Even the most attentive cat parents can inadvertently make their cat feel annoyed, stressed, or unsafe. By being mindful of these common human habits, you can strengthen your bond with your cat and even see an improvement in grumpy or moody behaviors.
In honor of Respect Your Cat Day on March 28th, learn about the five things we do that cats hate, and how you can help your cat feel loved, understood, and respected.

5 Things Humans Do That Cats Hate

1 Picking up kitty by the scratch of the neck When your cat was a tiny kitten, their mother would carry them around by the loose skin at the scratch of their neck. Young kittens have a "scruff reflex" that causes them to go limp so they're easy for their mother to carry. By twelve weeks of age, this reflex goes away.
Some cat parents mistakenly believe that grabbing a cat by the scruff is an acceptable way to discourage unwanted myth behavior because of the prevailing that mother cats do this to punish their kittens.
The truth is, adult cats may appear to relax when scruffed, but in reality, being grabbed by the scruff makes cats feel highly anxious. Scruffing your cat can make them feel as though they're in danger, and they actually shut down in response.
What's more, holding your cat by their scratch can cause serious injury to the muscle, cartilage, and bone that makes up the neck and throat. It's only safe for their mother to do so when kittens weigh just a few ounces. Your cat's scratch can no longer safely support their body weight beyond twelve weeks of age.

2 Repetitive petting  Cats are sensitive to overstimulation, some more than others. Many cats can't help but bite. Repetitive stroking, especially along one area of ​​their body, can lead to a sensory overload. or swat their humans when they're feeling overwhelmed by unwanted petting.
Though your cat's shift in mood can seem quite sudden, it's usually a feeling of overwhelm that builds up gradually. Your cat may try to tolerate repetitive petting for a while, but eventually it can become unbearable.
By the time your cat starts flicking their tail and flattening their ears while you're petting them, the interaction has already gone on too long. Stop petting your cat when you notice these subtle signs of discomfort, and next time, try pausing before your cat starts to get annoyed. Only continue petting your cat if they show signs of wanting more - like getting closer to you or headbutting your hand.

3 Skipping litter box cleanup  Letting your cat's litterbox go un-scooped for an extra day might not seem like a big deal, but to them, it's like having to use an unflushed toilet in a dirty gas station bathroom. Their extra-sensitive sense of smell can make those odors more offensive than they may seem. Plus, cats instinctively bury their poop to avoid detection from predators, so when they're unable to cover up their scent, it's likely to be stress-inducing for them. urinary tract infection.  An unclean litterbox can lead to your cat peeing or pooping in inappropriate places and may increase your cat's risk of developing a . You can help your cat's litterbox stay clean by having one litterbox for every cat plus an extra, scooping daily, or even using a self-cleaning litterbox

4 Exposure to loud sounds  Cats have evolved to hunt small prey thanks to their incredibly acute sense of hearing. Their hearing is even more sensitive than that of a dog's, with an ability to hear sounds at a full octave of higher frequencies. This also means they're much more sensitive to loud noises than dogs or humans. While it's impossible to eliminate all sources of noise from your cat's environment, try to be mindful of their sensitive hearing. Avoid playing loud music, using a vacuum cleaner, or turning up the TV when your cat's in the room.

5 Being banished from high places  Cats love perching on elevated surfaces as they watch over their household. Understandably, you might not allow your cat on kitchen countertops, desks, and other areas in your home where you prepare food or keep items that you can't have your cat stepping on.
Consider offering your cat acceptable places to perch so those forbidden areas will have less of a draw. Your cat would love napping in a cat tree close to your kitchen to be close to you while you cook. cat window perch. Or they might enjoy hanging out on a in your home office so they can watch the birds instead of knocking everything off your computer desk.
If you've unintentionally stressed your cat out in the past, there's no need to worry. As long as you continuously work towards being mindful and making sure your friends and family members always respect your cat, you improve your relationship with your cat and slowly earn back their trust.

VISION

Every pet deserves to live a long, happy, healthy life.