Why Cats Want To Sit Up High

Why Cats Want To Sit Up High

SoPurrfect Why Cats Want To Sit Up High

Why Cats Want To Sit Up High

Cats can be haughty, high and mighty animals: we all know that! But have you ever noticed that they have a preference for sitting up high? Give your cat a choice between perching on the table and laying low on their cat basket and they may often choose the table simply because it is higher, ignoring the soft coziness of their tempting bed. Have you every wondered just why cats want to sit up high? Well, here is your answer!
Well, actually there are a few possible answers…

 

Cats like to see what is going on

Being high up enables cats to survey their territory (including any annoyingly energetic pet dogs and, of course, their devoted human servants) with the utmost ease. Let’s face it, this is a good instinct to have out in the wild: being up high on a branch lets a cat see everything from the mice scurrying around beneath them to rival predators who might pose a threat to their patch.

 

It helps cats to feel safe

Toddlers, other pets (like dogs or bigger cats) and vacuum cleaners can all make cats feel anxious and in need of some respite. What these things have in common is that they are all relatively low down, close to the floor. So, an anxious cat is usually likely to seek a high point where they can get away from these perceived threats or stressors.

 

It gives them a highers status

It’s common in the human world too. The queen or king, or similar leader is perched high up on a throne whilst their subjects grovel below. For cats, being physically higher than other animals in the home helps them to feel important and in charge. So, if you have several cats you might sometimes witness them all attempting to find a higher vantage point than the others. It can be pretty funny if you see them doing this!

 

High up places tend to be warmer.

Cats love nothing so much as a lovely warm spot to snuggle up in. The top of a refrigerator is a prime example of this, as is the top of your computer stack if you have an old school style desktop computer. So do not be surprised if you see your kitty clambering up to the top of the refrigerator and giving you a fright at 3am when you trudge downstairs to grab some midnight cheesecake. Cold air tends to sink, too, whilst hot air rises, so as a rule cats will be a little warmer sleeping higher up than they would be if they just stretched out on the carpet.

Or maybe, just maybe…

Cats are constantly looking for the perfect vantage point from which to jump down on their owners’ heads when they are least expecting it.

Does your kitty like to be high up?

Help them out by placing their bedding in an elevated spot. Cats love unused drawers or even snuggly shelves. You can also purchase special cat beds that are on a raised platform – kind of like bunk beds for felines.

 

Meow for now… Kristian Taylor

 

Image Source
Cat Behaviour: What To Do When Purrs Become Bites

Cat Behaviour: What To Do When Purrs Become Bites

 Sopurrfect when purrs become bites

Cat Behaviour: What To Do When Purrs Become Bites

Even the most experienced of cat owners has felt the unwelcome pressure of teeth on their hands whilst petting their cat. It seems that, having purred loudly for a few minutes as you stroke them, cats can sometimes suddenly turn the tables and bite you instead. Here, we explain what might be going through a cat’s mind when purrs become bites.

Cats have two types of bites

You may have noticed this. Cats engage in ‘play biting’, where they simply loosely grasp your offending hand in their teeth. They do this with other cats, too, when they are playing! These gentle types of bites are not meant to wound, but rather to warn. They are your cat’s way of reasserting their boundaries and telling you that they have other things to do now. When cats switch from purring to a gentle bite they are most likely saying – ‘okay, I enjoyed that, but not too much of it please’.
The other type of biting is in earnest. If cats feel afraid, anxious or defensive, they can really lash out with both tooth and claw. Whilst play bites are not meant to draw blood, these bites that are in earnest often really smart! Ow!

Listen to your cat

A cat generally will only really lash out if it is in pain, or if you have repeatedly ignored its warnings to back off. So when you are cuddling your cat, make sure to listen to their signals. If they want to shift position, let them. If their tail starts flicking to and fro, they might be starting to get a little annoyed for some reason. If they open their eyes and glare – well, maybe see if they want a different kind of petting! And, if you are treated to a play bite, now is probably time to let your kitty get on with their own thing for a while, so they doesn’t lash out. It does not mean that your cat doesn’t love you – all kitties get a little cranky like this every now and then, bless them.
If your cat lashes out in a way that seems very out of character or unexpected, they might be in pain. Perhaps you touched a sore spot when all you meant to do was give them a friendly stroke! Cats, especially outdoor cats, can get into fights and can sustain scratches and scrapes as a result. When purrs turn to bites in this way, check your cat over gently and see if they are injured anywhere.
When purrs turn to bites, as you can see, there could be many reasons for your cat’s behavior. From a hidden sore spot to ignored warnings, and from playful behavior to feelings of stress and anxiety, your cat’s sudden switch from purring happily to gnawing on your bare arm can have numerous complex motivations!

Getting to know your cat

Understanding what is happening when purrs turn to bites is all about getting to know your cat and about making sure that you respond to their signals. Remember, cat’s cannot speak so body language is their communication tool.

Let us know how you have managed this type of behaviour and what has worked for you!

 

Meow for now … Kristian Taylor

Image Source

Why Hairballs? What Can You Do?

Why Hairballs? What Can You Do?

SoPurrfect Hairballs what can you do

Why Hairballs? What Can You Do?

Have you ever had your heart skip a beat when you hear your precious kitty coughing and gagging, only to find them coughing up yet another hairball (which you then have to clean up). Hairballs are not dangerous, though they can be unpleasant for your cat if they get stuck in her or his digestive system. Hairballs are something that all cat owners have to deal with at some point in their lives, so here I answer the question: why hairballs? what can you do?

 

Where do hairballs come from?

Grooming is an essential part of a cat’s daily life. As you can see practically every six seconds (ok, maybe a bit of an exaggeration), cats use their tongues to groom the fur all over their body on a regular basis. During this process, they manage to swallow quite a bit of their own hair which can clump together to form hairballs in their throat. Cats cannot digest hairballs, and having them lingering around in their digestive tracts can cause irritation. So what can you do about it?

Most cat owners do not have to do anything, as cats have their own ways of getting rid of hairballs. Cats can nibble on grass to help themselves throw up hairballs, or they simply cough until the hairball is gone. But, if your kitty seems to be having trouble coughing up a hairball, or if they seem listless and like they have got an irritation in their gut, make sure to get them to the vet right away as they might have a large hairball that will need to be removed professionally.

 

Grooming

Long haired breeds of cats (such as Persian cats) can be particularly at risk from big hairballs. One way to help them out is to do a little grooming yourself. Buy some special cat brushes and gently brush out your long haired cat’s fur. As well as being a great bonding ritual, this will help to rid them of some of the loose hairs that could turn into hairballs were they to lick them up themselves.

 

Grass

As mentioned above, cats nibble on grass because it stimulates them to throw up (something that cats can actually find pleasurable) and thus get rid of any annoying hairballs that have been irritating them. So, letting your kitty out to play on the lawn (as long as it hasn’t been chemically treated) or providing them with a little pot of indoor grass of their own will enable them to get rid of hairballs the natural way.

 

Specialty products

If your cat has a particular problem with hairballs, there are various remedies that you can buy from your veterinarian or over the counter at the pet supply store. These include laxative remedies that help pets to get rid of hairballs and pastes that cats ingest orally which lubricate the hairballs and make it easier for the cat to cough it up. Make sure to get professional advice before administering one of these remedies, though, as you do not want to make the problem worse!

So, hopefully this has answered your question of why hairballs? What can you do? Leave us a comment to let us know how you deal with the dreaded hairballs.

Meow for now … Kristian Taylor

 

Image Source

Pin It on Pinterest