Cats - Do You Love Them or Hate Them ?

Do you and your cat have a love-hate relationship? Who rules the household - you or your cat? Cats have very definite ideas about the relationship between them and humans. Most cat owners know without a doubt that their cat believes that he or she is superior to all creatures from man to mouse. Cats will go to great lengths to prove their point.

Cats can go to extremes when it come to their behavior. Sometimes they can act like a snob, stick their nose in the air and ignore you,  then next minute they act like they have gone crazy or manic. The change in their mood almost seems like they are possessed or have lost their mind. It can seem like you have an “on again and off again” relationship with your cat much like a volatile romantic relationship. You go day by day asking “Is today going to be a good day or a bad day?” Will my cat be nipping the hand that pets him or will my cat be a happy, purring, bundle of joy?

Ways to improve your relationship with your cat:

Cat owners that are successful know the their relationship with their cat has to be nutured from the start. It requires understanding their cats body language and vocalizations, a key component of their own “cat language”.  The cat and human relationship requires communication, just as any other human relationship does.

Noticing your cats body language can prevent painful cat bites or nips from occurring.  Petting your cat can be a pleasurable experience for both you and your cat. As you stroke his soft fur he starts to purr and the sound is very soothing and calming. Usually after some undetermined time, the cat can become over stimulated or irritated by the petting. It has become an unpleasant experience for your cat and he will try to communicate that to you by switching his tail or pinning back his ears. If you are not alert to cat body language because you are preoccupied or distracted, your cat will try to get your attention to stop petting him by nipping your hand. This usually gets your attention fast and you withdraw your hand.

By taking the time to observre and listen to your cat’s body language you can be successful in improving your relationship with your cat. This involves monitoring how your cat responds to his surroundings and interactions with you.These changes can be subtle and the successful cat owner needs to respond to these changes by adjusting what they are doing.