Cats are very special animals who love their freedom and independence as much as playing and sharing with their human companions. Whoever has a cat at home knows that he must respect the feline's space and decisions, without letting him be in danger, of course, but without trying to limit his instinct.
A he althy and happy cat not only needs good food, veterinary care and love, but also perform the activities of its species. Sometimes, wanting to protect, you can restrict your cat to such an extent that this generates episodes of stress and even illnesses. That's why our site presents you with this article about the 10 things that cats like
1. Sleep
Surely you have noticed that your feline friend loves to sleep, this being the activity he does most during the day These long hours of sleep, which can reach up to 18 a day, are absolutely necessary for the cat, so you should not wake it up or disturb it.
Many times when you see your cat sleeping for so long it's hard to avoid the temptation to wake him up, especially to play or give him a little love. However, experts consider that it is counterproductive to interrupt these hours of rest, since in the long run this could trigger episodes of stress in the feline. Wait for your furry friend to wake up to share time with him; besides, many times he will prefer to sleep next to you
two. Hunt
The hunting instinct survives in the cat despite the centuries that this species has been domesticated. Some cat owners get irritated and even scold their cats when they discover that they have caught a bird, a lizard or some other animal. This, of course, does not make any sense, because the cat will not understand what the reprimand is due to, and you will not prevent it from continuing to do so. For more information, don't miss our article "Why do cats bring dead animals?".
A cat that goes outside will hunt the animals that catch its eye and not out of hunger, simply for fun and to follow its instinct. All you have to do is make sure the environment is safe, that the cat cannot escape or be attacked by another animal, and that it does not eat a prey that has been poisoned.
If the cat lives indoors, you will have to provide amusements that simulate the pursuit of prey It is an activity that can to share. You can buy or make toys yourself that consist of a ribbon that you pull for the cat to chase, finished with a doll at its end. There are countless toys that the feline can hunt, such as balls, stuffed mice, dolls stuffed with catnip, among others, this being another of the things that cats like.
3. Scratch
Scratching and scratching is another of those instinctive activities of your feline and, therefore, another of the things that cats love, since, in addition, they are 100% necessary for him, so under no circumstance should be repressed. Cats scratch for fun, to sharpen their claws, and to mark territory, keeping potential competitors away.
We know that this can become a problem in the home if you don't manage it in the right way, because rugs, furniture, curtains, shoes and anything that seems attractive to the feline can be a victim of this instinct. In this way, we recommend you buy a good scratching post, and even several so that you can place them in different areas of the house. And if you prefer, you can make your own homemade cat scratcher.
4. Take sun
Cats love warm and comfortable places, so sunbathing is one of their favorite activities. If your cat goes outside, it will make the experience more pleasant if you place a comfortable bed in a place where it can sunbathe quietly, away from annoying noises, safe from possible dangers and where the rays of the king star reach the body. of the feline gently. If, on the other hand, you have an indoor cat, we recommend drawing the curtain in front of a window, so that the feline is not deprived of this very pleasant activity for him. Don't miss our article on "Why do cats like the sun?" and find out all the reasons for him.
In addition, this taste for the sun extends to other areas, since what the cat seeks is warmth. So it's not uncommon to also enjoy sleeping near other places that emit heat, like on your computer, between electronics, or even behind the fridge, for example. Of course, in these cases make sure that there is no danger to the feline, such as a loose cable, damaged equipment, risk of short circuit or electrocution, or even temperatures that can rise too high.
5. Receiving caresses
Contrary to what many people believe, another of the things that cats like is to receive affection, since they really enjoy the time they spend with their family human, especially if she is dedicated to pampering and caressing him. These, of course, are not always welcome, so if you notice that your cat gets annoyed after spending some time petting it, it is better to leave it alone, otherwise you may receive a bite.
Caresses are not well received on all parts of the body, so you should concentrate them on the back, chin and ears Few cats enjoy being stroked on the belly, because they only allow it when they feel a lot of trust towards the person doing it. The paws are prohibited, since all cats hate to be touched. If you want to know everything that cats hate about humans, don't miss our article.
Obviously, there is also a suitable technique. Most cats prefer petting that simulates being scratched, but you should never do it against the grain. In addition, the sessions should be short and only when the cat is comfortable with them, so you should evaluate if it is a good time. Of course, strokes from strangers are rarely welcome.
6. Observe the world
Cats love to observe what happens outside their houses, the movement of people, the things that the wind brings, the spend the day, among others, so surely you have already noticed that they can spend hours just looking out the window. If it is possible for you, and without this implying a risk for the feline, prepare some space near a window, keeping it closed (especially if you live in an apartment), so that your cat can entertain itself by watching what is happening outside.
7. To eat
It's no secret to anyone that cats love food, they'll even eat something they really like even if they're not hungry. If what you want is to keep him happy, as well as he althy, the ideal is that you can regularly vary his diet a little, whether it be introducing small treats into his usual eating routine or preparing homemade recipes.
This does not mean that you radically change the type of feed you give him, for example, for a different one overnight. These kinds of sudden changes usually bring digestive problems to cats, in addition to an obvious rejection. It is best to get him used to varying dry food with wet food, apart from occasionally offering him some fresher foods, such as meat or fish, to give him the pleasure of trying other flavors. When you do this, be careful not to offer any ingredient that is toxic to cats.
8. Being on high
As a precaution, felines, even the large ones, have an instinct to sleep in high places, in order to avoid any enemy catches them off guard. This is a behavior that the house cat has inherited.
The main difference, however, is that the house cat not only likes heights to sleep, but also to observe everything that happens around him. If we already told you that one of the things that cats like is to watch what happens outside, imagine how much they like to do it from a privileged position, on high. We are sure that in this position the cat must feel that he dominates everything around him
If you have a garden with trees at home, let your cat go out and climb if he feels like it, always under your supervision to avoid hurting himself. If, on the other hand, you live in an apartment, the so-called cat trees, or game centers with several levels, will be ideal to satisfy this pastime.
9. Play
As you have seen, not everything in a cat's life is napping. When not eating or sleeping, your cat loves to play, no matter how old it is Whether it's with other cats or pets at home, with their toys, with you or even with anything curious that it finds, for the cat the leisure time is very important.
That is why we recommend that you not only buy or make yourself some cat toys and offer them scratching posts and places where they are allowed to climb, but also give yourself the time to have a fun time with your cat every day. Keep in mind that a bored cat is an unhappy cat.
10. Be with your family
When you have a cat, it's easy to realize that, although he enjoys his space very much, he also he loves being with you and with the rest of the members of the family family Many people despise cats as selfish and detached beings, but they've obviously never had one!
Cats have different ways of showing their affection, which may go unnoticed by some people because they are subtle. Have you noticed that he seeks to snuggle up close to you to sleep? Have you ever left a recently hunted prey at your feet? Does he greet you at the door when you come home after a long day at work? Does he lick you sometimes? Does he enjoy when you pet him? These are just a few signs that show how fond your cat is of you, and how much he likes being with you.
Now that you know the 10 things that cats like above all else, keep them in mind to improve coexistence between the two and offer them the best quality of life, they will thank you!
