Here's Why You Don't Give Your Kitty a Belly Rub
May 2, 2017 16:12:38 #
no propaganda please
Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun
Here's Why You Don't Give Your Kitty a Belly Rub
May 02, 2017 | 15,370 views
By Dr. Becker
If you have a feline family member who is, shall we say, less than affectionate with you, you’re in good company.
Interestingly, it often seems people who really, really want a lap cat wind up with a kitty who’d rather sit on hot coals, while people who’d prefer to admire Fluffy from across the room tend to attract little feline cling-ons. Life just isn’t fair!
No one’s entirely sure why some cats are social little cuddle bugs, while others are standoffish and even downright crabby, but heredity seems to play a role.
Feline experts have observed that friendly cat parents tend to have friendly kittens, which could be a result of role modeling (nurture) or genetics (nature), or a combination.
It’s also well established that early socialization and handling are important in shaping the personality and temperament of kittens. This means giving them positive experiences with lots of different people, animals, unfamiliar cats, new environments and human handling.
Kittens exposed to these things during the critical developmental period of 8 to 15 weeks are more likely to be friendly and social adult cats. They’re also better equipped to handle the everyday stresses of life, such as a change in their human's work schedule, or the arrival of a new member of the household.
If your kitty is an adult and for reasons either known or mysterious doesn’t seem interested in being physically close to you — something you’ve always wanted her to be — there are some things you can try to help her learn to love being a lap cat.
5 Dos and Don’ts for Turning Kitty Into a Cuddler
1. DO be a calm presence
Most cats absolutely do not appreciate sudden noises or movements, or anything that can be interpreted as aggressive or even assertive. Speak softly and move quietly and slowly around your cat. Focus on being very zen and entirely non-threatening while you’re in her environment.
2. DON'T stare
Many kitties are massively uncomfortable with eye-to-eye contact from their humans. This is because most animals view prolonged eye contact as an act of aggression, and staring at your cat can make him feel anxious and fearful.
A better approach when gazing at your cat is to close your eyes for a few seconds, then open them and look away, or simply glance away once kitty meets your gaze. This will show him you are not a threat.
3. DO learn cat pet-etiquette
Cats are exquisitely sensitive to touch, and are often quite particular about touching they enjoy versus touching they don’t.
As a general rule, most kitties enjoy a nice scratch at the base of the chin, on the cheeks behind the whiskers and at the base of the ears. Some cats also like to be rubbed around the base of the tail.
Most cats (though there are exceptions) don’t appreciate tummy rubs. This is because if your kitty lived in the wild, predators would be a constant threat. The most vulnerable spot on your cat’s body is her belly. Just beneath the surface of that tender skin lie all her vital organs.
4. DON'T forget the treats
While you’re working to convince kitty to sit in your lap, be sure to keep a supply of his favorite treats within reach at all times. When he approaches you, offer a treat. If he jumps up next to you, or better yet on your lap, offer another treat.
The trick is to help him associate being in physical contact with you with delicious snacks.
5. DO help with g***ming
Cats are big into g***ming. They g***m themselves, other cats, the family dog, their humans and even the occasional inanimate object. Because they’re so into g***ming, many kitties also really enjoy a gentle brushing. If yours does, he’ll show you through body language.
Make brushing sessions a time to quietly bond with your cat, and if you see his tail start to twitch or he suddenly walks away, he’s telling you he’s had enough for now.
7 Tips for Helping a Shy Cat Come Out of Her Shell
Some kitties who keep their distance from humans are simply shy, and as you might guess, shy cats typically do much better in relatively quiet homes rather than households with young children, rowdy adults or other large or dominant pets.
Of course, there are lots of feisty, fearless cats that thrive in households with kids, dogs and lots of noise and activity. However, this is far from an ideal environment for a timid kitty. Some suggestions for helping a shy cat become more social:
1. All cats thrive on a daily routine they can count on, and this is especially true for shy kitties. Feed and interact with your cat on a consistent schedule, and scoop his litterbox at least once daily.
It's important to gain your cat's trust, and caring for his basic needs on a regular timetable will go a long way toward helping him feel more comfortable.
2. Whenever possible, get down on kitty’s level to interact with her. Never bring your hand directly toward her face, as this may startle her. Instead, gently approach her from the side or from behind. If your cat scurries away when you walk near her, try turning your back to her as you pass.
3. Use delicious, wholesome food to encourage your kitty to bond with you. Feed a fresh, nutritionally balanced, species-appropriate diet.
Offer yummy, healthy treats (such as gently baked bits of free range chicken) whenever you invite her to interact with you. The goal is to help your cat make a positive association between you and delicious food.
4. Never force anything on your cat. Don't pull him from his hiding spot or hold him against his will (unless there's an emergency of some kind and you need to move him). Let your cat choose to interact with you on her terms. Having consistently positive and gentle interactions fosters trust.
Cats are most comfortable when they feel in control of their surroundings and interactions, so keep that in mind whenever you approach your timid kitty. Encourage him to come to you, and until he does, sit quietly with him in his hiding place and offer soft conversation until he feels comfortable coming out to interact.
5. Schedule play sessions with your kitty as often as possible, especially if he's play-motivated. Use interactive, non-threatening toys that encourage his natural instinct to stalk prey. Bringing out the "inner h****r" in a shy cat can work wonders for his confidence.
Also, try walking around the house with a ribbon or string trailing behind you (you can hold it or tie it to a belt loop) and see if kitty chases you. If he does, stand still and let him investigate you.
6. Consider offering your kitty a natural stress relief formula such as a Spirit Essences remedy. You might also consider using Feliway pheromone spray. Also ask your holistic veterinarian about homeopathic remedies for shy kitties.
7. To improve the communication between you and your shy cat, learn to interpret his body language, facial expressions and vocalizations. A good place to start: “30 Ways Your Cat Speaks to You.”
Remember that with a shy cat, time and patience are your biggest allies. Take the process of socialization one small step at a time, and repeat steps as often as necessary until your kitty is comfortable. Watch his body language carefully for signs of fear, including hiding, freezing in place and hunching down to appear smaller.
May 02, 2017 | 15,370 views
By Dr. Becker
If you have a feline family member who is, shall we say, less than affectionate with you, you’re in good company.
Interestingly, it often seems people who really, really want a lap cat wind up with a kitty who’d rather sit on hot coals, while people who’d prefer to admire Fluffy from across the room tend to attract little feline cling-ons. Life just isn’t fair!
No one’s entirely sure why some cats are social little cuddle bugs, while others are standoffish and even downright crabby, but heredity seems to play a role.
Feline experts have observed that friendly cat parents tend to have friendly kittens, which could be a result of role modeling (nurture) or genetics (nature), or a combination.
It’s also well established that early socialization and handling are important in shaping the personality and temperament of kittens. This means giving them positive experiences with lots of different people, animals, unfamiliar cats, new environments and human handling.
Kittens exposed to these things during the critical developmental period of 8 to 15 weeks are more likely to be friendly and social adult cats. They’re also better equipped to handle the everyday stresses of life, such as a change in their human's work schedule, or the arrival of a new member of the household.
If your kitty is an adult and for reasons either known or mysterious doesn’t seem interested in being physically close to you — something you’ve always wanted her to be — there are some things you can try to help her learn to love being a lap cat.
5 Dos and Don’ts for Turning Kitty Into a Cuddler
1. DO be a calm presence
Most cats absolutely do not appreciate sudden noises or movements, or anything that can be interpreted as aggressive or even assertive. Speak softly and move quietly and slowly around your cat. Focus on being very zen and entirely non-threatening while you’re in her environment.
2. DON'T stare
Many kitties are massively uncomfortable with eye-to-eye contact from their humans. This is because most animals view prolonged eye contact as an act of aggression, and staring at your cat can make him feel anxious and fearful.
A better approach when gazing at your cat is to close your eyes for a few seconds, then open them and look away, or simply glance away once kitty meets your gaze. This will show him you are not a threat.
3. DO learn cat pet-etiquette
Cats are exquisitely sensitive to touch, and are often quite particular about touching they enjoy versus touching they don’t.
As a general rule, most kitties enjoy a nice scratch at the base of the chin, on the cheeks behind the whiskers and at the base of the ears. Some cats also like to be rubbed around the base of the tail.
Most cats (though there are exceptions) don’t appreciate tummy rubs. This is because if your kitty lived in the wild, predators would be a constant threat. The most vulnerable spot on your cat’s body is her belly. Just beneath the surface of that tender skin lie all her vital organs.
4. DON'T forget the treats
While you’re working to convince kitty to sit in your lap, be sure to keep a supply of his favorite treats within reach at all times. When he approaches you, offer a treat. If he jumps up next to you, or better yet on your lap, offer another treat.
The trick is to help him associate being in physical contact with you with delicious snacks.
5. DO help with g***ming
Cats are big into g***ming. They g***m themselves, other cats, the family dog, their humans and even the occasional inanimate object. Because they’re so into g***ming, many kitties also really enjoy a gentle brushing. If yours does, he’ll show you through body language.
Make brushing sessions a time to quietly bond with your cat, and if you see his tail start to twitch or he suddenly walks away, he’s telling you he’s had enough for now.
7 Tips for Helping a Shy Cat Come Out of Her Shell
Some kitties who keep their distance from humans are simply shy, and as you might guess, shy cats typically do much better in relatively quiet homes rather than households with young children, rowdy adults or other large or dominant pets.
Of course, there are lots of feisty, fearless cats that thrive in households with kids, dogs and lots of noise and activity. However, this is far from an ideal environment for a timid kitty. Some suggestions for helping a shy cat become more social:
1. All cats thrive on a daily routine they can count on, and this is especially true for shy kitties. Feed and interact with your cat on a consistent schedule, and scoop his litterbox at least once daily.
It's important to gain your cat's trust, and caring for his basic needs on a regular timetable will go a long way toward helping him feel more comfortable.
2. Whenever possible, get down on kitty’s level to interact with her. Never bring your hand directly toward her face, as this may startle her. Instead, gently approach her from the side or from behind. If your cat scurries away when you walk near her, try turning your back to her as you pass.
3. Use delicious, wholesome food to encourage your kitty to bond with you. Feed a fresh, nutritionally balanced, species-appropriate diet.
Offer yummy, healthy treats (such as gently baked bits of free range chicken) whenever you invite her to interact with you. The goal is to help your cat make a positive association between you and delicious food.
4. Never force anything on your cat. Don't pull him from his hiding spot or hold him against his will (unless there's an emergency of some kind and you need to move him). Let your cat choose to interact with you on her terms. Having consistently positive and gentle interactions fosters trust.
Cats are most comfortable when they feel in control of their surroundings and interactions, so keep that in mind whenever you approach your timid kitty. Encourage him to come to you, and until he does, sit quietly with him in his hiding place and offer soft conversation until he feels comfortable coming out to interact.
5. Schedule play sessions with your kitty as often as possible, especially if he's play-motivated. Use interactive, non-threatening toys that encourage his natural instinct to stalk prey. Bringing out the "inner h****r" in a shy cat can work wonders for his confidence.
Also, try walking around the house with a ribbon or string trailing behind you (you can hold it or tie it to a belt loop) and see if kitty chases you. If he does, stand still and let him investigate you.
6. Consider offering your kitty a natural stress relief formula such as a Spirit Essences remedy. You might also consider using Feliway pheromone spray. Also ask your holistic veterinarian about homeopathic remedies for shy kitties.
7. To improve the communication between you and your shy cat, learn to interpret his body language, facial expressions and vocalizations. A good place to start: “30 Ways Your Cat Speaks to You.”
Remember that with a shy cat, time and patience are your biggest allies. Take the process of socialization one small step at a time, and repeat steps as often as necessary until your kitty is comfortable. Watch his body language carefully for signs of fear, including hiding, freezing in place and hunching down to appear smaller.
May 2, 2017 19:06:19 #
no propaganda please wrote:
Here's Why You Don't Give Your Kitty a Belly Rub b... (show quote)
I've got the smartest, most loving and most cooperative cat you can imagine. People are always telling me he is a very special cat and I tell them that cats reflect the personality of their masters. He has no objections at all to having his belly rubbed and likes to have his little paws held.
Although my cat isn't very playful, he is the most affectionate and loving cat you can imagine. I can Not sit down without him jumping into my lap. He likes to sleep with me and be enveloped in my arms and frequently we are also the cheek to cheek. I sleep only on my side and hold him when I flip over to the other side, so half of the time he is lying upside down and half the time right side up. He lays in bed with me like that all night until I get up. If I get up to Pee and go back to bed, he lays there and waits for me and does not get up and leave the room until the final time when I get up to stay. He has no aversion to being stared at and sometimes we just look into each other's eyes for prolonged periods of time staring at each other. He frequently talks to me especially around dinnertime when he knows it is time for the canned food. I frequently give him the kitty treats in those little bags and give them to him one at a time with him taking them out of my fingers. I believe that is the biggest key to a loving cat. Don't just put it in a bowl as that is too impersonal. Have them take it from your fingers which will have the effect of letting him know who his benefactor is. He also gets a little hand feeding him chicken or hamburger or wh**ever else I am eating that he would like as I am eating. And I let him walk around the kitchen counters watching me as I prepare food. I would NEVER make him stay on the floor for germ phobic sanitary reasons. Talking baby talk to your cat and petting him a little, every time you walk by is also helpful in making him loving and think of you as his buddy.
I also take my cat outside in public frequently. He is not afraid of regular traffic, only buses and Harleys, nor is he afraid of crowds. When I take him to the crowded Promenade he will stay on my shoulder for 45 minutes or so if I want him to without getting antsy and wanting to get down. In fact the heavier the crowd, the closer he stays to me. He will walk with me, with or without a leash, and stay most closely behind in crowds. He gets more affection, probably than any other cat in America on the excursions like that. Walking on a deserted street is more of a problem. When one person is walking towards us he will freeze up and stand there until after they pass.
I disagree with what you said about, never forcing your cat to stay with you, on your lap. When my cat was a a kitten (he's about 10 years old now) he was of course very active, and not being used to it, being on my lap probably just didn't seem right to him. It certainly turned out to be the right thing to do, that just like with a woman, letting him know that something was expected of him resulted in respect and a mutual cooperation. Like I mentioned at the beginning here, I can't sit down without him jumping in my lap and if he is in the house you can be pretty sure that if I'm sitting that's where he is.
When I first got him it was from a woman from Russia who had the electricity off in her apartment because she couldn't afford the bills and her cat had gotten pregnant and had kittens but she couldn't even afford cat food so my cat was just used to eating scraps from wh**ever she would eat and that included vegetables and everything else. He would eat anything, having no knowledge that cats were supposed to be fussy eaters. When I first got him I think he immediately fell in love with me because the first thing I did is go out and get some Col. Sanders chicken and hand fed him his fill.
My cats name is Bezoar, which may sound like a medievil name but it's not. It is actually the medical term for the hairballs that they cough up. I gave him that name because he is a super long-haired cat much like a Main Coon Cat. The picture below is not him (it used to be someone's avatar here on OPP) but I put this picture up because this cat looks just like my bezoar's identical twin brother.
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