How to keep your cat happy

Seeing as this month is Happy Cat Month, we’ve decided to write a blog with a few tips and advice about keeping your cat happy.

There’s no doubt about it, cat’s aren’t usually the happiest of animals, and things like ‘Grumpy Cat’ (Google it) going viral and BBC documentaries about ‘Cat Wars’ don’t exactly lead us to believe that life is all rainbows and fishy treats for our feline friends.

Photo courtesy of anyone71

Anthrozoologist John Bradshaw studies the interaction between humans and other animals and has claimed that cat owners are expecting too much from their furry pets. Actual medical conditions such as dermatitis and cystitis are becoming increasingly common amongst cats and these conditions are usually stress-related.

How can cats be stressed when all they do is sleep all day, wash their coat and occasionally stare out of the window? Well, living with other cats puts them through emotional strain, not to mention the number of selfies you attempt to take with them. New babies, loss of another pet, a visiting stranger and loud noises can all contribute towards higher stress levels in cats.

Recognise the signs

A stressed cat is hard to point out, cats have some of the best poker faces in the animal kingdom and are renowned as being silent sufferers. Dogs are usually referred to clinical animal behaviourists because they have become aggressive or destructive – classic signs of canine stress, but cats tend to become more withdrawn. Other symptoms include excessive spraying, sleeping under the bed, scratching, sweaty feet and over-grooming their abdomen area.

Provide entertainment

They might not want to play all the time, especially if they’re more withdrawn that usual. But this is a good way to interact with your cat and notice any behavioural changes. Exercise is an important part of keeping cats happy, too so stimulating them with some high energy games can help.

Give them their space

If you’ve placed their litter tray in the utility room, this could be making your cat unhappy, especially if it’s in there whilst you’re filling your washing machine. Think about what your cat might prefer and that their needs are met in multiple places throughout the house. Variety is key.

If your cat does start experiencing symptoms of stress which are manifesting themselves as illnesses, then vet bills can be expensive. With the cat or senior cat insurance policies that Insurancefair offer, you can rest assured that your pet will be receiving five star treatment and quickly, without a huge blow to your wallet.