Dos and Don’ts
Dos
Consistency
Be consistent with your cat. Cats want consistency and will reappraise you negatively if you change your attitude towards them. If you want to avoid a certain behavior of your cat, for example you don’t want her to get on the dining table, it’s very important that other members of the family also don’t allow her, otherwise she just gets confused and will never learn.
Playing
Devote some time to play with your cat. She needs it and it will also strengthen your bond with her. There are special toys you can buy. The correct way is to move the toy away from the cat as in her real life, not towards her which confuses her, and eventually give her the satisfaction by letting her get her teeth to it.
To make your cat happy, stuff an old sock with catnip and sew it. Catnip produces no ill after effects, but use it sparingly, so that it won’t lose its effect.
Talking
Do talk to your cat, she likes to hear you, and use a soft voice. Cats prefer a female voice rather than a low male voice that may remind them of aggressive tomcats.
Brushing
Long hair cats often require more grooming than they can manage on their own to avoid matting. To prevent hair shedding, brush your cat regularly but gently.
Watch the condition of the fur, as it reflects overall health.
Training
It is a good idea to train your cat to do things in exchange for occasional rewards. It will enrich her life and give her confidence that she can have some control on what she gets. It will also strengthen your relationship with her. A specialized method and patience are required. See the relevant section for more information.
Feeding
At all times, there should be a bowl of fresh, clean water for your cat. Cats can smell stale water and will avoid it.
Wet food from cans contains more protein (and water) than dry food, and is closer to a cat’s carnivore diet. On the other hand, dry food is cheaper, more convenient, suitable for feeding devices and keeps for months. It also provides some exercise for the teeth. Probably a diet containing both varieties would be optimum.
There are special feeding devices, called puzzle feeders, that will increase your cat’s satisfaction by making her do something to get her food. A simple one is an empty plastic ball that opens up in halves for filling with dry food, and also has a hole that lets food bits out gradually as it rolls. Your cat will love pushing the ball to get her food.
Cat food should be at about room temperature.
Cat tree
Provide some vantage positions for your cat, such as a cat tree with perches. Cats love climbing to high places and looking down on the world. Ideal would be a spot near a window where she can watch outside activity, especially birds.
Cat trees also provide sturdy scratching posts.
And they keep hair away from your furniture.
Giving kittens away
The time to give away kittens is about 12 weeks. Taking them away from their mother before 10 weeks will prevent them from socializing properly.
Dont's
Declawing
Don’t declaw your cat to prevent her from scratching furniture. She may resist and even scratch you. Firstly, it’s cruel and is believed to cause her “ghost” pain. Secondly, even if you don’t think so at the time, she may come to need her claws. Provide instead a suitable scratching board, horizontal or vertical according to her preferences, and the cat will readily use it.
Punishment
Don’t punish your cat for any undesirable behavior. Punishment doesn’t work with cats and only makes them dislike you. Rather try to encourage an alternative, desirable behavior of equal or greater value and reward them when they adopt it.
If you want to keep your cat away from kitchen surfaces and persuasion means failed, you can smear them with lemon juice. Cats dislike the smell of citrus fruits.
Feeding
Don’t let your cat get overweight, it’s bad for her health. Some cats can regulate the food they take, others can’t and should only be given the right amount. Feeding twice a day would not go wrong in most cases.
Cats are total carnivores and don’t do well on human food. So if you give her leftovers, these should not exceed 10% of her total diet.
Because cats require more protein than dogs, they should never be given dog food.
Don’t feed your cat exclusively on the same brand. If it disappears from the market, your cat may refuse to accept anything else.
Avoid also cheap cat food brands that don’t contain the nutrients she needs.
Raw meat and eggs are as dangerous to cats as they are to humans.
Though bones are good for exercising the teeth, be careful not to give pork, chicken or fish bones. These could splinter and cause severe internal injures.
Most adult cats are intolerant to milk in quantities. Yoghurt is better.
Most plants are poisonous to cats, causing reactions that range from irritating to lethal.
Biting
When you play with a kitten, don’t let it get used to biting you, that may create a bad habit.
Holding
Don't hold your cat like a baby, cats don’t like that. The correct way to hold her is against your body and supported under the front legs and from below, so that she feels secure.
Petting
Many cats don’t like petting for too long, too intensely or on certain areas. Stop petting if your cat gives signs of discomfort. The warning signs that owners often miss include tail lashing, skin twitching or shifting of position. Sometimes the cat will look back at you wondering why you don’t get the message.
If your cat turns playfully on her back, she’s not asking to be scratched on her tummy. Cats have a sensitive tummy and don’t like that.
Too Little Attention
Do not ignore your cat when she wants attention. Some cats also suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long, which can result in unsocial behavior.
Refused Victory
If you’re playing with your cat, don’t frustrate her by refusing her the chance to get at the prey.
Staring in the Eyes
Don’t look directly into a cat’s (or any animal’s) eyes, as it would appear as threatening or aggressive behavior. When cats fight, this is what they do to each other, while a cat trying to avoid a fight will look elsewhere to give the message of not being a threat.
Instead, blink at the cat softly, which is an expression of friendship, and you may elicit an agreeable response.
Loud Noises
They make cats feel they are in danger and trigger the flight (or hide) response.
Dresses
An outfit may make a cat look cute, but she hates it, as it impinges on her dignity. Hence, most cats look unhappy in an outfit.
Car Rides
Cats hate car rides and can get wild, while some can get motion sickness.
Other Dislikes
Cats’ aversion to water and baths is well known.
They also dislike citrus fruits, cinnamon and of course medicines.
And being territorial and creatures of habit that like familiarity, they don’t take well to strangers. Certainly not to challenges of their territorial rights from other cats.
Long Hair
Some long hair cats, especially Persians, cannot manage on their own to avoid hair tangling and will require your regular intervention. Don’t get a long hair cat if you’re not prepared to do that. Bear also in mind that some cats don’t like brushing.
Giving Orders
We all know that cats don’t normally obey orders, so don’t expect her to. But with patience you can train her, using a specialized method, as mentioned before.
Last Word
Cats never forget a bad experience and its cause and circumstances. So it’s better to try not to be associated with any.