Keeping cats happy

I'd love to think that all of us who have animals living with us do so for two reasons: firstly because we enjoy their company, and secondly because we want to be able to give them happy lives. That's balanced I think - something for us and something for them, and the basis of a good relationship.

So how can we ensure that this happens? Well, the key is understanding about them. Neither cats nor dogs are human beings, and nor are all the other animals who live with us. They're all different, from species to species, and different to us. We musn't assume that what we'd be happy with, they would be too.

I am very tuned in to cats, so I'm going to be sharing my thoughts on how to ensure that your cats have happy lives with you.


Species Traits and Characteristics

The first thing to consider is how cats are. Individually they will be different, but there are some species traits they will all have in common. All our domestic cats have descended from the wild, and still carry with them the need to maintain and protect their territory, as well as having somewhere safe to be where they can keep a watch on what goes on. Ensuring their own safety means that they have a tendency to lash out and defend themselves often before considering a situation's threat. Defence for a cat is a means of self-protection. They also need to eat, and instinctively will want to hunt.


Becoming Domesticated

Most of our pet cats have learnt to adapt. They're very bright and intelligent, and learn new skills and ways of being very quickly. They've also also learnt to enjoy our company. And this is how we can sometimes get caught out. We should never forget that a cat is a cat, and when it behaves in a way we don't like or understand, it's important to think about how cats are as a species.


Making our Homes Cat Friendly

Think about what being territorial means. If you have more than one cat (even if from the same litter), make sure that your home is large enough. Don't be tempted to have too many cats, just because you like them, or feel a need to home them. A cat with insufficient space to call its own will be very stressed and unhappy - and this may manifest itself in difficult or challenging behaviour.

It's important that our cats have places of their own they can go. You might find they like to tuck themselves away in nooks and crannies, high or low, and have beds or chairs they consider their own.

I've known many people who'll turf a cat off a comfy sofa "because chairs are for people", but why? If we're serious about bringing a cat into our family, shouldn't we afford them all the comforts we'd want for ourselves? And if a cat has developed a soft spot for a particular place, and is allowed to remain there, that will be a happy cat. (This wouldn't apply to dogs, though, as they have a need to know who's in charge - see, different species, different needs).

Now, if there are good reasons you'd like to change this - ie there aren't otherwise enough chairs for the human family members, it can be done, but very carefully and gradually. Bella has a favourite place on one of my sofas, and if someone else sits there she'll sit on the floor in front of them and shout at them - even if she doesn't want to sit there herself at the time!! But generally I've got no need for her to sit or lie anywhere else, so she's welcome to it - and I know she's a happy cat.

Cats that take up positions high up on top of cupboards, or on high cat trees are doing what they'd do in the wild. They can see all that's going on, and are generally out of reach. This makes them feel very safe. This tends to happen more with cats who sometimes feel anxious, as it calms and comforts them. Even the happiest cat may have times they feel a little unsettled, so it's important to provide high places for them to go.

On a practical note, remember that cats like to climb, and are usually very adept at walking on high ledges. To save them from hurting themselves, and your valuables too, it's worth taking time to do a little safety audit. Scan all your shelves and high places and if there are items that could be knocked down and broken it might be better to move them or put them away. On more than one occasion I've gone into a home for a pet sitting visit to find a broken glass on the kitchen floor, or a smashed glass lamp. Luckily there were no injuries those times, but you never know.........

It's a two-way relationship, a bit of give and a bit of take. And ultimately we should allow our cats to be cats.

What Else Can We Do?

There are some other less obvious things that we can do to help our cats to be happy living with us. And this is all to do with vibrations and feelings. Our pets are very tuned into to thoughts and feelings on a vibrational level, and we really should bear this in mind at all times. We are too, but we often don't realise this!!

Say you're having a bad day and have had an argument with your partner. If you stop and think for a moment, you'll realise that you can feel this negative energy just hanging in the air. Well, your cat will pick this up too. If your relationship is not going well, again your cat will pick this up. You've come home from work after a really stressful drive, or had a disagreement with your boss. Again, your cat will pick this up. You may then notice a change in your cat's behaviour, but not realise what's caused it.

Our lives are full of stressors, but our cats can help us to manage how these affect us. If we can learn to be aware that our emotions can have a direct effect on our cats, we have a great early warning system. So, the minute we feel stress or anxiety building, or we're feeling angry or upset, recognise this, then sit quietly and allow these feelings to drift away, to be replaced by softer, gentler ones. Learning to meditate is wonderful, and if you just spend 10 minutes each day doing this, you will be on the way to mastering your emotions - and if you meditate with your cat nearby, watch what happens!!

I find that keeping music (generally classical, or at least nothing too loud or jarring) on in the background also helps. Because sound is vibrational energy (too), the right sorts of sounds can be very reassuring for your cat. It can also have the effect of soaking up other more discordant vibrations. Think of a home with no soft furnishings - when you speak it sounds harsh and bounces off the walls. A home with soft furnishings will soften sounds, and music can have the same effect.

Respect your pet's place in your household by telling them what's going on. For example, if you have a workman due to come in think about this from your cat's perspective. Suddenly they will be confronted by a stranger who smells different, and might start banging about making loud noises, and even dismantling something or a part of the house. This can be very disturbing for a cat, so in a calm and even voice tell them in advance what will be happening. Also, arrange a couple of little boltholes they can go to feel safe in. You might be pregnant and have a baby on the way - again tell your cat what to expect, and explain that although you might have to devote more care and attention on this little individual, it doesn't mean that your cat is less loved. And make sure you still give this attention you've promised.

Give your cat plenty of attention; but watch out for when they want to be on their own. Cats have adapted to lives with humans, and mostly enjoy interacting with us. They've learnt to communicate with us, they want to join in with what we're doing. So, if your cat wants some attention or wants to play, that's great - think of it as a huge honour to be asked. There are times when we're tired or can't be bothered; try to manage those thoughts as they'll be picked up. If there are genuinely times you can't give your cat attention, then tell them, but see if there's something else that can divert them until you can. And if you've promised to play in half an hour, then make sure you do - they'll remember!! That is, unless, they've decided they want to go to sleep or do something else. So be aware of those times that you want to play but your cat doesn't - the chances are that you'll just annoy him. Again, remember what it means to be a cat, and you'll probably get it right.

If your cat has misbehaved in some way, again try to put yourself in the cat's place and understand what might have caused this. What you might see as misbehaving is more likely to be a reaction to something that has changed or that has unsettled your cat. It's essential that "bad behaviour" isn't punished for so many reasons - but mostly because it won't resolve the problem, and may just make it worse. Talk to your cat, allow your intuition to pick up what the problem might be, and tell your cat how you're going to improve things. Sometimes our animals misread our signals and messages, and do what they think we want them to do - they are actually very keen and eager to please us. So be alert to giving out any mixed messages, where what you say and do or want aren't congruent, and take steps to correct it quickly. If you think your cat has misunderstood, sit quietly with them and explain what you would like them to do.

And one final thing - tell them you love them frequently, and mean it when you say it......