Most expat choice readers would know, hissing, swatting and biting cats who exhibit these behaviours are commonly labelled aggressive and treated as bad cat when in fact they are usually anxious, fearful, or shy.
Hey Good Cat located at 290R Joo Chiat Road on the East Coast suggests, just like us, our furry friends’ behaviours are often a by-product of our environment and past experiences. When animals (and people) are put in a situation where they are uncomfortable, they will sometimes react as a survival response of “fight” to protect themselves. However, this response is often labelled as “aggression” and the animal is treated as if they are misbehaving rather than they’re afraid.
When we do away with the labelling and instead, describe the behaviour for what it is (e.g. fearful of other cats/noises/people etc), it is easier for us to have compassion for the animal, allowing us to deal with the fear/anxiety rather than finding means to stop the “aggression”. Many of these animals, when allowed time to build trust and safety, can overcome their fear.
So let’s take time to understand our furry friends instead and do away with the labelling. Who’s with us in this?
Let's move on to something more day-to-day or week-to-week and in respect to Hygiene, when it comes to introducing bath time to our cats, the most important tip is to take it slow and work below our cat’s stress threshold. Did you know? Cats hate water is a commonly held misconception by many of us towards showering cats.
In fact, many times our cats’ acceptance/tolerance towards shower has got to do with how the process was introduced to them from the start, be it at home or at the groomer’s. The shower room needn’t be a war zone when done right!
1. Start light
Instead of going straight to the shower head, try introducing water with a wet sponge instead. Cats are more sensitive with their heads so skip the head and work with wetting the neck down for a start.
2. Anti-slip mats
Many cats will panic when their feet slip. Placing an anti-slip mat on the surface they’re standing will provide grip and stability.
3. Watch for signs of stress
Observe your cat’s body language for signs of stress. Being able to identify subtle signs (e.g. open mouth, panting, ears back, crouching etc) can be helpful to prevent us from pushing past their threshold.
4. Treats!
Reward every small progress your cat is making with his/her favourite treats!
All cats have different levels of tolerance towards bath time. Always listen to what they’re trying to tell us and remember not to rush the process.
a. 290R Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427548
s. www.facebook.com/heygoodcatsg
t. +65 9656 3786
