Pet Articles

If you are looking for a fairly laid-back animal that you can call your friend, you should consider adopting a cat or kitten. Cats are some of the best pets to own because they are independent, smart, inexpensive, and require very little maintenance. Occasionally a cat will need to be trained to correct bad cat behaviors, but in most cases, cats are smart enough to figure things out for themselves.

Examples of cat behaviors that owners may need to seek help for are: spraying on furniture, clawing and pouncing. Some cats are intentionally aggressive and others just don't know any better. A cat may act rough, but is really just attempting to play. Still, these cat behaviors should be looked into and if possible, corrected, so as not to create further problems.

Feline behavior that appears to be aggressive and hostile may be due to the fact that the cat was abused or was rescued from a wild, unhealthy situation. If a cat has been abused by a previous owner, abandoned or simply had no other contact with affectionate humans, he or she may be too afraid to open up to a new human. The first and most important thing to do is to show your cat that he or she can trust you.

The key to earning a cats trust is showing a willingness to leave it alone to explore its environment at its own leisure. All cats require lots of love, and many require even more patience. Showing a cat love, patience, and giving it plenty of space can help resolve aggressive cat behaviors. The importance of adequate space for cats can't be understated. Kittens enjoy open spaces in which to run around and play, and for adult cats space is necessary for them to avoid feeling cornered.

A cat vet can help you determine if medical problems are the reason that your cat is behaving oddly at home. Once you discover the root of the problem, you can begin to treat it. Not all cats have the same instincts or personality. Some are just fundamentally not active, while other are always jumpy and filled with energy. So a strategy to correct one cat's behavior may be completely ineffective for another cat. To determine what will work for your cat, make sure to bring your cat to a cat vet so that a workable plan can be drawn up.

Please keep in mind that most difficulties are not irreparable. You may become frustrated with your animal, but should not abandon or shut them out simply because desired changes are not happening immediately. Being a companion to a cat, as with anything involving people and an animal that has its own likes and dislikes, means adjustment. Part of responsibility is accepting the quirks of cat behaviors.