Cats are pets that bring us great joy. We always strive to give them the best food and attend to all their physical needs at the vet. But the big question is: Is your cat happy?
Animal behavior science has concluded that it's not enough to give our cats food, a home, and clean their litter box often. They also need what specialists call environmental enrichment. We've never stopped to think that our homes are made for humans, not for our pets.
If cats are in an environment where they don't develop their instincts, they may become stressed, bored, or anxious. Some of them hide these symptoms very well; however, we need to be very aware of their behavior to know if the kitty is doing well or not. Some behaviors that may result from not being in a favorable environment are:
– Compulsive eating leading to obesity.
– Over-grooming, leading to hairballs.
– Destroying furniture.
– Waking up their ARISTO-PARENT in the middle of the night for attention.
– Isolation.
Research has also concluded that if it's very serious, they can develop problems with urination. It will be difficult for them to relieve themselves, and they may do so outside their litter box. To avoid these problems, we will give you some tips to create a healthy environment in your home.
1. Create a space where they feel safe. In nature, ARISTOCATS are both predators and prey. Being exposed without a place to hide can make them feel vulnerable and stressed. You can look for items like an igloo, a box, or a cat tree.
2. Give them plenty of "Key Resources" in different areas of the house. When cats are in an undesirable situation, they first resort to avoidance. That's why you should turn your house into a place where they can be entertained. Provide them with key resources like scratching posts, resting areas, food, water, etc., in different spaces of the home.
3. Give them an opportunity to hunt. Cats need to hunt to be physically and mentally healthy; think that cats in nature hunt between 9 and 20 times a day. In short, they spend almost all their time looking for food. Eating from a food bowl does not stimulate this instinct within them. ARISTOCATS are not like dogs who eat one large meal a day; they eat small portions. You can stimulate them with an interactive game where they feel the need to perform an activity to find their treat.
4. Something we always repeat: play with them. Cats require a minimum of 15 minutes of playtime (try to make it more, to strengthen your bond with them). Always at the end of the session, let them hunt their "prey" and reward them with a treat.
5. Create an environment that respects your ARISTOCAT's sense of smell. A cat's sense of smell is 15 times stronger than a human's; they need it to hunt for food. Avoid deodorizers and scented sprays in their space, especially those with a citrus scent, which they dislike the most.
The tips we just gave you will help your pet be happier and also strengthen its relationship with you. We hope you enjoyed today's post.