Think you understand your cat and her behaviours? Are you sure? Here are three things your cat would like you to understand.
Tummy time
When a dog lies down in front of you and shows you his tummy, it’s usually a sign of submission or that he wants a scratch. But when a cat shows you her tummy, she might not be doing it to be friendly. For some cats, this can be a sign that she loves you and trust you, but when other cats do this, they are actually looking for a fight. Or they could just be having a stretch. If you’re unsure what your cat is saying to you with this tummy display, or an unfamiliar cat is doing it in front of you, it’s best to give her a bit of space.
Chew on this
Something cats and dogs have in common is the desire to chew, and for some cats, nothing is more appealing than you iPhone cord charger or household electrical cables. Cats love the rubbery plastic feel in their mouths. If your cat is a cord chewer, a dental health issue might be the cause, so get her to the vet. If her mouth and teeth are healthy, this cord chewing could be a sign of boredom. Are you giving her enough attention and play time? Try providing her with extra toys and give her more attention. Track down a cat toy that is similar to a power cord, such as a rubbery chew, and entice her to paly with that instead. Ruling out a dental problem and providing extra stimulation should help, but some cats just love to chew cords. So it’s a good idea to visit your local hardware store and get some kind of rubber or hard plastic casing to protect your cords.
Bless you
How many times have friends told you, “I like cats, it’s just that I am allergic to cat hair.”? Our feline friends get a bad wrap, and there are certainly plenty of people who suffer terrible allergies around cats, but the hair isn’t to blame. The main cause of allergies is actually an allergen produced in the cat’s salivary and sebaceous glands. Because cats are careful groomers, they deposit this allergen on their fur when they lick themselves. The allergen is very sticky and it’s like glue that adheres to hairs, dust particles and skin flakes. These then become airborne and when inhaled by an allergy sufferer, produce nasty symptoms such as asthma and sneezing. All cats produce the allergen, even those belonging to a so-called hypoallergenic breed. Sorry allergy sufferers!
