We all know our cats are perfect in our eyes, but they may not feel the same about us. There may be a few things that we do that drive cats crazy. Of course, they have the option to walk away if we’re being bothersome. If there are things that we can change, however, we should try in order to keep our feline friends happy. If you’re wondering what you could be doing that irritates your cat, The Refined Feline has compiled a list of the top six below.
#1: Inconsistent Routines
You may not be aware, but cats thrive on routine. Having a set schedule of events throughout the day helps to lower your cat’s stress levels, making them happier and even healthier. A study showed that cats who undergo environmental changes are twice as likely to become sick than cats who have a set routine. Even if your cat isn’t experiencing health issues from it, cats still prefer set routines. Feeding your cat at the same time every day helps to build a routine. Coming home as close to the same time every day, and even keeping their cat litter box furniture tidy at the same time can be helpful. Keeping a routine can be difficult at times to maintain, but if your cat is stressed or struggling, this may be the issue. To help ensure that you’re not driving your cat crazy, try sticking to routines as much as you can.
#2: Loud Noises & Volumes
Cats can pick up on the tiniest of sounds with their superb sense of hearing. A human’s ear has about six muscles, while a cat’s ear has thirty muscles. Cats can even hear better than dogs! All the noises and sounds we make are more amplified for them, though, with this increased sense. Your cat may hide if you decide to play some music loudly while you clean. If you have it loud enough, the music may hurt your cat’s ears as well. This big difference between felines and humans is easy to forget, which makes it a top pet peeve for cats. So, if you do want to crank up the volume, ensure your cat has a separate space to get away from all the noise.
#3: Moving While Sleeping & Your Cat
It’s true that cats sleep a lot, typically at least half of the day if not more. When you go to bed, though, many cats want to snuggle up too. However, if you toss and turn frequently throughout the night, this may be uncomfortable for your cat. Your cat won’t really be able to relax and sleep if they have to keep readjusting every time you move. They may even give up and decide to go elsewhere for the night, although they would have preferred to stay. To keep both humans and cats comfortable, try sleeping on your back. To help keep you asleep, you can utilize a form of white noise, such as a sound machine or fan. Maintaining the bedroom’s temperature to your liking can also improve your sleep, and decrease the need to readjust. Your cat will definitely thank you for more rest, and you can also reap the benefits of better sleep.
#4: Cuddling Your Cat Against Their Will
Although this activity can be the hardest to break, it’s an important one. Cats are very rule-driven, and going outside of their boundaries can cause your cat to be upset with you. When a cat’s boundary of personal space is broken, they’re not going to be very happy, even if they tolerate the action in the moment. It can be hard not to run over and hug your cats after being away all day though! However, recognizing their boundaries will help you build more trust with your cat. When cats are constantly put into awkward and unwanted positions, they can regress in their relationships. They may become less of a social butterfly, slowly wanting less and less attention from you or others. Forced affection will do more harm than good in the long run. So, be sure to give your cat attention on their terms, not just on yours. Ultimately, this will build a better bond with your cat as they can trust you’ll put their needs first.
#5: The Scary Cat Carrier
Every cat owner knows how much their cats hate the carrier or the crate. Using the carrier, though, is unavoidable as cats need to travel for a variety of reasons. Most cats associate the cat carrier with a trip to the vet, which also means added stress. Although this pet peeve of cats is also necessary on occasion, there are ways to make it less stressful. To help cats not associate the carrier with a trip to the vet or a big move, make it less conspicuous. Leave the carrier out all the time so your cats get comfortable with it. Make it just like any other cat bed by placing a super soft blanket inside so they can nap inside. Putting some treats, catnip or some toys inside can help entice them to explore. This will help them gain more positive associations with the carrier instead of the usual traveling stresses. It will also make loading them up much easier and decrease their fear, too. Your cat may even love using the carrier over time!
Avoiding These Pet Peeves
Hopefully, you can adjust your actions against this list of pet peeves. By preventing these pet peeves, you can build a stronger relationship with your cat. You can use this opportunity instead to spend more quality time with your cat. This can help lower the chances of your actions becoming one or more of these pet peeves!