Many people assume that having a pet cat is very similar to having a pet dog. But people who have had both know that they’re very different.
If you’ve never had pets or have only ever had dogs, then there are a few things you should know.
1. Cats Are Choosy
Some dogs are particular about who they like, but many tend to be universally friendly. Cats, not so much. There are certainly exceptions, but most cats take time to warm up to new people and like to decide when and how to get closer on their own schedule.
When you bring a new cat home or introducing them to someone new, try to resist forcing anything. Give them time and space to explore the space and greet the members of your family naturally.
2. Cats Are Independent
Compared to dogs, cats generally like to spend more time on their own. If this is new for you, try not to take offense! It doesn’t mean they don’t like you – it just means they don’t need to be in your presence all the time. In fact, they’re more like people that way.
3. Cats Are Teritorial
If you’ve ever been to a dog park, you know it’s easy for most pups to make new friends with a quick sniff. With cats, it’s a different story. So, if you have other pets or plan to get other pets in the future, introduce the animals gradually and carefully. Check out our blog about introducing new cats for a crash course.
4. Cats Don’t Like Change
When cats enter a new space for the first time, it’s normal for them to be a little freaked out. When you take a cat home for the first time or move to a new home, they may be skittish or even hide out for a while. Don’t be worried by that; just give them time. For this reason, it can help to gradually introduce them to a new place by keeping them in one room for a day or two to start.
5. Cats Like to Scratch
All cats scratch – there’s no getting around this. And declawing cats is inhumane. So, it’s wise to invest in some scratchers. If you catch your cat scratching furniture, try to redirect them to the scratcher.
6. Cats Like to Play
It’s true that cats are more low maintenance pets than dogs and yes, they do spend a lot of time sleeping. But just like dogs, they need play time to stay happy and healthy. Experiment by buying your cat a few different interactive toys to see what they respond to best, and try to spend time every day in play.
7. Cats Like to Be Up High
Cats love having a high vantage point and being able to survey their domain from above. It’s worth investing in a cat tree or two to allow your new furry friends cat-safe places to retreat to.
8. Cats Learn Schedules
They say if you need to remember to do something at the same time every day, just start feeding your cat at that time – they’ll never let you forget. With that in mind, try to get into a consistent feeding schedule you can maintain. And just know that if you feed your cats super early in the morning just to keep them quiet, they’ll quickly learn that all they have to do to get you out of bed to feed them is to meow.
As major cat lovers, we know that there are ups and downs to having cats. But even if their mysterious behavior annoys us sometimes, we can’t help but love them for all their quirks.
