How to Handle Nervous Cats

A few cats are extremely calm. But not all cats are tolerant and silent, you'll often face cats having aggressive and eager behavior. Such cats may cause some worry or disappointment for their masters despite the fact that their owners are willing to do everything to make their pets happy. If you consider yourself to be such a cat master, then you need to focus on increasing your knowledge regarding cats and their behaviors in order to keep your cat calmer and relax.

What is Behind Your Cat's Nervousness?

There are a lot of factors which can make your pet cat confuse and nervous. The most common cause for such nervousness is fear. You need to make sure that nothing in your home or surroundings is making the cat nervous or afraid. Also, if your cat has an unforgettable negative experience during the childhood, then such an incident or experience can lead to uncomfortable attitude. These negative childhood experiences can be of various types such as facing homelessness, improper treatment, bad social life experience related to cats, humans, dogs or even other species.

Similarly, change in environment can also make the cat feel nervous. For example, if you just purchased your cat and bring him/her home, then this change in environment can also make the cat feel confused or uncomfortable. But such situations can easily be improved with the passage of time, once your pet spent some time with you and your family provided no major trouble exists in the environment.

If you see your cat is trying to hide from others, don't panic. Keep in mind that if you'll provide her proper environment, she will soon overcome her nervousness. Hopefully, after some time, she will prefer to play with you instead of preferring to live in isolation.

This is a fact that most cats have an instinct for survival. This trait can lead to fight or flight reaction in particular situation which may cause the cat to run away or hide somewhere. Also, the presence of other cats in the surroundings can make the cat more nervous and it is observed that new cats often show defensive behavior in such situations. But such a situation keeps getting better day by day, all you need to do is to show some patience and wait.

There are times when your cat will be ill and like everybody else, cats consider illness as a scary situation. Therefore, you need to keep in mind that during the time of illness, your cat can show anxious behavior. Try to take your cat to doctor as soon as possible in order to get her out of discomfort and illness. This will surely help to make the cat healthy and relaxed in a minimal amount of time.

The presence of other pets especially dogs can also be a source of nervousness among cats. But no need to worry here as well, with the passage of time, your cat will adjust with dogs or other pets.

Conclusion

The main thing you must understand is that cats are basically sensitive species and needs proper love, care and safe environment to live happily and comfortably. Just provide the proper environment to your pet cats and surely, you'll get rid of all the problems related to your pet's behavior. However, this may take some time, so be patient.

Credit: Rizwan Leo Aziz

Pretty Deadly for Your Cat: 8 Toxic Plants

Houseplants and gorgeous gardens are the pride of many homeowners. We spend hours and lots of money selecting the perfect plant, tilling the soil and helping them to flourish. Plants inside the home have been shown to reduce indoor pollutants and freshen the air. Cut flowers from the florist can show someone that you care and can brighten up the room. But all of this beauty can be deadly... if you have a cat.

Many houseplants are toxic to both cats and dogs. Some can cause mild digestive upset while others can cause irreversible organ damage and death. It is important for all pet owners to be aware of these toxic plants and avoid having them in your home. Cats are especially at risk for poisoning, as they are very curious creatures and can jump up high to reach almost any plant for tasting.

8 Common Toxic Plants:

Lily

Lilies are beautiful and many varieties make beautiful bouquets and houseplants. Easter lilies are popular during the spring and Tiger lilies make their debut in the gardens all summer long. If your own a cat, think again before introducing any variety of lily into your home or garden. All parts of the lily are deadly if eaten by cats, including the pollen! Pollen from cut lilies in floral arrangements has been known to cause death in cats. The toxic principle is still unknown to science but something in the lily causes acute kidney failure in cats. If you have lilies nearby and your cat begins to show signs such as vomiting, anorexia, lethargy and less urination - seek veterinary medical care immediately.

Amaryllis

The amaryllis plant has large, showy blooms in red, white and other colors. It is a common gift around Christmas and Easter each year and bloom indoors and outdoors. The leaves and blooms are toxic to both cats and dogs, causing diarrhea, depression, vomiting, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, anorexia and seizures.

Oleander

Oleander plants are common in subtropical and tropical areas as outdoor ornamentals. They have long, slender leaves and pink to purple blooms. Outdoor cats and dogs can be exposed to oleander poisoning if they decide to take a quick bite of a bright bloom or clippings from landscaping crews. Signs of toxicity include heart arrhythmias, lethargy, hypothermia, vomiting, diarrhea and even sudden death.

Aloe Vera

Aloe is a popular plant to keep at home as a remedy for minor cuts and burns. Just snip off a portion of the plant and rub it on your skin... if you're a human! Aloe plants are toxic to cats and dogs, causing vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, seizures and change in urine color.

Baby's Breath

A popular tiny white flower often used in floral arrangements, baby's breath is bite-sized for your curious kitten. Baby's breath's toxic principle causes vomiting, diarrhea and possibly dehydration in cats and dogs.

Diffenbachia

Diffenbachia, also known as "dumb-cane" is a popular houseplant. It is easy to care for and grows attractive tall, slender and sometimes striped leaves. It also contains a very irritating substances called calcium oxalate. Cats and small children often like to nibble on the leaves, causing numbness of the mouth and ulcerations if a large quantity is eaten. Other signs include excessive salivation, pawing at the mouth, difficulty swallowing, anorexia and vomiting.

Mistletoe

Christmas just isn't Christmas without hanging mistletoe. Even if it hangs high in your home, leaves can fall to the floor where dogs and cats can take a nibble. Kissing under the mistletoe may make your heart race, but it can cause just the opposite when eaten by your pets. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, low heart rate, erratic behavior, diarrhea, low blood pressure and difficulty breathing.

Cyclamen

These hardy potted plants are common gifts and are easy to care for. Their bright blooms, leaves and especially roots are toxic to dogs and cats. After ingestion, intense vomiting and diarrhea occur and some deaths have been reported.

"Curiosity killed the cat" and that is often what happens when cats are around the wrong plants. Taking a nibble here and there is annoying but can also be deadly. 

Do your pets a favor by doing a quick inventory of plants in your house and garden - it could save their life!

Credit: Deborah Shores

The Importance of the Tail in Cat Body Language

Cats can tell us a lot about what they think and feel from their body language. Vocalizations are a key part of this, as are elements such as the ears and whiskers. One of the easiest body language signs to spot is the tail and there is plenty you can learn from the tail movements.

Tail tips

Cats are creatures of instinct and act accordingly. If something seems frightening, they will be frightened. If it threatens them, they will defend themselves. Their body language follows these instincts and by learning the language, you can understand what they are saying. A cat's tail (unless they are a tailless breed such as the Manx) can act like a signpost to tell what they are thinking and feeling in a quick glance.

For example, a sweeping tail can indicate irritation. It might be you have petted them too much or are taking too long to feed them. It might be that they are cross about the presence of another animal or a child that is aggravating them. This is the stage before anger and could be seen as being vexed.

Anger involves sharp movements, snapping whip-like from side to side. This is a clear sign something has made them very cross or alternatively, they are frightened and are trying to hide it by appearing big and impressive. They can erect the fur on their tail to a surprising degree to accompany this feeling, again making themselves look bigger and more threatening.

On the other hand, a tail that is snaking around the body and relaxed is a sign of a contented cat. A gentle movement or the flick of the tip can also show they are happy and content in their surroundings. It is often used in playfulness, flicking their tail then chasing it as it is were a toy independent of their body or to entice another cat into playing. A tail upright in the air when walking towards you is a bit like the cat saying "hello, good to see you!"

Other body language

The tail movements will also come associated with other body language signs. For example, ears flattened to the head is a classic anger/fear sign often accompanied by hissing and other vocalizations. Ears facing forward or following a sound is a sign of an attentive and engaged cat. Relaxed ears mean a relaxed cat. Their whiskers too follow a similar pattern to explain their behavior.

Sitting positions can also indicate when a cat is relaxed and happy. Sitting on their side with their belly on show is a relaxed positive, as is sitting with their paws underneath them. If they felt threatened, they would want their paws out in front, ready to move and wouldn't show their vulnerable belly.

Conclusion

There is no hard and fast rule for how a cat reactions to a situation as they learn in their own way. Something that scares them first time around may not scare them when repeated as they realize it is isn't a threat. Yet something familiar can suddenly be frightening if encountered in an unusual way or paired with a loud noise.

For all things cat from food to litter to toys, please see the articles at Petstreet Mall

Credit: Angela Tempest