at home

Decided to have a Cat at your home? Already live with a Cat, but sometimes your hardest headache is to predict its behaviour? Here are some tips which might be very helpful to understand your little furry companion.

HEALTH

1. Don’t bring plants into your home without checking that it’s safe for Cats.

Some plants can be poisonous for felines. Cats don’t know that though so if you’re a plant lover, make sure to check that any plant in your house is safe for your pet.

2. Don’t declaw.

Declawing is a painful procedure that increases the risk of the Cat not using the litter box and biting. Should your declawed Puss get out, they’ll also be at a disadvantage. If you’re considering declawing because your Kitty is scratching and damaging furniture, consider getting it getting it some cat furniture with a scratching post instead.  You can find some here.

3. Don’t ignore health checks and vaccines, even if your Cat stays only at home.

Simply follow this rule: treat our Cats like you would your children. And just like you would with a baby, make sure that your Cat has regular check-ups and ensure other preventative healthcare.

FOOD

4. Don’t keep food near the litter.

Cats are a lot like humans in many ways and just like us, they don’t find it particularly palatable eating their dinner next to where they go to the toilet.

5. Don’t leave food out.

Since Cats don’t worry about their figure, you have to. Leaving out food invites your Cat to eat as much as they can which could make them gain too much weight, especially if your Cat stays only at home. Don’t forget to place the bowl in a location that feels secure and peaceful to your Cat during mealtimes.

6. Don’t restrict your Cat’s diet to dry food only.

Cats don’t know the rule of 8 glasses of water a day and tend to get dehydrated. Ensure your Cat is healthy by feeding it a variety of dry and wet food. For the exact amount and proportions suitable for your pet, consult your vet.

7. Don’t give your Cat milk.

Yes, Tom always fights Jerry over milk but Tom is an exception. Most felines are lactose intolerant and drinking cow milk could lead to a variety of health issues.

BEHAVIOUR

8. Don’t impose attention on your Cat.

Your Cat loves it that you love your Cat but it asks you to be considerate. Cats are just like their human friends who don’t like to be touched and teased when they don’t feel like it.

9. Don’t use your hands and fingers as a toy.

This kind of play teaches your Kitten to bite and attack, and encourages aggression. It’s best to avoid any kind of hand/finger play with your Cat.

10. Don’t directly punish your Cat.

Felines are very sensitive and get scared easily. If your Puss misbehaves, see if there is anything you can do to change this behaviour without resorting to smacking or shouting– tackle leaping onto countertops and other furniture by providing a Cat tree. If your Cat is scratching and destroying furniture – make sure that its new Cat tree includes a proper scratching post.

11. If you have more than one Cat at home – don’t make them share the same food bowl and litter tray.

In the wild, Cats hunt alone and protect their food. Forcing two or more Cats to share a food bowl may result in fights and other behavioural issues.

12. Don’t ignore your Cat.

A common misconception is that Cats don’t like attention. It’s not a fixed rule and we should always observe each individual Cat. Ignoring your Cat when it misbehaves won’t achieve results either. It is important to monitor your feline’s behaviour to find out what’s causing a particular behaviour and find suitable ways to fix the problem.

13. Don’t close interior doors.

As far as your Cat is concerned, your house is its house and therefore it should have access to all areas. If you want to have unscratched doors, doorframes, and a happy Cat, keep the doors open or have integrated Cat doors for ease of access.

14. Don’t wash your Cat.

Cats are clean pets and they can take care of their own regular bathing rituals. Of course, sometimes they get themselves into very sticky situations and you will have no choice but that should be an exception, not the rule.