Making the following mistakes with cats can trigger problems ranging from house soiling to life-threatening illnesses. Avoiding these common errors will increase the likelihood of having a long, healthy, happy relationship with your cat.
Not Having a Pet Loss Prevention Strategy
Most lost pets are never found because their owners failed to equip them with identification. According to the National Council on Pet Population’s Shelter Statistics Survey, 1994-1997, just 2% of cats and 15.8% of dogs were reunited with their owners in 1997.
All cats should have an identification tattoo, microchip, or at the very least, a collar with contact information to increase the likelihood of finding them should they get lost. For a comparison of the pros and cons of each of these methods, see Microchipping, Tattooing, GPS, and Collar ID for Cats and Dogs.
Putting Toxic Substances Where Cats Can Access Them
Most owners know that cleaning products and antifreeze are toxic, but many don’t realize that lilies are so poisonous to cats that eating a tiny portion can be lethal. Onions are also toxic to cats, along with a number of other foods such as grapes and macadamia nuts, and most human medications including Aspirin® and Tylenol®. All of these things should be kept where cats can't get them, as pets may mistake medications for treats, chew on flower arrangements, and help themselves to table scraps.
Feeding Cheap, High-Carbohydrate Cat Foods
Cheap, high-carbohydrate cat foods have created a feline obesity epidemic. Overweight cats are more likely to suffer from a variety of serious health problems, ranging from diabetes to inflammatory bowel disease. For optimum health (and to reduce the likelihood of traumatic and costly medical problems in later years), cats should be fed high-protein cat foods only.
Neglecting Cat Dental Care
Many owners don’t realize that long-term dental problems can trigger more serious health problems such as kidney failure over the long run. Purchasing an inexpensive finger toothbrush from a pet supply store and rubbing some meat-flavoured toothpaste specially formulated for cats over a pet’s teeth once a week can help to prevent these problems (toothpastes made for humans shouldn’t be used because they can make cats ill).
Delaying Needed Veterinary Care
Failure to provide preventative veterinary care or delaying care when a cat is ill can have fatal or very expensive consequences. All cats should receive basic vaccinations and yearly check-ups. Consult a veterinarian if there are any symptoms of illness, particularly serious problems such as:
- Persistent vomiting or coughing
- Significantly increased appetite or loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Breathing difficulties
Making the Litter Box Unappealing
Owners can trigger a house soiling problem in their cats by making the litter box unappealing. Many cats will avoid the litter box if:
- It isn’t cleaned frequently enough.
- It’s located in a noisy, high-traffic area or near food and water bowls.
- Other pets or children bother the cat when he uses the box.
- The kitty litter is perfumed.
- The box is covered.
- The litter type is switched suddenly.
Most cats prefer a fine-grained, unperfumed litter in an open litter box. If changing the litter, mix the new litter in with the old a little more each day to make the switch slowly.
Not Providing Enough Litter Boxes and Food Bowls in Multicat Households
In multicat households, each pet should have her own litter box and food and water bowls to reduce the likelihood of conflicts. Not having enough litter boxes is particularly problematic, because one cat may view the single litter box as property of the other and find a different place around the house to use as a bathroom.
Punishing Cat Behaviour Problems
Physical punishment and yelling don’t work with cats because they often fail to associate it with the undesirable action, and instead believe that their owners are being cruel for no reason. Cats respond far better to rewards for good behaviour.
The two most common problem behaviours in cats are scratching furniture and soiling outside the litter box. Owners should be aware that scratching is a natural behaviour for cats and that all cats should be provided with scratch posts. Furniture can be protected by putting deterrents in place, such as Sticky Paws tape or motion-sensing electronic devices that emit a startling burst of air when the cat approaches the forbidden surface. As for house soiling, this often signals a medical problem, a problem with the litter box, or anxiety rather than laziness or an act of revenge, as many believe.
Not Spaying or Neutering Cats
In addition to addressing the problem of pet overpopulation, spaying and neutering protect against a variety of health problems, including breast cancer, prostate problems, uterine infections, and fight-related injuries. For pet owners experiencing financial difficulties, there are a number of free and low-cost spay-neuter clinics available.
Declawing Cats
Declawing is a far more painful and serious procedure than many owners believe, and it can trigger lifelong behavioural problems in some cats such as biting and house soiling. There are plenty of alternatives to declawing, ranging from trimming the claws to applying soft plastic nail caps to protecting furniture with deterrents. See Alternatives to Declawing Cats for more information.
Jennifer Copley - Jennifer Copley, BFA, BEd, has a diverse base of expertise that includes research, writing, education, pet care, and various other ...
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