Cats are not ‘anti-social’ as you think.
We have all heard the phrase ‘anti-social cat,’ but what does it really mean? Lots of people think that if their cat isn’t constantly around them, hiding under the bed or in a corner, they probably don’t want to be near humans. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! Recent research has revealed that cats are actually quite social creatures! Their anti-social behaviour is due to various reasons.
If my cat isn’t anti-social, what is an anti-social cat like?
Anti-social cats do not only avoid touching. They might take prolonged eye contact from you or other animals at home as a threat. When they become too nervous, they will express their territorial instincts by expanding their ‘territory’. Undesirable behaviour like spraying, peeing or pooing around your home will be found. They are not complaining about their litter box and environmental hygiene. They might just feel stressed and need more room for themselves.
Why are they anti-social?
While the history of cat domestication partly contributes to these deep-set behavioural problems. Cats become anti-social due to a variety of reasons such as lack of exercise, boredom or feeling threatened by other animals in the house. Their experience at an early age will also lead to anti-social behaviour of the cats – Feral cats that have little or no human contact might fear touches or eye contact.
It might be down to you…
According to research at Oregon State University in 2019, most cats, including shelter and rescue cats are keen to interact with humans. Cats are brilliant animals. Their friendliness to people is connected to how friendly the people have been to them.
Giving your cat clean food and water, and a comfortable and safe environment with sufficient playtime will make them more socialized. Toys and puzzle games will keep them mentally healthy too. They are widely available in pet stores or online. You can also consider making your own to cater to the needs of your cats.
For some shy cats, give them sufficient time and space to warm themselves up to a new environment, schedule or even visitors to your home. Always provide them with a comfort zone where they can relax and adapt to even minimal change.
After all, your cats might not be anit-social and independent as you think. They also want your love, cuddling time and enjoy playtime with you. Start sparing more time with your cats from today to let them get used to living with us.
At FurrySitter, our pet sitters will understand by letting understand the background and characters of your pets. We will arrange a meet-and-greet session for first-time customers to ensure your pets can get along with us. With a proper introduction in the meet-and-greet session, your pets will be less stressed when pet sitters take care of them alone. If our stress-free and customized services are suitable for your furry baby, don’t hesitate to make your booking now.