Cats are very special animals that love their freedom and independence as much as playing and sharing with their human companions. Whoever has a cat at home knows that they must respect the space and decisions made by their cat. Of course, do so without letting them be in danger.
A healthy and happy cat not only needs a good diet, vet care and affection, but also the freedom to perform their favorite activities. Sometimes, wanting to protect, you can restrict your cat to such an extent that this generates episodes of stress and even illness. That’s why we want to presents 10 things that cats like, to give you a helping hand.
1. Sleeping
Surely you have noticed that your feline friend loves to sleep, this being the activity that they perform most during the day. Although it is normal for them to sleep between 15 to 16 hours a day, some may spend up to 18 hours sleeping!
Many times, when you see your cat sleeping for so long it is difficult to avoid the temptation to wake him up, especially to play or give him a little affection. However, experts believe it is counterproductive to interrupt these hours of rest, especially if they are a kitten. Since, in the long run this could trigger episodes of stress in the feline. Wait for your furry friend to wake up to spend time with them. In addition, they will often prefer to sleep next to you.
2. Hunting
The hunter instinct survives in the cat despite that for centuries the species has been domesticated. Some cat owners become irritated and even start to scold cats when they discover that they have hunted a bird, lizard or some other animal. This, of course, does not make any sense, as the cat will not understand why the reprimand is due, and you will not prevent them from doing so. For more information, do not miss our article ” Why do cats bring dead animals?”.
A cat that goes outside will catch any animals that attract attention and not hunger, simply for fun and to follow their instinct. All you have to do is make sure that their environment is safe, that the cat cannot escape or be a victim of another animal’s attack, and that they do not eat prey that has been poisoned.
If the cat lives inside the house, you will have to provide entertainment that simulate the pursuit of a prey. It is an activity they can share. You can buy or make toys that consist of a ribbon that can entice the cat to chase, finished with a doll at the tip. There are plenty of toys that the cat can hunt, such as balls, stuffed mice, dolls stuffed with catnip, among others.
3. Scratching
Scratching is another of those instinctive activities of your feline and, therefore, another of the things that the cats love. This is 100% necessary for your cat, which is why it should never be repressed. Cats scratch for fun, to sharpen their nails and to mark the territory, keeping away potential competitors.
We know that this can become a problem at home if you do not do it properly, because carpets, furniture, curtains, shoes and anything that looks attractive to the cat can be a victim of this instinct. So, we recommend you provide a good scratching post, or even several around your home.
4. Sunbathing
Cats love warm and comfortable places, so sunbathing is another of their favorite activities. If your cat goes outside, it will make the experience more pleasant if you place a comfortable bed in your garden where they can quietly sunbathe. Away from annoying noises, safe from possible dangers and where the sun’s rays reach their body. If, on the other hand, you have an house cat, we recommend you open the curtains or blinds so they are not deprived of this pleasurablle activity.
In addition, this taste for the sun extends to other areas, because what the cat seeks is warmth. It is not uncommon to also enjoy sleeping other places that emit heat, such as on your computer or even behind the refrigerator, for example. Of course, in these cases, make sure that there is no danger to the cat, such as a loose wire, damaged equipment, risk of short-circuiting or electrocution, or even temperatures that rise too high.
5. Being petted
Contrary to what many people believe, another thing that cats like to receive affection, since they really enjoy the time they spend with their human family – especially if it is dedicated to pampering and caressing. These, of course, are not always welcome, so if you notice that caressing your cat is annoying them, it is best to leave them alone. If you continue, it is possible you will receive a bite or scratch.
Caresses are not well received in all parts of the body, so you should concentrate them on the back, the chin and the ears. Few cats enjoy being petted in the belly, because they only allow it when they feel a lot of confidence towards the person who does it. Paws are forbidden, as all cats hate to be touched. If you want to know everything that cats hate about humans, do not miss our article.
6. Observing the world
Cats love watching the world from their windows. They can spend hours on end watching people, objects blowing in the wind, insects..everything! Especially if they spend many hours alone.
We recommend opening your curtains or blinds and closing your window so your cat can enjoy watching the hustle and bustle ourside. Also, provide entertainment indoors whenever possible.
7. Eating
It’s no secret that cats love food, they will even eat something they love even if they are not hungry (i can relate to that). If you want to keep them happy, as well as healthy, ideally you could regularly vary their diet a little, by introducing small treats into their normal routine or preparing homemade recipes.
This does not mean that you radically change the type of feed you give them, for example, overnight. This type of abrupt changes usually sparks digestive problems in cats. The best thing is that they get used to varying from dry to wet, apart from occasionally offering some fresh foods, such as meat or fish, to give them the taste of other flavors. When you do this, watch out that you are not offering any ingredients that are toxic to cats.
8. Being up high
Instinctively, felines, both small and large often sleep in high places. This is in order to prevent any surprise enemy from catching them off guard. This is a behavior that the house cat has inherited. The main difference is that they not only likes to sleep at large heights, but also to observe everything that happens around them.
If you have a garden with trees at home, let your cat out to climb if they feel like it, always under your supervision to avoid them getting hurt. If, on the other hand, you live in a department, a multi-level perch lookout will be ideal for satisfying this desire.
9. Playing
As you can see, not everything in a cat’s life involves naptime. When not eating or sleeping, cats love to play, no matter how old they are. Either with other cats or pets and their toys, with you or any intriguing object, playing is very important.
As well as buying or making some toys for cats, and scratching posts, we recommend you spend a lot of time with them. That will make them happier than a thousand toys. Keep in mind that bored cat is an unhappy cat.
10. Being with their family
When you have a cat, it is easy to see that, although they enjoy their own space, they also love to be with you and other members of the family. Many people hate cats claiming that they are selfish beings and unattached to their owners, but you obviously have never had one! Cats have different ways of showing their affection, perhaps through subtle ways that can go unnoticed by some people.
Have you noticed your cat looking to snuggle close to you before sleep? Have they ever left freshly hunted prey at your feet? Do they greet you at the door when you come home after a long day of work? Do they sometimes lick you? Do they enjoy when you pet them? These are just some signs that demonstrate the love your cat has for you and how much they love being around you.
Now that you know 10 things cats love, make sure your cat has the opportunity to enjoy them all and you will live a happy coexistence.
Source: Animalwised.com
