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Cats might rule the world, but they aren’t as enigmatic as they want you to think. Sometimes, ‘cat logic’ makes total sense, while other times, it is very counterintuitive. But when you spend enough time around felines, you start picking up on how their minds and inner worlds function.
Pet owners took to an online thread to share their brilliant but bizarre cat hacks that, weirdly enough, actually work. If you’re raising cats at home or just want to learn about how our Meowgnificant Overlords work, keep scrolling.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
If your smoke detector goes off, call your cat to you and give them a treat. That way if the detector goes off in a fire, you have trained the cat where to go so you can find them easily.
Bi.Felicia 2 months ago
This is a great idea, that I will definitely try and hope it works with my kitty.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
I have 6 cats; fire is an absolute deep terror of mine. The kittens are still separated out into their separate bedrooms (right now only my 9-year-old, Kohl, has free run of the house 24/7) so I keep each cat's carrier right outside the door to their room. Kohl's carrier is on the floor in the entryway. I'm sure I'll still be freaking out if there ever IS a fire, but at least I won't be trying to find cat carriers stuffed into closets while in a total panic.
Starbug 2 months ago
Another bonus of leaving the cat carriers out all the time is that if you need to take the cat to the vet they won't run away at the mere sight of the carrier
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Parmeisan 2 months ago
I misread this at first and now I'm wondering if it could actually be both, a dual-purpose exercise: your cat might wake you up if the alarm doesn't, sit on your face or whatever, to get the treats.
Piper Liniger 2 months ago
Nope. Not going to work. When an alarm goes off they could care less about a treat. Under the bed it the only course of action and hide for an hour or so.
Mojavedog 2 months ago
I agree. Any loud noise like that sends them running to hide. Does that mean I need to run to everyone one of my 5 cats to give them treats to condition them? They don’t tend to eat treats when they are scared.
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Bill Richman 2 months ago
*cat learns to press self-test button on detector for treats on demand*
Sarah Kathrin Matsoukis 2 months ago
My idiots would run into any burning building for treats if I did that
RELATED:
#2
I adopted an adult cat, who was terrified of me and hid behind furniture for months. Very slowly, over time he would come out of hiding and we could both be in the same room without him running to hide so I would turn my back to him and shuffle past, that way he would know that I am not trying to mess with him at all because I’m not even facing him. I talked in a calm tone (no baby voice) and said “it’s okay bud, I’m not gonna mess with you”. I also made it a point to not look at him when I was moving about the apartment, again to let him know that he’s not even on my radar and I’m not trying to mess with him. Remember, when cats feel threatened, their eyes are wide, they don’t blink, and they keep their eyes on whatever they think is threatening them. If you keep making eye contact with the cat and staring back at it, it may interpret that as you actually being a threat. Over time it worked and he realized that he is allowed to be up and milling about, and I won’t mess with him. Now he is a very happy and well adjusted man.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
This is exactly how I transformed the two tiny feral/stray kittens that my dog Fenring found in my backyard from hissing, terrified balls of fluff into purring snuggle muffins XD I simply sat nearby with my back to where they were hiding in the room and talked to them for days, until they got used to my presence. After a week, I was able to carefully pick them up and gently pet them. Now they're 6 months old and they start purring before I even touch them and they'll both throw themselves down onto the carpet to get belly rubs or shove their sibling aside to get pets if I'm petting one instead of the other XD (the tabby boy is Joseph, the tux girl is Spicecake) joseph_and...bc22fd.jpg 
GalPalAl 2 months ago
Yes. This is excellent advice. Adopted a neighbor's cat after he passed away. Very scared of other cats in the house. Set up closwt with beds, food and litterbox.so she has her own space. About a year into it, she warmed up to me visiting and feeding her/changing her water. Fond out she is diabetic and started on meds. Now four yeas later, she lets me cuddle and kiss her. She has even started to venture out with other cats at her pace. I am against sending her to a shelter ti wait out her later years (over age 10) and decided at least her in my house would still be a better option. They need to know they can trust you. If you can't provide that, then don't adopt
Margaret Shannon 2 months ago
I'm going to try this with my cat, Roxie. She was only a kitten, but feral when we caught her (too many raptors in this neighborhood.) She’s still anxious around us.
Colleen Glim 2 months ago
My gossamer is a very skittish boy. Just feed them and let them adapt at their own pace. Talk to them and understand when they need a safe space. He now coos at me when I get home and is all about the pets. My youngest daughter is his hooman though. And that’s okay
Load More Replies... martymcmatrix 2 months ago
When Sushi and Beefy moved in, they were just 12 weeks old and knew nothing but the vet, staff and the metal bars of their crates at the shelter. For the first days, I only noticed their presence indirectly, BUT I was amazed at how f🔞cking fast / quick they were... once, I went from the bedroom - where they were staying / hiding first - to the bathroom and back, which took me about 3 minutes...long story short, as I came back both litter boxes were steaming heavily...🤷🏽 💩 🐈⬛
PeepPeep the duck 2 months ago (edited)
I had a feral who was insane, nothing worked. So when he was asleep, I’d sneak up and gently sing to him, it took three months and he became the cuddliest idiot I ever had. But the first two years were tough on us both, more so him, someone basically snatched him from a feral colony and then I’m 90% he was abùsèd or severely neglected or both. I managed to get this kitten via a phone call from another sṯṟipper I worked with who knew I was a cat person.
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Nadine Debard 2 months ago
Excellent advice. When I go to people's house and the cat is shy, first I ignore it and avoid eye contact. Then after a while they come, out of curiosity, and I still avoid eye contact and give them a hand to sniff, then ignore them again, and finally, when they feel comfortable staying close, I blink slowly in their direction to make friends. At this point, they usually sit on my lap, and the owners are baffled. It's my magic trick.
Smeghead Tribble Down Under 2 months ago
I've done this many, many times over many years and yes it works.
#3
I routinely pretend to chase them, and sometimes clumsily pretend to grab them, but I do a bad job, missing them by miles, pretending to be winded after taking five steps. Now, when I do need to actually grab them, they underestimate me and assume I am much slower and clumsier than I actually am.
Maggie Fulton 2 months ago
I had a kitty I would “chase” doing the Frankenstein’s monster walk, and she would “run” just ahead of me and stop and look back like a damsel in distress. Good times.
Starbug 2 months ago
I do that with my cat! It's an almost daily playtime for both of us
Load More Replies... Nadine Debard 2 months ago
I did that with my cat, hide and seek, then chase. Lovely moments.
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Janissary35680 2 months ago
And then the look on their face is "Busted! I can't believe I fell for that again!"
One of the coolest things we’ve ever learned about cat behavior is just how important body language is when bonding with them. Especially what you do with your eyes.
According to research conducted by psychologists from the University of Portsmouth and the University of Sussex, you can actually build rapport with cats by using an eye-narrowing technique (the so-called ‘slow blink’) with them. It’s the feline equivalent of a genuine human smile.
As per the study, cats are more likely to slow blink at their owners once they have slow blinked at them. Meanwhile, cats are also more likely to approach strangers’ outstretched hands after they slow blink at them.
“It’s definitely not easy to study natural cat behaviour, so these results provide a rare insight into the world of cat-human communication,” said Dr. Leanne Proops from the University of Portsmouth’s Department of Psychology, who co-supervised the work.
#4
One of my cats needs more moisture in her diet. So I got some cat bone broth and I mix that with churu and every few nights we have kitty cocktail hour. She laps it up as long as I don’t overdo it on the bone broth lol. I am going to try to find some little shallow cocktail glasses for this purpose so kitty cocktail hour can be a bit more luxurious. There may also be photos and bow ties….
TCW Sam Vimes 2 months ago
Try running water fountains, cats have an instinct that makes them go for running water rather than standing puddles, since in nature running water is usually cleaner
S Bow 2 months ago
I just tried the fountain with my senior kitty that needs to drink more and unfortunately it was a total failure. She wouldn't go near it or even go into the room where it was located until I took it up. Drat.
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Judy Reynolds 2 months ago
I mix half a teaspoon of water into her wet food. Not really enough for her to turn her nose up on it, but she does get that tiny bit more water.
Jac Carr 2 months ago
Cats don't like their water bowl to be next to their food and it results in them not drinking enough creating the high number of cats with kidney issues. Every foster I've had loved the water fountain I have and I'm sure drink more than they otherwise would. Worth a try
Lila Allen 2 months ago
Any suggestion if the water fountain scares them. I got the nice one with filters and slow running water and it scared the daylights out of my cat and he refused to drink from it.
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Tobias Reaper 2 months ago
cats generally dont need to drink as much water as they get a lot of moisture from their food fun fact cats kidneys are so efficient they could drink sea water for hydration although they shouldnt
Investigate CZ 2 months ago
I added a couiple more water bowls in weird places in the house and then they became "the special bowls with "different" water. I have a photo of them actually queing up to use one of them lol
#5
Greeting my cats with an extended finger and letting them nose-boop it. It’s a low impact way to mimic a natural cat greeting and builds trust.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
I do this too! And it's extra cute when they decide they want an extra scritch after the boop and rub their cheek along your finger <3
Biytemii 2 months ago
Fun fact! That's actually them "claiming" you. They spread their scent by rubbing the side of their face and mouth area like that to mark their territory. That's why cats will also rub on all the doorways in the house as well most times.
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TCW Sam Vimes 2 months ago
I used to pick my tomcat up and let him boop my face as greeting. Never had trust issues since I got him as a kitten and often carried him around inside my goodies, he was the most cuddly and chill guy. Miss him terribly
Untamed Snark 2 months ago
One of mine loves having her forehead kissed, she shoves her face at me for kisses multiple times a day (and night), I am honestly surprised there isn't a bald spot from the number of kisses she requires to get through a day.
Plentyofoomph 2 months ago
This is how you greet horses too. Extend your hand and let them go in for a sniff. Don't just run over and grab them
Earonn - 2 months ago
I'm not sure if my cat knows that I'm not a hand with a strange longish body and a loudly babbling tail :D
Colleen Glim 2 months ago
As far as your cat is concerned, you’re just a weirdly shaped also cat
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#6
I have only ever done this with one cat so probably can't really call it a "hack" but it definitely worked:
My kitty used to bite a lot, and she would just do it randomly. You could be petting her, she'd be leaning into it purring and enjoying and suddenly she would just flip and bite you.
Well one day she bit my finger, and instead of pulling away and being hurt, I just shoved my finger further into her mouth lol. She gagged and then looked at me with a face I will never forget 😂 she was in absolute shock like what kind of a freak does something like that lol
She has never bitten me or another person since! She still snaps at you as if she's going to, but she won't actually do it. It's crazy, solved her biting problem practically overnight.
Anyway, success may vary lol.
TCW Sam Vimes 2 months ago
That's actually the method to stop cats and dogs from chewing on fingers or hands. Shove em in there, they don't like it and mostly understand we don't like being chewed on either
Mahiera Etsuhae 2 months ago
...Is it weird that I'm now eager for my fuzzy doofus to bite me again? I wanna see the look on his face when I do this to him.
Load More Replies... GalPalAl 2 months ago
One night my cat woke me up by licking my face. Was in such a daze and fearing I would not be able to go back to sleep, I gently grabber her cheeks, and quickly licked the top of her head like she did to me (brain still half sleeping). Then we both looked at each other to see if that really happened, and she didn't wake me up like that again. Unintentionally licked her.
Fluffy Cat Sleeps 2 months ago
I have a car who does this. I limit my pets to three or four strokes and then stop for a few moments. It's been 14 years and she doesn't get overstimulated anymore.
Roxie Carter 2 months ago
Another hack for this is to try only petting above their shoulders. Some cats don't like it when you touch their bodies and that's when they do the surprise-bite thing.
Mari 2 months ago
Yes, my cat wants a lot of pets but only above the shoulders and a bit on the chest. If you pet him elsewhere he will bite. (Not hard, just a warning)
Load More Replies... Earonn - 2 months ago
I saw someone doing that with a bitey dachshound. We were all terrified of him (although he was mostly sweet - not his fault, he was a rescue from a VERY a*****e home). One day he snaps at a man and he just held his lower jaw in the tooth gap and talked to him in "So what now? What's the big issue here, buddy?" voice. Let go and the dog was totally perplexed. I wish it had been a regular, not just a visitor, that guy could have taught the dog so much! And nobody from the family picked it up.
Jeolas1 2 months ago
If you get bit by a cat and the teeth penetrate your skin, watch the bite site very closely. At the smallest sign of increasing swelling or spreading reddening, get yourself to the hospital immediately. A cat bite can turn into a life threatening infection extremely quickly.
Lila Allen 2 months ago
Can confirm. Ended up on IV antibiotics when my cat bit me trying to escape from getting her vaccinations
Load More Replies... Bill Richman 2 months ago
I just bite back. Talk about absolute shock. Pretty sure the meow translated to, "What the actual f---?!?"
Just off the Goat 2 months ago
The last time one of my cats bit me, we were playing 'catch me'. I made a big deal of holding my bitten hand up and fake crying. I even went so far with this act to show my other cat how 'Anni' had hurt me. My other cat, 'Tenner' gave Anni a dirty look as if to say "Don't bite the hand that feeds you." Anni has not bitten me since! Cats are smart!
Load More Replies...Meanwhile, Professor Karen McComb, from the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex, who supervised the work, had this to add: “As someone who has both studied animal behaviour and is a cat owner, it’s great to be able to show that cats and humans can communicate in this way. It’s something that many cat owners had already suspected, so it’s exciting to have found evidence for it.”
Furthermore, Dr. Tasmin Humphrey, the first author of the study, said that when people understand the positive ways of interacting with cats, this can then enhance the public’s understanding of cats, improve feline welfare, and help everyone learn more about the socio-cognitive abilities of these animals.
“In terms of why cats behave in this way, it could be argued that cats developed the slow blink behaviours because humans perceived slow blinking as positive. Cats may have learned that humans reward them for responding to slow blinking. It is also possible that slow blinking in cats began as a way to interrupt an unbroken stare, which is potentially threatening in social interaction.”
#7
My cat LOVES it when I slide the dry food across the floor, once piece at a time. We started out doing this with treats, and now it’s all dry edible things. It’s like a very short chase with an immediate reward. She loves it ridiculously much.
When I cat-sit for my neighbors, I do the same for their evening feeding, which is dry food. They also LOVE it, so it’s not just my (ahem, orange) cat.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
This mimics (a little, at least) the "catching" of prey that is trying to flee, so it adds enrichment to the cat's life and gives them both mental AND physical stimulation! :) Just make sure the kibbles aren't picking up lots of dust or hair or c**p on the floor as you fling them XD
KnightOwl86 2 months ago
This is how I got my cat to trust me. She was a rescue and had been passed around a lot of different homes, she would immediately hide and refuse to come out of her hiding spot or eat or drink anything. My parents have had around 20 cats over the years so they decided to take her thinking she'd do well with them. She did the same thing and when I went to visit the day after they got her and my stepmum asked me to try to coax her out and get her to eat. I sat silently next to the wardrobe she was under, for a while then put some dry food on the ground between us, left it there for a while then slowly slid them to her, one at a time. I did this for about an hour then just sat in the same spot reading my book silently for about 2hrs. She slowly started peeking out watching me, before she eventually slowly crawled out and curled up beside me. This is how I got my first cat since leaving my family home, I had her for 14yrs and was the only person she ever trusted.
Nadine Debard 2 months ago
Did this with my bored second cat with attachement issues (siamese/european, she was nuts and very demanding). She rage-eated like us humans when we're sad. We had two cats and we played with both, but it wasn't enough and my cat was depressed. While we set up adjustements (=better territory management between both cats), I began to make her catch her dry food. She stopped rage-eating and lost weight.
BookFanatic 2 months ago
I do this with my gray's treats. Love watching him scramble to find the goodies.
#8
Explain to your cat what is happening like they are a person, especially if it's something that will upset their routine or going to the vet. They won't "understand," but cats pick up a lot more from tone than we realize. Always seems to calm my cats.
Sue Denham 2 months ago
Um . . . I've found that explaining to a cat that we are about to go to the vet makes the cat disappear.
Deborah B 2 months ago
I'm automatically polite to my cat - "Excuse me, Boo, I need to get up now." "Please get down now." "Thank you, let's get you a treat." "Sorry, Boo, I need that." So now he refuses to move out of the way unless I say "Excuse me please," and he will huff at me if I don't say "thank you".
Stacy Carroll 2 months ago
My cats (3) are always laying on me when I sit down. I obviously appreciate it for the sign of love that it is, but I need to get up alot. So I have taught them to jump down when I say "Watch Out". Then they're right back on me when I sit back down.
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
My cats absolutely understand what certain words mean XD My oldest, Kohl, knows exactly what "okay, Kohl, come on, let's go" means and she'll make soft sad peep-meow sounds when she hears me say it, because that's what I always say before I lock her in my bedroom whenever I leave my house XD (My sister has a tendency to come into my house when I'm gone and she just leaves the door open behind her, and Kohl has gotten out a few times and once got stuck in a neighbor's backyard with a large dog. I lock her in my bedroom whenever I leave my house now, for her safety.) Kohl also knows the words for a few tricks/commands: sit, lay down, paw, other paw, and up (stands on her hind legs.) So yes, talking to your pets normally is absolutely... normal XD (I also DO oogy-woogy baby talk them sometimes too though, haha)
Mari 2 months ago
My cat also understands a lot of words. I make sure that I use the same intonation and height of my voice. He knows his name and the words; food, treat, come, outside, mouse and no. He knows his name so well, when we talk about him in a conversation and we mention his name, he hears it and comes to us. Even he knows that we didn't call him, but it is like he wants to know what we are gossiping about him.
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Anita MacDonald 2 months ago
Occasionally, our cats get fleas. I have no idea how. They are strictly indoor cats. Anyway, we have a nice big utility sink with a sprayer in the laundry room. I wrap them in a warm towel and sing to them. I let them test the water temperature with a paw. We use a cat shampoo, and follow the ordeal with a warm towel wrap and rub, a transfer to a warm dry towel, and then use a hand-held blow dryer to complete the job. Warming the towels really works for us.
Plentyofoomph 2 months ago
This is what so many people misunderstood about the idea of asking for conaent from your baby when changing nappies. Of course you're not actually seeking consent from the baby; the baby is incapable of providing it. It's about establishing habits and emotional levels.
Phil Green 2 months ago
I speak in normal English to our cat. She knows quite a few words now. We inherited one from our first cat though - "Meep" - which means food. She understands "Catkiss", which is rubbing noses, "Mum" is my wife. I am "Dad". "Bath". "Bedtime". "Outside". And we meow together. She also adjusts her meow-tone and I now understand some of her words.
Karl der Große 2 months ago
I speak French to my cat in the morning and English in the afternoon. That way, if she ever travels to Quebec she can translate for the other cats.
Load More Replies... Bernát Bonda 2 months ago
I often deliver rescue cats among rescuers and vets. (Often 3 hour drives). They usually start meowing soon, but when I talk to them, they calm down.
Colleen Glim 2 months ago
My cats start howling the minute the engine starts and don’t stop until the engine shuts off again
Load More Replies... KnightOwl86 2 months ago
I always did this, I'd explain why I had to take them to the vet eg. "lucifer I know you haven't been feeling very good and now your not eating so we need to go see a vet to figure out what's wrong and get you healthy again" or "I know your food might taste a little bit different but it's just the medicine the vet gave you to make you feel better, if you can put up with it for a few days your tummy will feel better" I'm convinced they understood me.
#9
When I’m eating something I know my cat doesn’t actually want but they are sniffing at it like they do I pretend to offer it to them. Then they smell closer and decide no they don’t want it, but they appreciate the offer.
Also pine pellets are a billion times better than litter and less expensive .
Amanda Fondaumiere 2 months ago
Wait what?! I will def check out my tractor supply co.
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Lousha 2 months ago
We use a corn based biodegradable litter. The cats like it, the p**p can go straight into the toilet, while the clumped up pee can go into the compost. Plus when this litter is clean, it actually smells quite pleasant, and it absorbs smells along with moisture perfectly.
Lila Allen 2 months ago
Hey where do you get this??? I would love to try it. I'm allergic to pine so I can't use the pellets
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BookFanatic 2 months ago
I do that all the time. That's how I learned one of my cats is weird enough to eat graham crackers and oatmeal cookies. (No, I didn't actually let him get more than that first exploratory chomp)
Bec 2 months ago
I had one that I would share tiny bits of junk food with, Cheetos, popcorn
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Panda Cat 2 months ago
My 14 month old Siamese thinks it’s fine to pee on something on the floor. My last cat- a declawed Ragdoll needed Dr Elsey’s Cat Attract litter so I ordered a bag of that. I bought a tofu and clay one because it was supposed to be less susceptible to being thrown everywhere but Skippy doesn’t believe in that.
Lila Allen 2 months ago
Warning..do not use if you have a pine allergy. I so wish I wasn't allergic to pine. I loved how environmentally and wallet friendly the pellets were but it was causing asthma attacks for me.
Don Golosso 2 months ago
Pine Pellets for the win! Not only cheaper and biodegradable but also healthier for you cat if he/she is dumb enough to try to eat them.
Melinda Landis 2 months ago
I like the pellets but they are not as easy to clean. I’ve read that you can compost them, we’ve never tried. They are a great price and most cats don’t seem to mind.
sfgothgirl 2 months ago
We are not allowed to put animal wasn't in our organics pickup bin.
Load More Replies... Stacy Carroll 2 months ago
I cant use clay litter. Its too dusty. I switched to wheat years ago.
Which of these cat hacks genuinely surprised you the most, dear Pandas? What did your pets at home think of them when you tried them out?
What are some weird but brilliant pet hacks you know that you’d love to share with other animal lovers? Let us know all about it in the comments below. And tell your pets we said 'hi!'
#10
If I can’t find either of my roomies, I will play Instagram videos of meowing cats. They come out of hiding to see who is in their home.
Deborah B 2 months ago
I just get out the crochet. Boo is there in seconds to grab it. I have tried making him yarn toys to play with, but it's me actively attempting to use the wool that makes it desirable to him.
Nannychachi 2 months ago
Everything I crochet has a little bit of kitten spit on it.
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Lee451 Henderson 2 months ago
I find that playing bird videos on my tablet or TV gets their attention.
Sophie 2 months ago
If I can't find mine I start to tell him that I will be very sad if I can't find him, he comes to me every time. Sometimes when we play and he "hides" I act like I can't find him, and I'm worried because of it, and he comes to me with the sweetest look on his face, like don't worry I'm here.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
I turn on the TV, put it on YouTube, and search “cat TV.” When he hears birds chirping in the video, he comes running.
#11
My cats used to think that one corner of one room in our house is a toilet, even though we never kept a sand box there. It's just plain floor tiles. They do have several large sand boxes elsewhere, all cleaned every day and sand replenished regularly. Yet for some reason, that corner was a toilet too.
I've cleaned it many times (including scrubbing it with soap and disinfectant), perfumed it, left bits of fruit that cats allegedly don't like, nothing helped.
What did finally help was, after cleaning it yet again, putting there a small cat bed. Apparently, cat logic is, if a place is for sleeping, it's not for pooping (which does make sense).
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
OP doesn't say, but that particular location might not be suitable for a litterbox (child's bedroom, kitchen, dining room, etc.), but a cat bed is fine (plus a cat bed is smaller than a litterbox.)
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Lousha 2 months ago
One of our cats was very small and frightened when she moved in. She was so terrified that she stayed under furniture for days. Obviously she still had to alleviate herself, and she wasn't even in theory potty trained, plus her intended litter box was in the bathroom, while she was hiding in the living room. So she pooped under the stairs. (From where you can only clean it if you're a contortionist...) So we made up a temporary litter box that was small enough to fit in there. After she used it for a day, we moved it about 10 cm. Then the next day another 10, and so on, until we got to the bathroom. It worked out well.
Colleen Glim 2 months ago
My super senior cat can’t do stairs anymore so there is a litter box in my living room for exactly this reason
#12
I use their natural fastidious nature against them if they need meds. I always ask the vet if there's a liquid option then use a dropper to administer the medication on their paws. They can't help but lick it off. Game changer with cranky cats.
Kitsune Nocturne 2 months ago
Mine shook his paw and sent it flying everywhere.
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Uncle Panda 2 months ago (edited)
For years I followed the directions and worked hairball gel into the top of the cat's paw so she'd lick it off. Then one day I just put it on a plate and she gobbled it down. She liked it!
Deborah B 2 months ago
I crush tablets to powder and mix them with tube treat, which my gentleman will lick off the saucer. You have to be prepared to experiment a bit to work out what each cat likes. For mine it's presenting "Treats" on a china saucer before dinner.
Lila Allen 2 months ago
Oh I thought mine was the only one who would only accept treats on a saucer. It's so cute.
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Lila Allen 2 months ago
WOW you have really well behaved cats. Mine would tear off a finger if I tried this
Load More Replies... #13
Blow on their nose when you give a pill so they swallow. Seriously a game changer!
Savannah greenleaf 2 months ago
This works, you try to get it as far back on their tongue and possibly and gently hold their mouth closed, so the don't spit it out, while you blow in their face/nose to trigger a swallow reflex. Wrap kitty in a clean towel first to prevent scratches if needed.
Son of Philosoraptor 2 months ago
Butter the pill, open cat mouth by pressing the hinges of the jaw, tuck pill behind tongue hump real quick. Sounds easy but it ain't till you have a decade or so of practice. Lol
Stacy Carroll 2 months ago
My one kitty needs daily meds. I taught her to jump on the toilet lid when I say pill time. She gets a treat for jumping up. Then another treat after each pill. So now she looks forward to her pills.
Colleen Glim 2 months ago
If you need to give your pet a pill, greenies makes pill pockets for both dogs and cats that I can reccommend. Put the pill in the pocket, press the pocket over the pill and offer as a treat. For picky pets you might need to offer a few as treats ahead of time with no pills in them. Available in any pet store and infinitely preferable to trying to shove a pill down an unhappy pets throat
Marsha Hultberg 2 months ago
Another trick is massaging their throat immediately post pilling. Their reflex is swallowing. 👌🏼
#14
If you want Cat A to come to you, call Cat B. Or call the dog over.
Their jealous hearts will be there in a second.
Oskar vanZandt 2 months ago
Works on Fomo, my younger cat... I've even started using it as her nickname.
#15
I guess this isn't strange, but because I love cats, and I have kids, I very rarely buy new furniture, at least nothing expensive. It really is a lot easier tolerating zoomies and occasional scratching if nothing expensive is getting destroyed.
Rugs are small and light enough to wash in the shower, or simply put in the washing machine. Keep plants away from the cats, a lot less hassle.
First and foremost, just relax. Forget a totally spotless home (goes for having kids as well, lol), and just enjoy.
SaladSpinnerDeux 2 months ago
Cats are a lifestyle choice and why we don't have "nice" things. (My three potatoes/cats are spoiled)
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
Exactly. The first question we ask when considering buying a household item: “Will the cats leave it alone?”
Melinda Landis 2 months ago
And we keep the error prone ones because we love them no matter. And, of course, rule out any medical issues.
GalPalAl 2 months ago
If your cat like to scratch there are plenty of scratch options available in retail
Lila Allen 2 months ago
My cat has 4 scratching posts of various size, shape, and position. Still likes the couch better.
Load More Replies... TCW Sam Vimes 2 months ago
To a degree i agree to this, but as any pet a cat needs to learn some rules. Kitchen counters should bo off limit, the danger of them jumping up to hot plates is too big. Scratching furniture is not OK, provide them with sisal surfaces or comparable things. And oc the toilet is outside, not the rug.
SaladSpinnerDeux 2 months ago (edited)
My cats learned to not jump up on the table or kitchen counter when we're home and they usually use the scratching post unless they want my attention, then they stare at me as they pick at the fabric!
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KrazyChiMama 2 months ago
My 17 year old void has never once jumped up on counters or the table. He does like to sit on the chairs in the dining room like he’s a human during dinner. He doesn’t like people food so he’s doing it just for attention and pets. He’s never used a scratch post either. He uses a piece of wooden molding in the back bedroom. Since it’s cheap and very easy to replace I cannot complain. He’s a really good boy! We moved last month to a farm so now he’s got a baby sister void he’s still getting used to. She has started to use the molding to scratch by watching him. Even though her dad bought her a big beautiful cat tree with scratch posts built in. The old man climbs up and goes to sleep…watching the kitten trying to get him to play is just precious! :)
#16
When bathing your cat in the tub, place a nonslip mat or something they can step on. It’s bad enough they are getting wet, but not having purchase adds to the anxiety.
I have bathed many cats in my lifetime and short of getting into the tub with clothes on and letting them cling to me in desperation, I found that secure footing makes a huge difference. Instead of “I’m going to drown!!”, it’s more “I’m wet and severely unhappy.”.
Emma B 2 months ago
Cats should only be bathed if they have something on them they definitely can't remove themselves, or if they are a stray that has just been caught and are in such poor condition that they couldn't get on top of it. I hope people aren't routinely bathing their cats. Also, they are much calmer if they are not sitting in water, i.e. wet them with a shower or jug, shampoo them, rinse with shower or jug.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
I bathed my cat Wintressia every other week once she got older and had been diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. Because I'd gotten her as a kid, my mom didn't allow animals in the house, so she had lived her entire life as an outdoors cat. When she got elderly and sick, she stopped grooming herself as much, and I started bringing her inside most of the time. For her sake and mine, she needed to be clean. I bathed her in my shower with an extension hose thingy, never in a tub/immersed in water. She handled it really well (don't believe the expression on her face in this photo, lol!) and the whole process only took a few minutes. She suffered zero ill effects from being bathed every other week. She lived until two months shy of her 20th birthday XD wintressia...eb2798.jpg 
Jenny Barnes 2 months ago
Its actually a myth that cats do not need baths. You should bathe your cat, older cats may stop grooming themselves and its better to have them used to baths as kittens than to try to first time bathe an older cat. Also like someone said below that it helps blow out the old hair.
TCW Sam Vimes 2 months ago
Cats do not need baths on a regular basis. If something is stuck on the fur, cut it out. It's easy to destroy the natural balance of oils in the fur and it tends to transform into rastas when that balance goes awry
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Please research the Sphynx breed. They require regular bathing. Additionally, if you use a shampoo designed for cats (in other words, don't bathe them with Dawn dish soap unless they have fleas), the cat-designed shampoos/soaps actually do not completely destroy/remove the cat's natural skin/fur oils.
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
If the cat gets something on its fur, it will lick it off to clean itself. If it gets something toxic, hazardous, or otherwise gross onto its fur (paint, grease, cooking oil, etc.) do you REALLY want your cat licking that off and ingesting it? It's much better to bathe the cat. They won't die. I promise. They don't dissolve in water.
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Tea Drinker 2 months ago
I used very warm (over body temp) water in a dish tub in the bathtub. The little tub was big enough for me to get my hands around their body, yet small enough for them to feel "snug". They anticipate cold water because that's what they usually experience (rain, etc.) so easing them into really warm water surprised them. Used the handheld shower at the gentlest setting with very warm water to rinse. Now drying was a whole other problem...
KrazyChiMama 2 months ago
Hmmmm I’ve never had an issue with bathing my voids. I use the kitchen sink it’s shallow and has rubber mats they stand on so they don’t slip and hurt their feet in the drain. I use the sprayer so it goes fast. They kitten absolutely hates it, the old man seems to like the nice warm water on his back…he just doesn’t like it on his head, and he’s not a fan of his cat shampoo lol
#17
If i want them to do something i have to do it first. Clipping nails is one example. I pretend to clip my nails and then they all want what i'm having.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
I've never tried this strategy with any of my cats before XD For me I just use treats. TONS of treats. The highest-value treat, the one they love the most, ONLY gets given out during claw clipping time. I have seven cats who lay calmly on their backs in my arms, purring, while I clip their claws, because they know that after I finish each paw, they get a treat XD and a few bonus treats once I finish all four paws!
Deborah B 2 months ago
I'll have to try this. Boo lets me do it, but to a constant accompaniment of sad meow, and wiggles away with an affronted huff when I'm done.
Load More Replies... Uncle Panda 2 months ago
For five years, I had to bend down every morning to show the cat that she still doesn't like black coffee.
Judy Reynolds 2 months ago
Can I go back in time to practise my bending over? I am getting old and stiff!
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Emilu 2 months ago
Birds do this too (that said, I've not tried with nails. I get them professionally done because if birds lose even a little blood, that's enough to kill them and I don't trust myself). If you're eating something, they want it. Even if you get a "pttth" shortly afterwards and they try and spit it out, they do it again anyway, just because you are. I'm scared I'll get Roll hooked on lime soda this way. 😆
Colleen Glim 2 months ago
I have accidentally clipped my birds claws a hair too short. It’s not the end of the world. Also gravel paper in the bottom of the cage and grit covered perches will help make this less necessary
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Nina 2 months ago
That isn't enough if they're indoor kitties. My cat has multiple scratch posts that he uses, but I really need to clip his nails or they start bothering him.
Load More Replies... BarfyCat 2 months ago
It's too late to use this trick on my boy cat. I'll let the vet do it, because that's cheaper than me ending up in the ER, lol!
Lila Allen 2 months ago
Not even my vet will trim my cat's claws so I use tons of cat scratching posts and specialty mats
Load More Replies... #18
When my boy was a tiny kitten… brought to us by an old tom cat…to get him ready to go to sleep alone in his private (big) closet I would sing Lullaby by Billy Joel every night after he had his kitten milk. Then I started playing it on YouTube. He is now about 9 months old and he still comes flying if I play Lullaby by Billy Joel. I think each cat should have their own theme song.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
One of my two youngest kittens is named Joseph, after a stray cat I almost got to keep when I was a kid. I'd named THAT stray Joseph because my favorite musical at the time (I was 10) was "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". I am ashamed to admit I still have the entire musical memorized. When I was first trying to get the kittens used to my presence (they were ferals/strays) I would sit near them and quietly sing the entire musical to them. Now both Joseph and his sister Spicecake will fall blissfully asleep if I sing "Any Dream Will Do" to them XD
Cerulean 2 months ago
I grew up with that record too, was spun out recently how much of it I can sing... without ever having actively memorised it.... BENjaMIN you NASty youth, your crime has shocked me TOTHECOOORE! can't stop singing it now...
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Ace 2 months ago
What you need is an AI cat detector application on your Alexa thingy that automatically sarts to play their theme tune when they enter a room.
#19
This was sort of an accident, but I bathe our dog in the shower ~once a week (she gets dirty at the park). Because she's very nervous, I started making an ordeal out of it with a lot of praise, a whole routine, and me and my fiancé gather around her when she's out of the shower and towel her off and tell her she's the cleanest dog in the whole world, etc.
Obviously, the cat is very interested in this and also loves towels. Once I'm finished with the dog, she walks herself into the shower and I'm able to either pretend to wash her or actually wash her (useful if she's got a stinky butt) and then we repeat the ordeal with the praise and the towels and the attention and announce we have "the cleanest pets on planet Earth.".
Scott Rackley 2 months ago
I have two Bengals, keeping them out of the shower is the problem. Especially Mia, she likes to be in the shower with you and sing the song of her people.
Lila Allen 2 months ago
Oh I remember this fondly. I had a bengal and a Maine C**n. They insisted on showers and during summer wanted their own paddling pool to play in.
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Philly Bob 2 months ago
I have 3 feral born rescues... talk about watercats deluxe! The kitchen sink, the shower... yup...
Ellen Light 2 months ago
After we washed our little dog, we always said, "All clean. Smell good." several times. She would get so excited and zoom around the house. :)
#20
Training cats to come by shaking an Altoids tin full of treats. The sound is louder and distinctive, and if they ever get outside accidentally in my city neighborhood, they hear the sound over traffic noises. We have an Altoids tin full of Temptations by each door for emergencies.
spacer 2 months ago
cant it just be a normal can made of tin or metal? this almost reads like an ad
Tempest 2 months ago
Doesn’t even have to be metal or tin. Shake any container with cat treats (small kibble sized dry treats) and you’ll find your cat from anywhere. In my house we use a plastic ice cream tub (used as Tupperware). We buy cat food in those big packs. To prevent the whole bag from going stale with repeated opening and closing, we transfer a portion to the ice cream tub and use that daily, refilling it about once a week or whenever it finishes. When we can’t find our cat, we just rattle the tub and she’ll be by our feet in seconds lol.
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#21
Whenever my boy cat that is only a year old and wasnt socialized properly before he met me play bites i pretend he just ripped me open and hurt me so bad and he gets very concerned and runs off. HIGHLY recommend.
Judy Reynolds 2 months ago
If a cat bites me, I simply stop moving. Often I get a lick as an apology.
Kelly Scott 2 months ago
I wish this stuff applied to my cat. I can't play with him because when he kicks with his back feet, those claws would rake me like a razor blade and when he bites, he sinks in those fangs and draws enough blood so even Dracula would be happy.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
Play with him with a toy, not your hands. Get a long kicker toy; they love those.
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noelle rem 2 months ago
If it's a play bite and you want them to let go, blow on their nose sharply and they will be so flabbergasted they'll let go.
KrazyChiMama 2 months ago
My kitten Zoe is in this pet/play/bite stage. I just say OWWWW Zoe and she stops biting and licks my hand…honestly the biting is less painful lol she’s a hard licker and it feels like she’s going to lick my skin off my hand! Lol :D
#22
If you address them only by their name they will know and respond to it, and can eventually come when called. I see owners say they refer to their cat by multiple pet names but they don't respond or care about being called. it's not that, they just don't know how their name truly sounds, when they know they respond.
you can determine a cats attention by watching where their eyes, ears, and feet are pointed. from the bottom up are ascending order of attention. where they might need to move, where a threat might be coming from, what they notice but don't need to address.
Mogh 2 months ago
Very true. My two kitties Ra and Odin almost always respond to their respective names. Though, you still get the jealousy affect that dogs exhibit. Call one and the other comes.
WalterWhiteSavannah 2 months ago
My cat absolutely knows his name and nicknames, but that doesn't mean he'll come when called. He just looks at you to let you know he understands and he doesn't care.
Livingwithcfs 2 months ago
Very true. My kitten was sexed as a girl, called Katherine, but she developed balls around three months. He still called Katherine
Laura Spring 2 months ago
I have a Gizmo, a Cassidy and a Honey Bear (it was Bear until he went to get neutered - surprise it's a girl!) and they all know their names.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Nah, Kohl knows her name AND the 9,000 nicknames I address her by XD "Missus Hisses" is the one I most commonly use (well, of the ones that don't incorporate her actual name, such as "Kohlly Roller" and "Kohl Kohl Jelly Roll".) She's not even a hissy cat, but I love the rhyming sound of it, so that's what she gets called XD Anyway, I think it depends on the cat, honestly - Kohl and Preacher know and respond to their nicknames; they know when they're being called or referred to.
Sophie 2 months ago
Yeah mine knows his name and all of his nicknames, from the tone of my voice, so he know when I'm talking to him.
Load More Replies... TCW Sam Vimes 2 months ago
Oc cats learn their name and come running...if they are in the mood. They're still cats, after all. I could call mine over large outdoor distances and five minutes later he would come running. If he was in the mood.
#23
If they like to get up on the table/desk when you're trying to work there, give them a shoebox to sit in. Might not work for every cat but it worked for mine -- she would sit in her box and out of my stuff!
Tabitha 2 months ago (edited)
Also put a small towel in the shoebox. Be sure to rub the towel on your head and face first, to out your scent on it. They’ll want to use it more if it smells like the person they love. (It’s how I have gotten both cats and dogs to sleep in beds I’ve bought them that they refused to use.)
Vanessa Steis 2 months ago
one of my cats loves it when I give them my worn jumper for a few days to lay on. =)
Load More Replies... Untamed Snark 2 months ago
I have a full setup for my beloved office manager, she has her own office chair, a scratcher bed on the desk and a box. Plus a cat tree by the window so she can take the mandated naps she so clearly deserves
AtMostAFabulist 2 months ago
I will have to try this. When I work from home one of my cats climbs all over me, wanting attention.
The Starsong Princess 2 months ago
I have a basket on my desk. He only gets pets and attention if he’s in the basket. I noticed I was giving him lots of attention when he was on the keyboard and nothing in the basket so I switched it.
KrazyChiMama 2 months ago
If only I could stop my kitten Zoe from walking on my laptop when I’m trying to work and she decides it’s time for mommy to pay attention to her!
#24
Don't know if this counts as a hack but I had a dog. Then I got a cat. Dog taught cat what was and wasn't acceptable behavior. Several generations of cats later and long after my dog has passed, they still know the rules.
TL;DR: have a well-trained dog to train your cats. 🙃.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Sometimes it's the cat who trains the dog, though ;) fenring_an...5194e2.jpg 
SaladSpinnerDeux 2 months ago
My kitties taught each other how to get into stuff they shouldn't, how to scream for treats but also how to play and accept cuddles
#25
In the morning my dog wants to go out, we have this little ritual where he sits and stares at me until I get up, then he cavorts a bit, we head to the door.
When he's done he barks to come in and heads for the cupboard where his treats are. I always ask if he wants a treat and he says yes.
The cat comes over because she's jealous. So one day, I respond to her meow and give her a cat treat. She stands on the arm of the arm of the couch, I put the treat in front of her feet.
I did this ONE time. Now every morning when the dog gets his treat, she gets in her same spot to get her treat.
Never tell me cats can't be trained. Or maybe the owners are the ones being trained.
highwaycrossingfrog 2 months ago (edited)
I work in TV and sometimes we need cats who can be trained to do certain things, I remember one in particular who was brilliant when having to hit certain marks on camera. Then again, when I worked on A Street Cat Named Bob, they got 7 specially-trained cats to play Bob, and they were all completely useless. Probably because they were all orange lol. Bob, who was not meant to be in the film at all, ended up playing himself about 75% of the time (he would do certain tricks like standing on his owner's guitar or shoulders while busking). He had all the orange cat brain cells.
Bored Birgit 2 months ago
That's interesting, I have read Bob played some scenes himself, now we know why. He was really very very special.
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Cats can be trained if they're motivated enough XD Kohl actually knows five "trick" commands: sit, lay down, give paw, other paw, and "up". I always meant to try to train her to "speak" but that seemed like a disaster waiting to happen, to reward her when she meows at me X'D
Untamed Snark 2 months ago
My nephew wants to buy me a set of those sound button sets, I am trying to convince him it is a terrible idea because all I would hear all day is the 3 girls demanding pats, food and attention.
Load More Replies... BookFanatic 2 months ago
I have two cats who need to be fed in separate rooms. All I have to do is yell "Dinner!" and one beelines to the bathroom and the other assumes his position under the dining room table.
Alecto76 2 months ago
I trained my previous 2 cats a lot of tricks over their 20/19 years of life. What I learned is that you can train a cat to do something, you just can't train them to stop. My cute trick of "kisses" where my orange cat would bump my lips with the top of his head became random, full force head butts in the mouth whenever he felt like it.
Janissary35680 2 months ago
It's a two-way street. (One Skinner pigeon to another: "I've got this guy trained to feed me every time I turn in a circle.")
#26
My 15 year old came from a hoarding situation and didn’t have great litter box habits, she also has IBD. She’s been checked out by the vet numerous times, but continued to pee outside of the litter box. I finally ended up getting her a puppy pad tray with potty pads and she’s been using it consistently with no messes. So many different types of litter, litter box types, placements etc, and she likes the puppy pads. Cats are weird, lol.
Jay Scales 2 months ago
Yes, with odd cat habits - esp in older cats - it's often best to 'go with' the habit in order to find a solution that works. I have an old ginger grumpuss that decided his toilet was the padded top of a stool. REAL convenient! Anyhow, I now have a small litter tray fixed to the stool which he's happy to use. And (mostly) the other cats leave it alone.
#27
My spicy orange boy doesn't love getting his nails trimmed. He just pulls his feet away too quick. Life hack: I hold him like a baby and sit outside on my deck chair. He is mesmerized by all the sights and smells, and knows mom has to hold him when he's out there. So he just tolerates it for some time outside. Then, when we finish, we continue to sit out there and watch the birds and bugs. Win win!
#28
Always pick them up and carry them to their food. They come to expect it and it gradually turns them into very affectionate cuddle cats that always want to be held and picked up. Works well with aloof cats that don’t like being touched.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
Our cat rarely allows us to pick him up at all. (We’re trying to work on that. Any hints?)
Lila Allen 2 months ago
Oh we have the same problem. I've been having some success with just picking him up in increasingly longer intervals. I started with 15 seconds and then treat. We are up to 4 minutes of being picked up and then treat.
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Serena Myers 2 months ago
I'll try that with Vale. He loves his scritches and pets and strokes, and positively roars with pleasure, but he does not like being picked up, so if I associate treats or something nice with being picked up he might get used to it.
The Starsong Princess 2 months ago
Mine wants to be carried all the time. If I do not pick him up when requested, he jumps on my shoulder and purrs triumphantly in my ear while giving kisses
#29
Ever since she was a kitten I fed her at random points during the day, twice a day. Never the same time day to day to keep her on her toes and to keep her off of a “routine” so she doesn’t yell at me. The only time she meows at me about breakfast or dinner is when she knows I’ve genuinely forgotten to feed her (which is rarely but does happen sometimes because it’s not a strict schedule) 😂
I also made chasing her a game, where I make silly noises while we sprint around the house getting eachother so she knows it’s a game - she loves it and usually will turn around and chase me back.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
While most cats actually do prefer a routine and thrive on it, feeding at random times actually does mimic the natural state of their wild ancestor - they must hunt for their food, and they aren't always successful when they hunt, so it's not like they get meals at the same exact time XD
Tyranamar Seuss 2 months ago
I just feed my cats at night. So if they want to be fed early they come to me at 6PM as opposed to morning fed cats. Who will wake you up so you can feed them.
Load More Replies... BookFanatic 2 months ago
Mine get fed when I wake up (sometimes it's 5 am, sometimes it's seven, sometimes it's later) and when I get home (anywhere from 5:30pm-9:30pm). They know they get fed when this event occurs, but there's not a specific time attached.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
That’s how we do it, too. Mr. Schaden gets up earlier than I do, so he’s the cat breakfast chef. I’m the cat dinner chef.
Load More Replies... #30
Give him a stool in the middle of the kitchen. Let him sit and show him stuff to sniff. Keeps him off the counter while cooking.
KnightOwl86 2 months ago (edited)
My gran did this, my entire childhood my grandparents had a big fluffy grumpy looking cat called buttons who my gran totally spoilt. He would follow her everywhere she went and loved sitting on his big fluffy cushion on top of his stool watching her cooking and baking. His stool was next to the door to the back garden in front of a window with a beautiful view of the garden, he even had a special 'snack bowl' on the window ledge where he would be given scraps of meat and vegetables and a tiny vase where gran would place one or 2 flowers from her garden every day just for him to enjoy! My gran would chat away to him the entire time and he would literally nod along like he understood everything she said. He lived to the ripe old age of 26!
BookFanatic 2 months ago
Mine know they can stand on the side table across from my counter and observe. They put one paw on that counter and they get banished to the bedroom. Sometimes I find myself doing a whole cooking show for the little fuzzballs.
#31
When my cat was a kitten, he used to want to play-fight with my hand, which could be painful and is not a good habit. But a friend gave me a dinosaur glove puppet. I would put it on and he could enjoy fighting with the dinosaur.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
Get some kicker toys. They’re long and narrow and often come in cute shapes, like a banana or a stick of dynamite. That way, kitty can do the hard kicking with his back legs that they love to do; and you’re not getting hurt. I always discourage cats from playing rough games with my hands; I think it’s a bad habit for them to develop.
#32
Getting a kitten for my 6 year old void was the best decision we have ever made.
My cat has always lived with just me (with and without my partner) or with dogs. She was found as a kitten by a woman doing TNR with her local feral colony. She said the rest of her litter didn't survive.
I didn't know about single kitten syndrome at the time. She became very attached to me, but I think she started to see me as a sibling. She nips a lot. It's frustrating lol. I can usually divert her with a toy and try to provide plenty of stimulation, but she will still sometimes run after me and bite my ankles.
Now that she has a kitten to play with and teach the rules to, she doesn't nip as much. She seems much happier, even if she pretends she doesn't care for him when they're not playing.
Charlie the Cat 2 months ago
We got a kitten when Charlie was 12 years old. Should have done it years ago. They get on really well. Here's a photo of Charlie & Nee Nee. ef929f8f-8...289734.jpg 
Francesca Annoni 2 months ago
We got oni-wan when tofu was 7 months old and was avery clingy cat... They grew up together as brother, the best decision ever!! Sadly Obi-Wan passed away last year after 16 years an tofu is clearly more depressed and need a lot of cuddle and attention, you can see his loneliness...
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Most cats are happier with a friend! They do form colonies when they're feral/stray, after all, so while they're not exactly pack animals, they're also not 100% solitary critters, either. I have three bonded pairs (though they all get along just fine as a horde): Rook and Lucanis (littermates), Joseph and Spicecake (littermates), and Riker and Fenring (singleton and the dog, lol) Kohl, my oldest, is the grumpy middle-aged big sister who couldn't be ársed to actually visibly show affection, but she actually loves all of the rest of my horde XD
SaladSpinnerDeux 2 months ago
I read somewhere that dogs form packs and cats form committees.
Load More Replies... SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
Years ago we adopted two sister kittens from the same litter. 100% recommend!
Anke Dieken 2 months ago
Yeah, after our Romeo had lived with a dog for half a year we moved and he was the only animal in the household. Started scratching me, always with a warning but still. Got a young tomcat and the scratching magically disappeared as Romeo started to act as an uncle to Othello.
#33
When the toilet paper roll is empty I throw it to them. They chase it around, scratch and rip it, and by the time they are done playing a new one is ready. Same with paper towel rolls.
Jay Scales 2 months ago
When you finish a bag of crisps (US: chips) fold the bag and knot it - then toss it across the room. One of mine LOVES this.
Lee Gilliland 2 months ago
Or cover the ends, cut a few holes and stick some treats in - instant free cat toy!
Alison Hobbs 2 months ago
If I threw anything for Shelley (sadly passed over the rainbow bridge) she would bring it back to be thrown again. A cat who could play "fetch ". If I throw anything for the 4 cats I have now, they just look at me as if I'm stupid 😂
#34
I have a large cup screwed onto my coffee table. This is so I can have a secure cup holder, because my cat's favorite hobby is tipping cups, the fuller the better. When I first screwed it down he tried to tip it a few times, but since he couldn't he decided that all cups on that table are unable to be tipped. Now I have one whole safe surface I can set drinks on!
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
Amos is really bad about knocking over cups and glasses. I discovered that if I put it in the kitchen sink, he won’t do that. Maybe the sink is deep enough to make it awkward for him to tip a cup over.
#35
Putting water dish in a separate room from food resulted in cats drinking more water.
Jac Carr 2 months ago
Cats don't like their water to be next to their food so they drink less resulting in many pet cats with kidney issues. Get a water fountain and put it away from the food
Jay Scales 2 months ago
I don't understand why this is the case, but I agree. I have a water bowl in the bathroom and they love it.
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Lukas (he/him, it/its) 2 months ago
My cat just really likes drinking from the tap. I turn it on for him every time I'm in the bathroom, plus he's good about drinking water from the bowl anyways, and he gets his wet food twice a day (along with dry food out all the time for grazing).
Janissary35680 2 months ago
I thought that was to prevent bloat. I know it is for dogs if you're feeding them dry kibble.
Jenny Barton 2 months ago
My cat has to have her fresh bowl of water in the shower at bedtime every night. Cats are weird
Bored Birgit 2 months ago
Yes, have several water bowls in different rooms, especially on their walkingways so they see them multiple times a day. We have 4 water bowls for our 2 cats and a pet fountain, and all are used.
Investigate CZ 2 months ago
This is true but cats are also getting kidney disease more due to being fed low quality food. When I got my two, my vet (who is also my good friend, specializes in felines, works out of the best feline clinic in ,my country) said that 1 in 3 cats will get kidney disease these days and the best way to try to keep them healthy is a very high quality diet. More expensive but often cheaper in the long run.
#36
My weird win: a ping pong ball in the empty bathtub. No lost toys, quiet, and it turns into a mini arena for 20 minutes. Runner up is a tiny smear of Churu on a lick mat during nail trims. Statue mode unlocked.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Who could possibly think that a cat chasing a ping-pong ball in an empty bathtub is "quiet"? XD
Judy Reynolds 2 months ago
When I was a kid, my parents used a large marble in the bathtub - sure it was noisy, but it was only there while she was actively playing with it.
#37
During playtime, move toys in a big arc rather than a straight line. If they turn their head, they are actually interested.
If they are refusing to drink fresh water, drink (your own) loudly or make slurping noises. This usually works.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Or get a pet fountain! I have a ceramic one (don't get plastic ones, they are breeding grounds for bacteria, especially if they get scratched/scraped.) They love the flowing water!
Tabitha 2 months ago
Just be sure to keep a fountain clean. They can get gross and slimy if you don’t. Try to find a fountain that is easy to clean and not too fiddly, with all parts easy to reach and disassemble/reassemble to clean it.
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CanadianaKa 2 months ago
I double the make slurping noises suggestion. I was trying to train my lady to drink from the fountain (I'd made the mistake of introducing her to a running tap and she was refusing to drink from anything BUT the tap...) and she just looked at me funny. I got down on my knees and pretended to slurp from the fountain and made all the right noises, and eventually it worked!
#38
Play music around your cat and take note how they react to different genres. For some strange reason, my neurotic, jumpy scaredy cat is a big fan of metal music and she tends to calm down a lot faster with it playing in the background. On the other hand, she hates anything lyrically heavy because she thinks there's a person she can't see or smell near her and it freaks her out.
Kelly Scott 2 months ago
My cat hates me singing. He sleeps in his cat tree during the day but if I start singing along to some song, he'll wake up, give me a dirty look, then climb down and take off somewhere. It's very disheartening to know even the cat hates my voice.
TheElderNom 2 months ago
Mine would come running to see if I was dying. She did the same if I was meowing very patheticly.
Load More Replies... Melinda Landis 2 months ago
One of mine likes Chris Isaak. He likes me to kinda drum on him to the music and purrs and kneads like crazy. When the song is done, he is too.
Spittnimage 2 months ago
Feel sorry for my daughter's cat. Her SOB - sorry SO - plays metal music at an earsplitting level. He's 50 and has Peter Pan syndrome.
Alison Hobbs 2 months ago
Not my cats but one of my dogs. No matter where he is, if he hears Bob Marley, 3 little birds, he comes running to me so that we can dance. He has great taste in music
Lila Allen 2 months ago
My cat is weirdly intoThe Who. But it means when I watch CSI reruns he won't let me skip the intro
#39
So, my cat Aria (Huns Buns of the Bunsly Bunz) asks to receive extra love while she eats. She'll meow at me and give me the "get over here" eyes until I begin petting her, then she'll purr very loudly and begin eating. I don't know why she needs/wants extra love at meal time, but it works for us and keeps her from acting out in other ways lol.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
It probably reminds her of having her Mama Cat and her littermates all snuggled up close while they nursed as wee kittens :)
#40
Bird and nature videos on youtube. All of our cats zen out to the sounds.
Also, suction cup hummingbird feeders on the windows for the exact opposite effect. Burns all the crazy energy of our younger baby and gets our old boy excited and eekeekeeking which keeps him young. All around win.
The Starsong Princess 2 months ago
My cat get cat tv at 8pm and he knows it. There’s on bird video that he lives.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
Cat TV is a thing. Years ago we had a cat who loved the Zoloft commercial that had a little round cartoon face bouncing around the screen.
CanadianaKa 2 months ago
I literally never thought of a small suction cup bird feeder. My lady used to be a window ledge sitting but hasn't been once she passed 15. That might get her back into the window... Thanks!
#41
Maybe not strange but NEVER feed your cat when you get out of bed. Unless you’ve been in a coma it’s never that urgent.
Jay Scales 2 months ago
This made me laugh. I have to rest a lot because of poor health, and ALL SIX of them immediately go to their feeding bowls every time I move to the vertical. They must think - 'Quick, catch her now before she goes horizontal again' :D:D
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
I need the wakeup call. Cats have no snooze button, and I’m terrible at getting up in the morning! 😂
#42
I sing to my cat while I clip her nails. Doesn’t have to be a real song, sometimes I just sing about her or about what I need to do that day. She just kinda sits there all pathetic like but she doesn’t try to fight or get away. Then when I’m done, I just kiss the top of her head and release and she hops out.
Tobias Reaper 2 months ago
you dont need to clip a cats claws if you get them a good scratching post
Jay Scales 2 months ago
Some cats will wear their claws down by scratching, but others don't. Mine have access to several scratch posts/pads and the climbing frame of logs in their catio, but 2 of them always seem to have pin-sharp claws which snag on everything.
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Spittnimage 2 months ago
I sing to my cat, too. If she recognizes the little ditty I sing she'll sit still and stare at me til I'm finished. Sometimes I sing to her about how pretty she is, she's my litte void, and I wouldn't give her up for all the other different colored cats in the world. 🐈⬛
#43
Regular catnip and play sessions helps keeps them happy and healthy. Also, views out windows and spots to sunbathe keeps them interested and content.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Not all cats are affected by catnip equally! There's actually a genetic component to it! If your cat doesn't seem to be affected/like catnip, try silvervine. Even my "no thx to catnip" cats lose their minds over silvervine XD
Nicola Roberts 2 months ago
I agree. Mine are exactly the same, not fussed with catnip but love silvervine.
Load More Replies... Smeghead Tribble Down Under 2 months ago
''A large number of Australian cats are not susceptible to cat nip. Because of our tight borders new breeding lines aren't introduced very often and this gene has spread.''
BookFanatic 2 months ago
My cats turn nasty on catnip. They snarl and fight and have drawn blood on each other (and me).
Vermonta 2 months ago
I had a cat the vet had to give a Valium to. That cat went raging feral.
Load More Replies... mria alternativa 2 months ago
It's related to mint, which can spread like crazy if you let it grow without borders/pots. A lady in my neighborhood had a whole flower bed full of it but got rid of it because all the cats were lounging in her flowers... XD
Load More Replies... #44
If they go into a room you don't want them in, close the door. They'll be begging to come out pretty quickly lol.
Ace 2 months ago
Nope. They'll generally go to sleep under the bed, or wherever you cannot reach them, and stay there for hours. Then you forget about them for hour, worry that they've got lost, and when you eventually remember you'll need to check for puddles in all the least accessible places.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Yeah, this doesn't seem like a good idea to do XD Plus some cats get very frantic when they're trapped, and might claw/bite at the door/carpeting in an attempt to escape.
Load More Replies... #45
We feed our cats on a schedule but a strange one. They eat their first meal between 3:30-4:00 pm and then their second at 8:00pm. I was at my wits end with them being nighttime terrors (which I know is instinctual hunting time for them) so my thought was to feed them closer to bed time to quell the witching hour and it worked for us. Don’t get me wrong, they still have their moments, but it’s been a vast improvement. We do not ask anyone watching them to stick to this, we just make it work with the sitter’s schedule.
The Starsong Princess 2 months ago
I play with my boy just before bed. I turn off most of the lights as he enjoys playing in the dark more. Mostly, I just throw pompoms for him to chase. Then he’s tired out and lays down to sleep with me. I’m tired out too.
Emma B 2 months ago
These mealtimes are way too close together. Also, it's better for cats to eat many small meals throughout the day than to eat twice, despite convention.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
My cats eat 3 x a day (11am, 5pm, 1am.) Same with the dogs, though Fenring and Stilgar's mealtimes are different. Fen eats on the same schedule as the cats, but because Stilly has myoclonus (full body uncontrollable muscle twitching) from having distemper as a puppy, his digestion is sort of messed up (even his gut muscles are affected by the twitching.) So Stilly eats at 5pm, 8pm, and midnight. It works for him - he gets diarrhea if he is fed more often/more spread-out than that. It's what works for him. But yeah, all my cats eat three meals a day XD
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LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
You are incorrect. Seriously? What do you think a feral/stray cat does if its prey escapes while it's hunting and it doesn't get to eat every 3-4 hours? Do you think it just keels over and dies? KITTENS need to eat every couple of hours. ADULT cats do not. Adult cats absolutely should not go over 24 hours without eating as that puts them at risk for hepatic lipidosis, but you are completely wrong that a cat is "STARVING" if it doesn't eat every 3 hours. I actually feed all of my cats three times a day, but what do you think happens at night when I'm asleep? Do you think they all die of starvation because I'm asleep for eight hours? lol.
Load More Replies... #46
Find a phrase and use it every time you’re done doing something they hate. Ex: claw trim or vet trips.
I use “all done” and they physically relax after knowing I won’t let anyone mess with them.
Edit: use their crate as a safe space for them. Then they have a safe space for transport.
#47
Hang a disco ball near a sunny window, when the light and wind hits it some cats will go crazy for the light spots it makes around the room. It’s like an analog auto laser.
Also, get a transparent bread box to hold toilet paper if your cat is a TP shredder. You can discover which of your guests have cats because when they come out of the bathroom they’ll either ask why your toilet paper is in a bread box or say “that’s genius, I need to get one of those“. But confusion as to its purpose aside, guests can always find the TP.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
I'd be worried about this, because cats will go absolutely BONKERS trying to "catch" the light specks, and they'll fling themselves into the air and against the walls and might hit furniture/etc. while trying to catch the light flecks. It's also not really good because the cat never really "catches" the light specks, which can lead to frustration for the cat. That's why it's not good to use a laser pointer, either. They can never actually "catch" the dot, so that messes with their predator's brain. I always let my cats "catch" the wand/feather toys a couple of times during play sessions and let them "run off" with their "catch" for a bit XD
#48
I have one cat that is super squirmy when it comes to nail trims. I bite (gently!) his scruff (more like put the scruff in my mouth and apply a little pressure) and he stops wiggling. I’ve tried just scuffing him lightly with my hand but it doesn’t seem to work unless I use my mouth. Once his nails are cut, he gives me an odd look but usually hangs around for pets and treats.
#49
I don't know if this is a strange hack, but we have two girls with distinctively different personalities and this works with both: at crating time for the vet and at nail clipping time, occasionally medication time, I deliberately adopt an "authoritative stance" in approaching and grabbing them. I am convinced this works. Instead of being timid, or tiptoeing toward them, or acting like they can outsmart the situation, we just smoothly set up the carrier, find them, charge toward wherever they are, say "cmon" and scruff or slide them out from under a bed, lift them from underneath, plop them into the carrier (husband helps hold it in place.) I NEVER show like I'm losing, or think I will lose, or am afraid of claws or whatever. It's an act I've been doing for ten years. This is a very deliberate attitude, and I am certain they sense it and they both go submissive. As I said, they have different personalities and both have fight in them as much as any other cat. But at these times, I don't "allow" it, and they pick up on that, I just know it. In all these years, not one missed appointment, not one late, not one missed med dose, not one missed nail trimming. It works. They are princesses in charge 99% of their lives. This 1% of the time, I'm the boss.
Bored Birgit 2 months ago
That's really helpful. I do this but never thought about it. Just tell them and yourself "Now we're going to the vet" with conviction and stay calm but certain, this mindset will help a lot.
#50
One hack I didn't hear. If meeting a shy cat you don't know, like a friends cat, lay down on the ground, not just sit on the ground. I prop up on my elbow. Many cats who are wary of people will realize you can't be much of a threat like this so they'll relax. Sometimes they approach me from the back or side to sniff.
Jay Scales 2 months ago
If you meet a cat who is wary, just talk to them. Most cats love being talked to and your tone of voice can make them decide to come over and make friends.
CanadianaKa 2 months ago
THIS! Even with your own cat, getting down on their level is reassuring. My lady spends a lot of time laying on the bed - instead of looming over her, I put my chin on the bed so my head is level with her. She LOVES having me at her level
#51
When it’s bedtime and he has late night energy/zoomies, I give him a treat puzzle. I just sprinkle a few pieces of dry food in the compartments.
He loves his puzzle and is a pro in getting the goodies. I figure he just needs something to do, needs enrichment. The puzzle keeps his attention and I think makes him less likely to be a bad boy when I’m sleeping. I already go to sleep really late (3am), so I have no idea if the puzzle fully prevents him from being bad. And I sleep with ear plugs lol. But every day when I wake up, every piece of kibble is gone.
I actually got this tip from a commenter! Someone suggested I give him a treat puzzle at bedtime so he doesn’t attack my feet when I turn the lights off.
#52
I bought an automatic feeder and programmed it to dispense small amounts throughout the day so my cat doesn’t associate me with food. 💯.
#53
My cats also know their name. i call them all the time so they respond to when being called most of the time.
if i want them to follow me (like if we need to go back upstairs), i call them and pretend that i am playing hunt with them. i would hide behind the wall or peak with my one eye.. then, they would run and chase me to the bedroom.
if i need them to climb up to me for grooming sessions, the sound of their feather wand toy is the key. ;).
Kelly Scott 2 months ago
My cat knows his name. But if anyone thinks he's going to respond to it, they're nuts.
Biytemii 2 months ago
I had a tabby that I raised from the time she was good to be away from her mama. I talked to her like I would talk to a person from the beginning and I'm convinced she knew everything I said and would even talk back to me when being scolded for something minor. I'd say hey Bailey don't (whatever thing thing she was doing) and she would give me this sassy meow back like an aye rolling teenager! She was the only cat I ever had that would actually sassed back. (I've had plenty that talk but this was different. ) It was very unhelpful because it would make me laugh and lose my authority on the moment..
#54
I have dental fluoride drops that my cats hate. they also can’t tell time. so when they invariably come to scream at me at 3pm when they have always been fed at 5pm, i give them their fluoride drops instead and they are so disgusted and angry that it buys me an hour of peace before they come back to yell at me again.
#55
If you want them to take a pill, get one of those cat yoghurts in a tube. Snip off the top of the wrapper, and pop the pill in. Then when you squeeze out the yoghurts, it'll be the tablet coated in the yoghurt and let the cat lick it straight from the tube. They end up taking the tablet without realizing.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Pill pockets also work really well too! Or individually-wrapped slices of processed "cheese". Or, if you have a kitty that is VERY difficult to medicate, ask your vet if the medication comes in a transdermal form that you can rub onto their ears to be absorbed, or if it can be compounded into a flavored liquid which your cat might tolerate better than being pilled!
#56
Med giving hack- get med compounded into a liquid. My boy hated the meat ones. I got marshmallow. I draw it up, mix it in tablespoon into the smallest amount of peanut butter that gets all liquid. MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT HAVE XYLITOL, THAT IS TOXIC TO CATS. Using a finger, wipe it into their fur on the upper front of a leg. They hate being dirty and will lick it off in the process of cleaning. I use a gloved hand as I found that maximized peanut butter transfer.
Id tried everything. No food, not even a high value treat worked, cat would ignore completely. Tried different flavors compounded into a liquid- no go. My boy isnt keen on being handled generally, so restraint is tough, plus Ive never pilled a cat before. In the past Id been able to syringe liquid into him but once I left the cap on by mistake- it hit him in the mouth while I tried to give the med, so hes done the second Im coming towards him with one. He doesnt love “being peanut buttered” and I cant hesitate too much or he will hide- but he reluctantly allows it and always eats it. And also doesnt act distressed or scared of me after!
Emma B 2 months ago
This won't work for all cats but if you can give pills, it's just a nightmare getting them to swallow, put the pills into empty gelatine capsules. You can buy them in bulk online, they completely mask the taste and you can fit several pills in the bigger ones, which can be useful for older cats. Another trick for pill giving is to do it from behind the cat - crouch behind them with your legs either side of them, tilt their head back, shove it in and hold their mouth closed for a few seconds while keeping their head tilted.
Ace 2 months ago
Yes, that technique is pretty much the standard way of doing it. Use your hand from behind the head to hold their head up and jaw open at the same time. Some cats need a good 10 seconds or more but if you briefly cover up their nose they will instinctively swallow.
Load More Replies... #57
Put em in a box or paper bag and just carry them around sometimes. They love the adventure. Better yet, put them in a cardboard box and close it, put the open end on the ground. They will have a blast trying to "escape" lol.
AtMostAFabulist 2 months ago (edited)
Be careful of bags with handles though. Both plastic and paper. My little girl got her head caught in the handle of a paper bag. She totally freaked out and got it stuck in a chair from dragging it around. With her head still in it. Luckily I was working from home and was able to grab her.
Melinda Landis 2 months ago
Or close a box up then cut cat sized holes. Ones in and out get off on that.
#58
Blanket jail: when one cat gets a little too rambunctious and won’t stop pestering another one, toss a blanket onto them. Instant calm.
Deborah B 2 months ago
When I had a rambunctious young cat, and I was at my wits end, I would pop her in a cloth bag and put her in "air jail" hung off the door k**b. It kept her diverted for the crucial few minutes of sweeping up whatever breakable she just smashed and now wanted to walk on. The little sod could open doors, and wanted to be right in the middle of anything messy or potentially unsafe for her.
#59
Sunbeams created when you open a windowed door, usually between 9-11 am. Of course, it helps if the sun hits the door in the right way. 😃 And you have to be there to move the door back and forth, but it's a hilarious chaser for most cats!
#60
Human ionic brushes. I got sick of cleaning the removable head of mine and got one for my cat. It’s battery operated and it removes mats that otherwise might need to be cut out, or it stops them from forming, and lasts longer between brushings and decreases the emotional burden of brushing time for both of us.
#61
Meat paste. Take a scoop out the jar, pop whatever pill they need to take into the clump of it, then roll it into a ball. The cats wolf it in one bite, think its the best treat ever. Discovered this one a year or two ago and it's never not worked.
#62
A bucket of water and a washcloth for bath time doesn’t scare them one bit like running water or a bathtub does, at worst they get annoyed.
Ace 2 months ago
What is it with al these people bathing their cats all the time? In all my cat-keeping years I've only had to do anything remotely like this a couple of times when something nasty has got on them - even then, I would never ever try to actually put them in a bowl of water, just use wet clothes like this.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Wintressia needed bathing every other week once she got older and was diagnosed with kidney failure. I brought her into the house more often (she was a childhood cat originally and my mom did not allow pets in the house, so she'd lived her life as an outdoors cat.) She started being unable to groom herself as well, or she'd have gotten into something unknown/sticky/gross while outside and needed a bath. I let her walk freely around in the shower and used the extension hose on her. Baths took a few minutes at most. She was fine, she never got hurt, and you can see her body language in this photo - she's not even scared or freaking out. It really depends on the situation and the cat. And as an aside, Sphynx cats NEED to be bathed regularly as their furless skin builds up the oils and other stuff that would normally flow out into their fur. winwin3-68...966f6c.jpg 
#63
I bought my 4month old kittens a rabbit pelt. It’s the best $10 I’ve ever spent. I have never seen a cat go that crazy over a toy. They absolutely love it.
#64
I would slip a thin sock over her head so I could clip her nails. Worked. Didn’t hurt her.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
I am not comfortable with this concept. An animal cannot rationalize things like this, and all it will "think" is that it is trapped and in danger, since it cannot see, and cannot hear/smell or even breathe normally.
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Janissary35680 2 months ago
Lots of these work with dogs too. Many also with children. Some with SO's even. 😄
Cee Cee 2 months ago
I got my Siamese kittens used to the car by taking them out for a short drive most days. Used to whistle as I put their food down. This meant I could stand at the back door and whistle. Cats came running home for supper.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Yes! Kohl LOVES going places in my van, because I started taking her places when she was small, and now she knows it usually means an adventure (well, for her anyway, lol) and she loves adventures. She doesn't LOVE being AT the vet, but she is fine with it overall because she gets to have a car ride there and back XD The only difference now is that she has to go into her carrier and I seatbelt it into the passenger seat. When I was younger and before I knew better, I'd let her loose in my van so she could roam around and look out all of the windows and the back windshield when I drove (eliciting some really surprised looks from people sometimes, lol.) But now I know better - she'd be cat paste if I got into a car accident. So now she has to enjoy car rides from her Spaceship Backpack XD
Load More Replies... Bored Birgit 2 months ago
Thank you Jonas, this post was helpful AND entertaining. Not just the postings, but the answers of the community as well. For this kind of posts I really love BP. 💚
Linda Thompson 2 months ago
Best and most accurate cat behavior article I recall after decades of rescuing cats!
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Seriously? If a cat is a fully-indoors cat, they have no need for needle-sharp claws, and it can actually be a detriment or can harm them - those scimitar claws can get accidentally stuck in the carpet/a rug, or furniture, or curtains, or basically anything cloth-y. The cat will then panic since it can't get loose and thinks it's trapped, so it might start thrashing around and can hurt itself/rip/break its claws. This happened to my childhood cat, who was an outdoor cat most of her life, so I never clipped her claws. When she got elderly I brought her inside at night, and she got one of her claws stuck in the carpet, freaked out, and ripped/broke the claw. It ripped her quick and she bled all over the place and was in a lot of pain. Outdoor cats should never have their claws clipped, however, as they use them as defense/protection. I have seven indoors cats who all get their claws clipped every other week, and I can assure you that all seven of them can climb JUST fine.
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
You are absolutely incorrect. Seriously, what do you think a feral/stray cat does if its prey escapes while it's hunting and it doesn't get to eat every 3-4 hours? Do you think it just keels over and dies? KITTENS need to eat every couple of hours. ADULT cats do not. Adult cats absolutely should not go over 24 hours without eating as that puts them at risk for hepatic lipidosis, but you are completely wrong that a cat is "STARVING" if it doesn't eat every 3 hours. I actually feed all of my cats three times a day, but what do you think happens at night when I'm asleep? Do you think they all die of starvation because I'm asleep for eight hours? As an aside, it is generally accepted that "free feeding"/leaving a full bowl of kibble out constantly is actually BAD for cats. They are not "grazing" animals like cows who need to eat constantly. Free-feeding leads to obesity. Here is a veterinarian explaining why it is a BAD thing: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/44kn78uc8Jo
Load More Replies... Janissary35680 2 months ago
Lots of these work with dogs too. Many also with children. Some with SO's even. 😄
Cee Cee 2 months ago
I got my Siamese kittens used to the car by taking them out for a short drive most days. Used to whistle as I put their food down. This meant I could stand at the back door and whistle. Cats came running home for supper.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Yes! Kohl LOVES going places in my van, because I started taking her places when she was small, and now she knows it usually means an adventure (well, for her anyway, lol) and she loves adventures. She doesn't LOVE being AT the vet, but she is fine with it overall because she gets to have a car ride there and back XD The only difference now is that she has to go into her carrier and I seatbelt it into the passenger seat. When I was younger and before I knew better, I'd let her loose in my van so she could roam around and look out all of the windows and the back windshield when I drove (eliciting some really surprised looks from people sometimes, lol.) But now I know better - she'd be cat paste if I got into a car accident. So now she has to enjoy car rides from her Spaceship Backpack XD
Load More Replies... Bored Birgit 2 months ago
Thank you Jonas, this post was helpful AND entertaining. Not just the postings, but the answers of the community as well. For this kind of posts I really love BP. 💚
Linda Thompson 2 months ago
Best and most accurate cat behavior article I recall after decades of rescuing cats!
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
Seriously? If a cat is a fully-indoors cat, they have no need for needle-sharp claws, and it can actually be a detriment or can harm them - those scimitar claws can get accidentally stuck in the carpet/a rug, or furniture, or curtains, or basically anything cloth-y. The cat will then panic since it can't get loose and thinks it's trapped, so it might start thrashing around and can hurt itself/rip/break its claws. This happened to my childhood cat, who was an outdoor cat most of her life, so I never clipped her claws. When she got elderly I brought her inside at night, and she got one of her claws stuck in the carpet, freaked out, and ripped/broke the claw. It ripped her quick and she bled all over the place and was in a lot of pain. Outdoor cats should never have their claws clipped, however, as they use them as defense/protection. I have seven indoors cats who all get their claws clipped every other week, and I can assure you that all seven of them can climb JUST fine.
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 months ago
You are absolutely incorrect. Seriously, what do you think a feral/stray cat does if its prey escapes while it's hunting and it doesn't get to eat every 3-4 hours? Do you think it just keels over and dies? KITTENS need to eat every couple of hours. ADULT cats do not. Adult cats absolutely should not go over 24 hours without eating as that puts them at risk for hepatic lipidosis, but you are completely wrong that a cat is "STARVING" if it doesn't eat every 3 hours. I actually feed all of my cats three times a day, but what do you think happens at night when I'm asleep? Do you think they all die of starvation because I'm asleep for eight hours? As an aside, it is generally accepted that "free feeding"/leaving a full bowl of kibble out constantly is actually BAD for cats. They are not "grazing" animals like cows who need to eat constantly. Free-feeding leads to obesity. Here is a veterinarian explaining why it is a BAD thing: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/44kn78uc8Jo
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