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On August 8th, we celebrate our four-legged feline friends and their relationship with humans on International Cat Day. Over centuries. studies on cat's behaviour help us understand how they see the world, and how we fit into it.
Using these learnings, we can support a healthy environment for our cats to live their best floofin' lives.
1. Increase Your Feline's Lifespan
- When you spay or neuter your cat, it can increase their lifespan! Male cats can live an average of 62% longer while females can live an average of 39% longer after these procedures.
Currently, there are 700 million feral cats in the United States and about 200 live at Disneyland.
2. Do Not Declaw
- Never remove the claws from the front paws — not only are they their main form of protection, but they are used to climb to freedom if chased. Removing a cat’s claw is equivalent to cutting off a human’s finger at the first knuckle.
- Reduce unwanted behaviours, like scratching furniture, by releasing calming pheromones into your space.
Liz Waynick published an article demystifying pheromone products and their ability to reduce unwanted behaviours that are caused by stress in felines. Liz is a Registered Vet Tech (RVT) and writer with over a decade of extensive hands-on experience caring for pets in veterinary hospital and surgical settings. In her article 'Is Feliway Effective in Modifying Cat Behavior?', Liz reports,
"Classic Feliway is an exact replication of the familiarization facial pheromone in cats. When your cat rubs her cheeks on an object, a behaviour called bunting, she is rubbing this pheromone on the object. It's your cat's way of saying, 'this is mine, this is my space, I feel safe here.' The diffusers can cover up to 750 sq. ft. and can last up to 30 days, making them the most economical home products."
Try this Canadian-manufactured pheromone diffuser to relax your kitty.
3. Specialty Sniffers
- Cats have an extra organ called the Jacobson's organ (the vomeronasal organ), located on the roof of their mouth. This aids in their ability to taste scents around them, such as food and pheromones on the air.
This helps us understand why cat's open their mouth and stare blankly when they catch a whiff from a strong odour. To tame the hunter within, creating food enrichment games will help to satisfy using those strong sniffers. Take notes with this DIY cat enrichment video from the man, the myth, the legend — The Cat Daddy aka Jackson Galaxy!
4. A Good Vibration
- The frequency a cat can purr is between 25 and 150 Hertz which studies have indicated holds therapeutic properties for the human body. A guaranteed way to induce purring in cats would be to pet them at the base of their tails and along the bottoms of their cheeks. These areas hold nerve-ending clusters that will amplify purr-worthy feelings.
This frequency can help to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and even promote the healing of bones and tissues.
5. Viewpoint Advantage
- Many cats feel at ease with a vantage point above the family where they can monitor all of the activity going on about the house. The cupboard is Felix's favourite resting space.
- "Many cats seek high resting places, favoring locations where they can relax while still keeping an eye out for possible threats. Having access to an elevated resting spot is especially important for cats who occasionally need a break from other pets or young children tempted to chase after them. Some cats appear quite relaxed when resting on the top of the refrigerator, or on a bookcase. Be sure to put a soft, non-skid bed in your cat’s favoured location."
Try this mushroom-themed cat tower
For over 10,000 years, our relationship with cats has deepened and they remain the centre of our lives. Pay close attention to your Floof's body language they tell us so much about their emotions if you look closely.
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