4 Feline Troubles New Owners Can Probably Relate To

Have you recently brought a new furry feline friend into your home? If so, then it’s important to be aware of the issues that you may face as a cat mom or dad.

In this collaborative post, we share a few examples of feline troubles every cat parent should be prepared for.

4 Feline Troubles New Owners May Face. #1 is something all cat parents can relate to!#cats #catlovers #catcare Click To Tweet

# 1 – The Unwanted Gifts

It’s always peculiar when your cat comes to the door with a dead rodent or bird looking very pleased with themselves. To your fur-baby, they are showing you love and affection by ‘providing’ for you in the only way that makes sense to them!

Why is that? Cats in the wild are taught by mama cat from a very early age how to stalk prey, hunt, and bring back the ‘reward’ so the family can eat.

Your cat sees you as their family. They are bringing you a ‘tasty treat’ for your feast, and encouraging you to hunt too!

I know it’s pretty disgusting, but try your best not to scream or act hysterically. For kitty, this is terribly upsetting and confusing! They might even feel rejected by you.

Instead, thank your furry friend with loving words, gentle rubs, and praise. Then, take care of the critter they caught in whichever way appropriate.

Providing for you isn’t the only reason they bring you such gifts. Cats are hard-wired to hunt. When kept indoors, this instinct turns into play, like bringing you their favorite toy.

It’s very important to set aside playtime with your feline. Not only is this great exercise for them and a chance for you two to bond, but it also satisfies their wild side.

Related Reading: How To Keep Your Cat Happy Indoors

# 2 – Constant Attention Craving

You could find that your cat is constantly craving attention. This might be because they don’t want to be far from you.

A lot of people think that cats are always highly independent and this just isn’t the case. It depends largely on the animal and their individual personality.

If your cat loves attention, you shouldn’t ignore them. Doing this can lead to some negative behaviors such as damaging your property. You should instead make sure they aren’t bored by providing them with the right amount of toys and entertainment options. 

Check out these homemade cat toys you can make today that you and your cat will love.

Make sure your cat has toys they can play with while home alone also. Some of our kiddo’s favorites are the crinkle tunnel, butterfly cat track, and these fuzzy rattle balls that Pips can’t live without!

# 3 – Separation Anxiety

Next, consider if your cat suffers from separation anxiety. If this is the case, then they might hate it when you leave to go to work or when you go away on longer trips such as on holiday.

To deal with this, you should think about training your cat to be without you. Try going away for shorter periods of time at first. Each time you return, be sure to give lots of love and affection. This can reassure kitty that they’re not abandoned.

Gradually increase the amount of time you spend away by 30 minutes to 1 hour. Hopefully, over time, your cat will begin to feel safer and more at ease in your absence.

Do be aware that cats are often happier to be left alone if you provide them with the right environment.

This could be plenty of toys, calming aids, WiFi enabled automatic cat feeder, favorite blankets, leaving calming music designed for cats on, or whatever makes your cat happy.

One of our cats, Dizzy, is a very anxious girl. 2 things have completely transformed her behavior. I wrote about these in my post on calming cat anxiety.

Each day, we give her two to three drops of Jackson Galaxy’s Safe Space for Cats in her canned food. Bill and I watched her go from a nervous wreck prone to aggressive biting or clawing to a relaxed, happy and content cat! (most of the time) We’ve been using this product several years now and can’t live without it!

I also highly recommend the use of Feliway products. Wall plug-ins are great to reduce your cat’s stress levels throughout the home. In fact, you’ll often see these in Veterinarian exam rooms for this very reason.

We also use the spray (found in link above) for their bedding, or in the cat carrier before we need to take a trip. It has dramatically reduced the anxiety, yowling, and growling!

If you must leave your cat behind while you go away, consider a high quality cat hotel, like this one in Australia.

Leaving your beloved pal in loving hands means you’ll have peace of mind that your cat is well loved, cared for, and as peaceful as they can be apart from you.

Or, you might even consider taking your cat on vacation with you! Either way, just be sure to do your research beforehand!

# 4 – Diet Problems

Cats are masters at hiding illness. It’s important to keep a close eye on them for clues that they may be feeling unwell.

When it comes to tummy troubles, kitties are no different than us. They can suffer from food allergies, a nervous stomach, or other sensitivities.

Food allergies in cats can be difficult to diagnose because you must use the process of ingredient elimination to reach an accurate conclusion.

Crummy Tummy: Cat Food Allergies

Cats with food allergies generally display some of the following allergic reactions.

– Skin inflammation (rash, sores)
– Increased scratching or biting of skin
– Diarrhea, vomiting, difficult bowel movements
– Fur loss or dull, brittle fur
– Skin and ear infections
– Discharge from the eyes and/or nose
– Sneezing, wheezing or coughing

If your cat is experiencing these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. 

In some cases, special diets may be needed, such as with allergies, obesity, kidney disease, or diabetes. Talking with your Vet about your cat’s special dietary needs is critical to maintaining their health and well-being.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of getting anxiety under control as I mentioned earlier. This is why knowing the cause of your own cat’s digestive distress is half the battle.

Once you know the cause, options become available. Quality food for cats has come a long way, but still has a ways to go!

Feline Troubles Conclusion

Even though your new best friend may bring you surprise ‘gifts,’ and drive you crazy with their misbehaving antics sometimes, the love of a bonded cat is incredible. Seeing their sweet face can make any challenging day a whole lot better.

Here at Cat Care Solutions, I have several articles for new cat parents. When I began this website, I wanted people to understand how amazing cats are, and to help you bond better with your own resident wild child. I hope these posts accomplish just that!

Now, as always, I’d like to hear from you in the comments below!

• Have you experienced any of the above as a cat parent?
• Do you have any questions I might be able to answer?

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