Avoid These 3 Major Mistakes that Harm Your Cat

Who doesn't love cuddling up on the couch with their favorite fluffy friend and enjoying the comfort that comes from petting their soft fur and listening to their gentle purr? It's no secret that we can find satisfaction from the company of our pets. In fact, it's proven that as we pet our four-legged friends, we experience a release of the neurochemical called Oxytocin, also known as the "love chemical."

True, when most people think of Oxytocin, they think of romantic love or the love between a mother and her child, but the truth is that we also experience a surge of this same "love hormone" when we spend time with our pets, and it benefits us physically and mentally.

When we pet our furry friends, the release of this neurochemical helps us to build love and trust between our pets and ourselves and causes the moment to become fixed in our (and their) minds as positive and comforting memories.

We benefit in so many ways by having a pet in our lives, and we surely want to give back as much as we take and provide them with the best care possible.

Sadly, even the most well-meaning and loving pet parents can make grave mistakes in the care of their favorite cats or kittens. None of us want to hear that our best of intentions can actually hurt the ones we love, furry or not, and whether we are worried about feeding them properly, caring for their medical health or emotional well-being, or cleaning up after them, there is a lot more involved in their care than one might think.

We all make mistakes and learn new things over time, and whether you have had cats for years or are thinking about getting one for the first time, the chances are we have all been guilty of at least one of the following mistakes.

Don't be hard on yourself. Mistakes happen. But knowledge is power. So, take a look at the following list of 3 practices that hurt our furry friends, and let's make tomorrow a safer day for our favorite felines!

Mistake #1: Declawing

There are 2 main reasons people will decide to declaw their cats: Damage to home and furnishings and Damage to people or other pets (i.e. those claws hurt!)

Though declawing was very popular in the past and well-supported by agencies, vets, and "experts" in feline care and is still believed by many to be a solution to those cat woes, but further awareness has helped to open many people's eyes to the negative consequences of the procedure.

Below is a list of arguments Against Declawing.

1. Unnecessary Pain and Discomfort. Declawing is not just a simple removal of a cat's nail. It is actually an AMPUTATION! Yep. That's right. It is not a minor procedure. It is actually a major surgery that is more intensive than spaying or neutering. In order for the claw to be removed, the cat's toe must be amputated at the knuckle. This actually causes life-long pain and discomfort for the cat, as well as risk of infection. Additionally, it is often done incorrectly and can mean dangerous health risks for the pet.
2. Increased Aggression, Destruction, and Behavioral Issues. Cats rely heavily on their claws for balance and support, and declawing can have adverse reactions on their behavior because of the stress, pain, and uncertainty that the amputation causes. This can result in increased biting and destruction of people and property.
3. Inappropriate Elimination and Overgrooming due to pain and discomfort. In other words, because of the discomfort that the litter causes on their declawed feet and behavioral issues, cats may become averse to their litter boxes and increase soiling on carpets, floors, and furniture.

Sadly, many declawed cats are abandoned by their owners because of the resulting negative behaviors, and though the intentions may have been good, the effects of this surgery are never good.

Fortunately, the awareness of the negative consequences of declawing have been becoming more widely known, and it is becoming less frequent.

There are many other simple and effective alternatives such as keeping the claws trimmed, training, providing needed scratch posts, and others.

Declawing is already banned in many countries, and as awareness builds in the US, some cities and states are beginning to ban the practice as well.

Below is an article from the Humane Society about Declawing.

Mistake #2: Scented Litter

We all know just how bad cat boxes smell, right? Whether it's fresh litter or litter that is in desperate need of scooping, those cat boxes are never a treat for the nose, so why not take advantage of the many scented cat litter options on the market? I mean, the cat gets to poo and we get to smell fresher air. It's a win-win, right? Wrong.

The truth is that those scented cat litters can sometimes do more harm than good. Check out the 2 main reasons to rethink those Fresh Scent Alternatives:

1. Hazardous to our Cats' health. While we might find the air a little easier to breathe with the aid of scented litter, our furry friends may find it harder to breathe. Cats are very sensitive to scents of all kinds, especially the concentrated scents that are added to litters. Some of these additives are toxic and, at the very least, unpleasant to our feline companions. Some cats can become allergic to their litter with bouts of sneezing, wheezing, and etc. Additionally, because of their self-cleaning habits, cats may ingest the scented litter, and there is absolutely no guaranteeing that the additives are not toxic to them.
2. Increased Occurrences of Inappropriate Elimination in cats. We already mentioned inappropriate elimination earlier. It is, however, one of our main concerns with cats, and scented litters might not be working in your favor. It makes sense, though, doesn't it? If the scented litter irritates their little noses, try to imagine it from their perspective. Literally. They are much closer to that scent, and they have to scratch at it which releases more of the scent directly into their faces. It's wise to not give them any reason to stray from that cat box when nature comes calling. Instead, it's best to scoop regularly and have more than one cat box. It is recommended to have at least as many cat boxes as you have cats PLUS one extra. So, if you have one cat, you have two boxes. Two cats, three boxes. And so on.

In addition to scented litter, cats are sensitive to many scents and substances (for example, citrus is a no-no), so check out the sources below to make sure your household is safe for your favorite furry friend.

Mistake #3: Freedom to Roam

We love our cats and want them to be happy and feel free. So, we should let them outside sometimes so that they can roam and feel free, right? Again. Wrong.

The truth is that our cats (and dogs and snakes and turtles and etc) are not wild animals. They are domesticated pets, and they do not have the same natural instincts as their wild relatives. Cats that are allowed to roam can suffer a sad fate from predators of many kinds. Natural predators such as other wild/feral animals, humans, cars, etc.

Possible consequences of letting our pets (any kind) roam are:

1. Death by predator or automobile. The sad truth is that many animals who are intentionally or accidentally released outside are killed by either predators, or more likely, struck by a car. I can personally attest to the pain and grief caused by the latter. So, learn from my and many others' mistake and keep those fur babies locked up and safe.
2. Disappearance. Chances are if you let your cat roam, there will come a day that they do not return home. Whether it is their first or hundredth time outside, there are many reasons why your pet may not come back to you... Perhaps, they get lost, killed, or picked up by animal control or some other human, but if you let them free, it is only a matter of when, not if. So, save yourself and the family the heartache and keep those kitties indoors.
3. Increase in Feral Population. Many areas are seeing large numbers of feral cats, dogs, even snakes that are not native to that locale. This is usually because of domesticated pets that are allowed outside, abandoned, or released. Not only is it sad to see this consequence, but it also can negatively impact the local environment and wildlife. Don't let your pet become an invasive species anywhere other than your couch and bed.
4. Disease and Parasites. Finally, animals that are released outside and allowed to roam can easily bring home diseases and parasites from other animals and get sick, die, and spread them to other animals and their human counterparts. Apparently, domesticated cats are one of the leading causes for Rabies in humans. Toxoplasmosis is another big concern. So, again, keep yourself and your pets safe and keep them in the cozy comfort of the home.

Check out this article:

In Conclusion

It is no secret that keeping our pets safe, happy, and healthy can be a lot of hard (and sometimes messy) work, and the truth is that we all make mistakes. From the most experienced veterinarian to the freshest child, we all have something to learn about the care of our four-legged friends.

But they give us so much loyalty and love that it is worth it to keep learning and bettering ourselves. After all, those surges of Oxytocin that we get from our furry friends keep us happy and healthy!

These are only a few of the things that we should all try to avoid with our purr-buddies. There are many more things we should all know about, such as the why we should never feed our pets from plastic dishes to how string and yarn are actually extremely dangerous for cats. But with knowledge comes the power to give our pets the best care and the most love.

~Check out the above link to my other article about my Beloved Fur Babies & Keep an eye out for more articles about PETS coming soon~