Today we celebrate all cats! That's right, today is cat day, but… isn't it celebrated in August? Yes, also in August and there's even a third day, October 29th.
Why?
February 20: Started in honor of Socks, the famous cat adopted by Chelsea, daughter of former US President Bill Clinton.
August 8: Established in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), it seeks to raise awareness about the care and needs of cats, promote the adoption of abandoned cats, and foster love and respect for these animals.
October 29: Proposed by Colleen Paige to raise awareness about the abandonment of cats in city streets.
And as we already know, cats are quite demanding, especially with physical contact, which is why this #PetTuesday we will talk about what cats don't like that we surely do.
Avoid the following if you want to maintain a good relationship with your feline friend:
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Forcing contact: cats don't like to be petted for too long. They are independent and value their freedom, so forcing them to be petted or holding them roughly can cause them stress and make them feel trapped.
There will always be some exceptions to the rule who like hugs, but most prefer to have their feet on the ground.
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Ignoring their signs of discomfort: through their body language, they communicate their mood with the movement of their tail, the size of their pupils, the position of their ears, and meows.
If you see that it is uncomfortable, do not force it to do any activity. It is important to learn to read its body language and respect its limits because if you ignore them, it can lead to the kitten feeling very stressed or even being aggressive.
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Physically punishing them: remember that kittens behave just like a 2-year-old child, so they won't initially understand many of the signals, commands, or words you say to them.
If you hit or shake them for something they did, it will only generate fear and resentment, further damaging their trust in you.
You should never hit a pet for not obeying or for something bad it has done, as it clearly will not understand what it did, and much less will it associate this reprimand with what it did.
The correct approach is to teach them through practice and rewards what things are good to do so they learn and can even relate and understand words.
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Neglecting their environment: don't bother them while they are relieving themselves, keep their environment clean, especially their litter box, provide them with enough toys and places to climb or scratch.
They need mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy, so providing interactive toys and regular playtime will satisfy their natural hunting and exploration instincts.
They don't like being in small spaces, so if you're going to leave them somewhere, make sure it's spacious enough for them to play and not get stressed.
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Loud or sudden noises: they have very sensitive ears and get scared easily, which can cause them anxiety.
Try to maintain a calm and relaxed environment at home so they feel safe and comfortable. Also, don't wake them up abruptly when they are sleeping because their naps are sacred.
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Bathing them with water: although if you get them used to bathing with water when they are very young, it is most likely that when they are older they will have no problem with this, especially on hot days or when they get dirty with something. But if they don't like water, it is better to bathe them with wet pet wipes, dry shampoo, or foam shampoo.
There are several options now to keep them very clean.
On our website you will find several options to bathe your kitten:
- https://www.befoods.cl/collections/peluqueria-gatos
- https://www.befoods.cl/products/toallitas-humedas-p-mascotas-traper-x60unid?variant=45341236756711
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Putting clothes on them: although to us they may look very handsome (or even more so than they already are), not all kittens are fans of clothes, especially because this prevents them from grooming themselves, resulting in their fur becoming dull and can even give them skin allergies.
It is better to put costumes or clothes on them for short periods so that they do not feel strange. And if they are aggressive, it is better to avoid it.
It is important to remember that each cat is unique and may have its own individual preferences and aversions. Observe your cat's behavior and reactions to identify what it enjoys and what it doesn't, so you can provide an environment that makes it feel comfortable and happy 🐾🧡