WHY CATS ARE OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD
As I mentioned on The story of how I became a cat person: Hershey, I used to know next to nothing about cats. I had a lot to learn when Hershey came to live in my house. And I’m still learning. Just the other day I learned that when Hershey stares at me, then blinks and looks away, she’s not being snotty, and she isn’t upset with me, either. That simply means she likes me and feels comfortable enough around me that she can look away. It’s actually a compliment. After all, when animals in the wild stare directly at each other, that usually means a challenge or confrontation. So staring too much is considered impolite. Well, live and learn.
There are also many myths associated with cats; and some quite strange, at that. For instance, cats cannot make you sterile; nothing true about that rumor (so don’t depend on your cat for pregnancy prevention!).
Another myth is that cats can give you toxoplasmosis (a disease that results from infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite and which may cause flu-like symptoms in some people; however, most people affected never develop signs and symptoms, and generally healthy people probably won’t even need any treatment for toxoplasmosis). Toxoplasmosis can affect most animals and birds. It is true that this parasite only reproduces in cats (the ones that hunt and eat raw meat are most likely to get infected); however, cats don’t transmit the disease directly to humans. The only ways you can catch it are: if you come in direct contact with infected cat feces, or something or some place else containing the parasites (for instance, while gardening, cleaning the litter box, etc; and only if you touch your mouth after these activities); if you eat or drink contaminated food and water; if you use contaminated knives, cutting boards or other utensils; if you eat unwashed fruits and vegetables; and if you receive an infected organ transplant or blood transfusion. So by keeping common-sense hygiene practices, such as washing hands after cleaning the litter box or gardening, you can let the poor cats off the hook.
Another myth or misconception, and one I grew up with, is that cats don’t really know how to love or connect with you; certainly not as dogs do. The thing is, we can’t compare cats to dogs, as they have very different styles of connecting with us and other animals. As I mentioned in the story about our cat Hershey, dogs relate to us mostly on our terms; cats relate to us mostly on their terms. But since I started understanding how to relate to cats better, I have to say I’ve received plenty of lovin’ from them, be that in the form of endearing gestures such as purring, meowing (yes, cats “talk” to us and show their love by meowing), rolling on their backs and showing their bellies for a rub (invitation which I learned that I need to accept cautiously by rubbing only three times), bunting (cheek rubs, head bumps or pushing), playing, licking and grooming me, sleeping in my lap, blinking at me, etc. Or, not so endearing, gifts of poor dead animals at my doorstep. I used to get very upset at that kind of show of affection. But once I understood the meaning behind the gesture, I was able to at least appreciate the intention.
One of my favorite ways with which cats express affection is kneading. Kittens knead on their moms to help pump out the milk when nursing. When they grow up, that’s still how they show affection to someone they love and trust. Some people even say that when cats kneads on you, that’s a sign that they regard you as their substitute “mom.” Another favorite is when cats lift their butts and tail when you caress them, or as an invitation for you to caress them. By the way, when cats give you the “elevator butt” with their tails raised high, it also means they really love, trust and respect you as their own mother. They only show their butts to their most trusted and beloved people! A straight up tail also means they are welcoming social interaction and attention.
On that note, one thing you should know about cat tail movements: they can mean quite different things from dog tail movements! For instance, when cats wag their tails, that often means “back off!” And when they thump the ground with their tails, they are very upset and possibly ready to attack. When cats roll on their bellies in a fight or under threat, they are not being submissive, as dogs are; they are poising to defend themselves with teeth and claws. Please see article below for more info about “cat talk.”
Another way cats show their affection for you is by scratching around areas they associate with you, such as the couch or your favorite chair, to leave their scent and claim ownership of both you and those spots. Among other reasons, they also scratch when they are afraid or stressed. Unfortunately, a lot of people dislike these antics; cat scratching is one of the top reasons why tons of poor cats get dumped in shelters or simply abandoned. It’s also why many people choose to declaw their poor cats. Declawing is a very cruel practice which causes a lot of pain and distress to cats, and it’s actually outlawed in many countries. Among its many negative consequences, declawed cats can become biters and avoid using the litter due to the pain on their paws. And it’s so unnecessary, as it’s very easy to train cats to only scratch allowed target areas (please see articles below for more information on how inhumane and unnecessary declawing is, and how to train your cat in “legal” scratching behavior).
Another way cats use to show their love is by spraying! I knew that cats mark territory with spraying, which can be very upsetting for their human friends. But I was surprised to find out that cats might spray your favorite chair, bed or belongings as a compliment to you, and also to let other cats and animals in the household know that they are “claiming” you (along with your main areas and things). But there are other important-to-know reasons why cats might spray or urinate outside the litter box, such as stress or health issues; or the fact that the litter box needs to be cleaned more often; or, in a multi-cat household, the fact that there might not be enough litter boxes available (the best bet is one per cat plus an extra one). For more, please see the related article on Cat Litter Box Training below.
Another reason why many people misunderstand and give up on their cats is aggressive behavior such as scratching or biting. However, this is usually cause by miscommunication and lack of understanding about cats and their language. In general, cats are indeed more easily riled up or frightened and need more personal space than dogs. However, if we are willing to learn and pay attention to cat language, incidents of aggression can be avoided and even eliminated. In addition to the more obvious signals such as hissing or growling, there are more subtle nonverbal ways through which cats show they are stressed, uneasy, agitated, afraid, angry or ready to attack. One thing to notice is “ear talk.” For instance, when feeling angry and/or afraid, cats lower their ears and flatten them tight to the head (so that their ears won’t be harmed during a fight or flight situation). For more on ear talk, see article below.
Another common misconception about cats is that they are not trainable. Sure, our feline friends might not want to play along as much as dogs do. But they are very smart and easily trainable animals. I’ve been able to train many domesticated, stray, semi-feral and feral cats we’ve brought into our home or surrounding areas. I’ve gotten them to come when I call, eat treats off my hands, leave alone certain belongings and areas in my home, etc. I didn’t even have to use a spray water bottle or anything like that. I simply uttered a sound indicating that I wasn’t pleased with a particular behavior as they were doing it; I didn’t yell or get angry; I just sounded firm, like I meant business. They would always pause and look at me; if they continued, then I would repeat the sound as I moved closer to physically stop the behavior and/or remove them from the area, if needed. It was hardly ever needed; they usually would quickly stop and run away. And eventually they stopped the unwanted behavior altogether. All it took was consistency and patience. Connecting with my cats by showing them love and attention (caressing them, feeding them snacks, playing with them, etc) didn’t hurt, either. It certainly made them more willing to please me... It’s important to remember, however, that each cat has their own personality; what works for one might not work for another. So try not to generalize; rather, explore and discover your own loving, humane way to train your cats.
And talking about generalizations, one of the biggest myths which I have seen mentioned on loads of online articles is that feral cats can’t be socialized or domesticated. Well, that might be the case with a few ferals who have been in the wild for most of their lives and have suffered their share of mistreatment, neglect and abuse from humans. But I’ve never met one of those ferals. I’ve had plenty of experience which has proven the very opposite to me, however. It might take a long time for ferals to trust you; and you might not ever be able to turn many of them into lap cats (why would you need to, anyway?). But even the wildest, most aggressive feral can be socialized, and sometimes to the point of becoming a lap cat, as it happened with one of our rescues, Tiger Lilly. There was a reason we named her Tiger Lilly; when we met her as a young cat and brought her into our porch, she was as aggressive as she was beautiful. Whenever we tried to approach her, she would hiss viciously and try to claw us. Well, it took a year of patiently gaining her trust and affection, but she turned out to be the most loving and tender cat I have ever met. During this transition, there was a time when Tiger Lilly got scratched in the left eye by one of the other cats, and it developed into a very bad infection which didn’t clear with the first antibiotic we used and almost caused her to lose her eye. After taking her to an eye specialist, we were told to apply two different kinds of medication on her eye (plasma and triple antibiotic drops) at least 5 or 6 times a day, and also give her some anti-viral tablets. That was a nightmarish experience for all three of us (Tiger Lilly, my husband and me), as we had to chase, corner and catch her with a blanket 5 or 6 times a days and apply all those meds very much against her will. We had to do this for several weeks in a roll and got scratched plenty in the process. In the end, not only we were able to save her eye, but also she started getting more used to the process, reacting less and even allowing us to hold her for a little longer after each treatment. On some level she must have understood we meant well, and she was also feeling less pain as her eye started to heal. From that point on our relationship with her took a positive leap forward and started getting better and better. After a while she gradually began seeking our company; and whenever I’d sit in my chair, she’d be the first one to jump up and join me, give me plenty of loving (including nose-to-nose touch) and then take long naps in my lap.
The bottom line is: with as many cats as I’ve met in the past several years, I can say that I haven’t ceased to be surprised by them yet. When it comes to cats, it’s best not to assume you know everything (or anything, for that matter). How about just giving yourself a chance to get to know the little fellows while they also get the chance to get to know you, as you would do with anyone else you meet? You’re sure to be in for a wonderful ride.
Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 08/09/2016
Related Articles:
Toxoplasmosis (Mayo Clinic)
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/toxoplasmosis/basics/definition/con-20025859
Cat Scratching Behavior
http://cats.about.com/od/illegalclawing/a/catscratchingbehavior.htm
Declawing Cats: Inhumane And Unnecessary
http://consciouscat.net/2013/09/30/declawing-cats-inhumane-unneccesary/
Declawing Cats: Far Worse Than Manicure
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html
Cat Talk: Understanding Cat Tail Talk
http://cats.about.com/od/behaviortraining/a/cat_tail_talk.htm
Cat Talk: Ears
http://cats.about.com/od/behaviortraining/a/cat-ear-talk.htm
Cat Litter Box Training
http://cats.about.com/od/litterbox/a/fixinglitterboxproblems.htm
As I mentioned on The story of how I became a cat person: Hershey, I used to know next to nothing about cats. I had a lot to learn when Hershey came to live in my house. And I’m still learning. Just the other day I learned that when Hershey stares at me, then blinks and looks away, she’s not being snotty, and she isn’t upset with me, either. That simply means she likes me and feels comfortable enough around me that she can look away. It’s actually a compliment. After all, when animals in the wild stare directly at each other, that usually means a challenge or confrontation. So staring too much is considered impolite. Well, live and learn.
There are also many myths associated with cats; and some quite strange, at that. For instance, cats cannot make you sterile; nothing true about that rumor (so don’t depend on your cat for pregnancy prevention!).
Another myth is that cats can give you toxoplasmosis (a disease that results from infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite and which may cause flu-like symptoms in some people; however, most people affected never develop signs and symptoms, and generally healthy people probably won’t even need any treatment for toxoplasmosis). Toxoplasmosis can affect most animals and birds. It is true that this parasite only reproduces in cats (the ones that hunt and eat raw meat are most likely to get infected); however, cats don’t transmit the disease directly to humans. The only ways you can catch it are: if you come in direct contact with infected cat feces, or something or some place else containing the parasites (for instance, while gardening, cleaning the litter box, etc; and only if you touch your mouth after these activities); if you eat or drink contaminated food and water; if you use contaminated knives, cutting boards or other utensils; if you eat unwashed fruits and vegetables; and if you receive an infected organ transplant or blood transfusion. So by keeping common-sense hygiene practices, such as washing hands after cleaning the litter box or gardening, you can let the poor cats off the hook.
Another myth or misconception, and one I grew up with, is that cats don’t really know how to love or connect with you; certainly not as dogs do. The thing is, we can’t compare cats to dogs, as they have very different styles of connecting with us and other animals. As I mentioned in the story about our cat Hershey, dogs relate to us mostly on our terms; cats relate to us mostly on their terms. But since I started understanding how to relate to cats better, I have to say I’ve received plenty of lovin’ from them, be that in the form of endearing gestures such as purring, meowing (yes, cats “talk” to us and show their love by meowing), rolling on their backs and showing their bellies for a rub (invitation which I learned that I need to accept cautiously by rubbing only three times), bunting (cheek rubs, head bumps or pushing), playing, licking and grooming me, sleeping in my lap, blinking at me, etc. Or, not so endearing, gifts of poor dead animals at my doorstep. I used to get very upset at that kind of show of affection. But once I understood the meaning behind the gesture, I was able to at least appreciate the intention.
One of my favorite ways with which cats express affection is kneading. Kittens knead on their moms to help pump out the milk when nursing. When they grow up, that’s still how they show affection to someone they love and trust. Some people even say that when cats kneads on you, that’s a sign that they regard you as their substitute “mom.” Another favorite is when cats lift their butts and tail when you caress them, or as an invitation for you to caress them. By the way, when cats give you the “elevator butt” with their tails raised high, it also means they really love, trust and respect you as their own mother. They only show their butts to their most trusted and beloved people! A straight up tail also means they are welcoming social interaction and attention.
On that note, one thing you should know about cat tail movements: they can mean quite different things from dog tail movements! For instance, when cats wag their tails, that often means “back off!” And when they thump the ground with their tails, they are very upset and possibly ready to attack. When cats roll on their bellies in a fight or under threat, they are not being submissive, as dogs are; they are poising to defend themselves with teeth and claws. Please see article below for more info about “cat talk.”
Another way cats show their affection for you is by scratching around areas they associate with you, such as the couch or your favorite chair, to leave their scent and claim ownership of both you and those spots. Among other reasons, they also scratch when they are afraid or stressed. Unfortunately, a lot of people dislike these antics; cat scratching is one of the top reasons why tons of poor cats get dumped in shelters or simply abandoned. It’s also why many people choose to declaw their poor cats. Declawing is a very cruel practice which causes a lot of pain and distress to cats, and it’s actually outlawed in many countries. Among its many negative consequences, declawed cats can become biters and avoid using the litter due to the pain on their paws. And it’s so unnecessary, as it’s very easy to train cats to only scratch allowed target areas (please see articles below for more information on how inhumane and unnecessary declawing is, and how to train your cat in “legal” scratching behavior).
Another way cats use to show their love is by spraying! I knew that cats mark territory with spraying, which can be very upsetting for their human friends. But I was surprised to find out that cats might spray your favorite chair, bed or belongings as a compliment to you, and also to let other cats and animals in the household know that they are “claiming” you (along with your main areas and things). But there are other important-to-know reasons why cats might spray or urinate outside the litter box, such as stress or health issues; or the fact that the litter box needs to be cleaned more often; or, in a multi-cat household, the fact that there might not be enough litter boxes available (the best bet is one per cat plus an extra one). For more, please see the related article on Cat Litter Box Training below.
Another reason why many people misunderstand and give up on their cats is aggressive behavior such as scratching or biting. However, this is usually cause by miscommunication and lack of understanding about cats and their language. In general, cats are indeed more easily riled up or frightened and need more personal space than dogs. However, if we are willing to learn and pay attention to cat language, incidents of aggression can be avoided and even eliminated. In addition to the more obvious signals such as hissing or growling, there are more subtle nonverbal ways through which cats show they are stressed, uneasy, agitated, afraid, angry or ready to attack. One thing to notice is “ear talk.” For instance, when feeling angry and/or afraid, cats lower their ears and flatten them tight to the head (so that their ears won’t be harmed during a fight or flight situation). For more on ear talk, see article below.
Another common misconception about cats is that they are not trainable. Sure, our feline friends might not want to play along as much as dogs do. But they are very smart and easily trainable animals. I’ve been able to train many domesticated, stray, semi-feral and feral cats we’ve brought into our home or surrounding areas. I’ve gotten them to come when I call, eat treats off my hands, leave alone certain belongings and areas in my home, etc. I didn’t even have to use a spray water bottle or anything like that. I simply uttered a sound indicating that I wasn’t pleased with a particular behavior as they were doing it; I didn’t yell or get angry; I just sounded firm, like I meant business. They would always pause and look at me; if they continued, then I would repeat the sound as I moved closer to physically stop the behavior and/or remove them from the area, if needed. It was hardly ever needed; they usually would quickly stop and run away. And eventually they stopped the unwanted behavior altogether. All it took was consistency and patience. Connecting with my cats by showing them love and attention (caressing them, feeding them snacks, playing with them, etc) didn’t hurt, either. It certainly made them more willing to please me... It’s important to remember, however, that each cat has their own personality; what works for one might not work for another. So try not to generalize; rather, explore and discover your own loving, humane way to train your cats.
And talking about generalizations, one of the biggest myths which I have seen mentioned on loads of online articles is that feral cats can’t be socialized or domesticated. Well, that might be the case with a few ferals who have been in the wild for most of their lives and have suffered their share of mistreatment, neglect and abuse from humans. But I’ve never met one of those ferals. I’ve had plenty of experience which has proven the very opposite to me, however. It might take a long time for ferals to trust you; and you might not ever be able to turn many of them into lap cats (why would you need to, anyway?). But even the wildest, most aggressive feral can be socialized, and sometimes to the point of becoming a lap cat, as it happened with one of our rescues, Tiger Lilly. There was a reason we named her Tiger Lilly; when we met her as a young cat and brought her into our porch, she was as aggressive as she was beautiful. Whenever we tried to approach her, she would hiss viciously and try to claw us. Well, it took a year of patiently gaining her trust and affection, but she turned out to be the most loving and tender cat I have ever met. During this transition, there was a time when Tiger Lilly got scratched in the left eye by one of the other cats, and it developed into a very bad infection which didn’t clear with the first antibiotic we used and almost caused her to lose her eye. After taking her to an eye specialist, we were told to apply two different kinds of medication on her eye (plasma and triple antibiotic drops) at least 5 or 6 times a day, and also give her some anti-viral tablets. That was a nightmarish experience for all three of us (Tiger Lilly, my husband and me), as we had to chase, corner and catch her with a blanket 5 or 6 times a days and apply all those meds very much against her will. We had to do this for several weeks in a roll and got scratched plenty in the process. In the end, not only we were able to save her eye, but also she started getting more used to the process, reacting less and even allowing us to hold her for a little longer after each treatment. On some level she must have understood we meant well, and she was also feeling less pain as her eye started to heal. From that point on our relationship with her took a positive leap forward and started getting better and better. After a while she gradually began seeking our company; and whenever I’d sit in my chair, she’d be the first one to jump up and join me, give me plenty of loving (including nose-to-nose touch) and then take long naps in my lap.
The bottom line is: with as many cats as I’ve met in the past several years, I can say that I haven’t ceased to be surprised by them yet. When it comes to cats, it’s best not to assume you know everything (or anything, for that matter). How about just giving yourself a chance to get to know the little fellows while they also get the chance to get to know you, as you would do with anyone else you meet? You’re sure to be in for a wonderful ride.
Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 08/09/2016
Related Articles:
Toxoplasmosis (Mayo Clinic)
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/toxoplasmosis/basics/definition/con-20025859
Cat Scratching Behavior
http://cats.about.com/od/illegalclawing/a/catscratchingbehavior.htm
Declawing Cats: Inhumane And Unnecessary
http://consciouscat.net/2013/09/30/declawing-cats-inhumane-unneccesary/
Declawing Cats: Far Worse Than Manicure
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html
Cat Talk: Understanding Cat Tail Talk
http://cats.about.com/od/behaviortraining/a/cat_tail_talk.htm
Cat Talk: Ears
http://cats.about.com/od/behaviortraining/a/cat-ear-talk.htm
Cat Litter Box Training
http://cats.about.com/od/litterbox/a/fixinglitterboxproblems.htm