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- 1. Thinking that a cat is like a dog
- 2. Neglecting the cat's education
- 3. Adopt a too young cat
- 4. Do not vaccinate or deworm the cat
- 5. Not considering the possibility of sterilizing the cat or cat
- 6. Do not avoid ingesting hair in cats with this problem.
- 7. Overweight in neutered cats
Did you decide adopt a cat in your home? Congratulations! In addition to being very affectionate and fun animals, which will make your life much happier, cats are very clean animals, you don't need to walk around and they adapt very well to life at home.
Although cats are relatively easy animals to keep and care for, it's important to know some of the typical mistakes when caring for a feline to avoid unwanted behavior. The Animal Expert will explain to you what the 7 Most Common Cat Owners Mistakes.
1. Thinking that a cat is like a dog
Unlike dogs, cats in the wild they are lone hunters and, although they may form social groups with a defined hierarchy, in general they are more independent than dogs.
For this reason, although there are even more affectionate cats than some dogs, if you are looking for an extremely faithful pet that shows unconditional affection and obedience, the cat is not the right choice. It is preferable to adopt a dog to avoid disappointment and frustration.
On the other hand, when a cat seeks the companionship and affection of its guardian, it means that it really wants that attention and is comfortable with it. This feature is something that cat owners appreciate a lot.
2. Neglecting the cat's education
Cats are harder to train than dogs. Create a bond with the animal it is fundamental and for this it is important that the cat sees the tutor as something positive and that he associates his presence with a pleasant state.
In many cases, taking advantage of the sense of hierarchy that dogs have, to have an educated and balanced dog it is enough to give fair, coherent and simple orders. Cats, on the other hand, need to be "conquered".
Playing with him regularly, correcting the moment he does something wrong with clear orders and without resorting to violence, is essential! Cats also respond well to positive training, although it's not as easy as dogs.
3. Adopt a too young cat
One of the most common mistakes is adopt a cat too soon. Sometimes, they are adopted soon after birth, when the ideal would be just after weaning, which should occur naturally (never before one month of life).
Even taking all the necessary care and providing adequate food (there is specific milk to feed kittens) it is always more beneficial for the animal's health to be with the mother during the entire breastfeeding period. In addition to being better in nutritional matters, it is with the mother and siblings that the cat learns all the behaviors typical of the species.
On the other hand, we cannot forget the importance of socialization period of these animals, which occurs between 2 and 7 weeks of life[1][2]. For this reason, it is important that during this period stimuli are presented with which the cat will live throughout his life so that later he does not recognize them as new and something dangerous.
As the vaccination period has not yet ended, it does not mean that it will become a "bubble cat", isolated from the world and that you cannot invite people or other animals to your house.
If other animals come to your house while your cat is a kitten, the important thing is to ensure that they are not aggressive, not sick and are correctly vaccinated and dewormed.
4. Do not vaccinate or deworm the cat
Another very common mistake when taking care of a cat is not providing the proper veterinary care he needs, because he thinks that since he doesn't leave the house and eats only specialized food, he can't get diseases or have parasites.
Although it is true that by not having access to the outside it's harder to suffer from communicable diseases, it's not impossible either! For this reason, it is necessary to prevent!
Obviously, the risks of a cat that lives at home are not the same as for a cat that has access to the outside, and for that reason there are specific vaccination protocols for each situation. Therefore, it is very important that you consult a veterinarian who defines a vaccination program according to the animal's characteristics and lifestyle.
Regarding external deworming (above all against fleas and ticks) and internal deworming (for intestinal parasites), it is advisable to deworm internally every 3 months and apply a flea and tick repellent product monthly, especially in the months of summer. Find out more about deworming in cats in our article on this subject.
5. Not considering the possibility of sterilizing the cat or cat
The breeding season of these animals can bring some uncomfortable behaviors for the guardians, in addition to some dangers to the health of the little ones. This season occurs in spring-summer, when female cats (seasonal polyestric animals) have heats of approximately one week long, with an interval of one to two weeks.
During this period, many males try to escape if they notice that there is a cat close by in heat and she can show herself aggressive with other males, which can give rise to fights that can have serious consequences. As a general rule, castration reduces this behavior and the risks associated with it.
Cats that have access to the outside must be sterilized. Otherwise, it is very likely that in a short time you will have offspring as numerous as unwanted.
In addition, sterilization can prevent disease (such as tumors of the uterus or ovaries, for example) and helps to avoid behavioral problems such as marking territory with urine.
6. Do not avoid ingesting hair in cats with this problem.
Generally, not many mistakes are made when it comes to feeding the cat, but one of the mistakes is not using a specific product to avoid the formation of cats. fur balls in the stomach of cats.
As we explained in our article on hairballs in cats, felines are very clean animals and can ingest large amounts of hair which in some cases can lead to hairball formation causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Fortunately, there are products available at veterinary centers and specialty stores, most of them malt-based, that are very helpful in preventing this problem. Also, there are already specific rations to prevent the problems caused by hairballs and are often recommended by veterinarians for cats with this problem.
7. Overweight in neutered cats
Another big mistake some cat owners make is not control the weight of them, especially in animals sterilized. Neutered animals tend to gain weight due to hormonal reasons, so it is recommended that neutered cats eat a suitable diet or diet.
Anyway, even if you use a "light" ration, you have to follow the amounts recommended by the manufacturer. Even though it's a food with fewer calories, if the cat continues to eat an uncontrolled amount of food, it will continue to gain weight.
If you would like to know more about overweight in cats, we recommend that you read our article on obesity in cats.
