Cats, as a pet, is a favourite among kids and adults alike. Cats are soft furry creatures that go along with all, but they are equally mysterious as well. One of the reasons for their popularity is their low maintenance, but at the same time, they are temperamental too. Cats are amiable creatures and can go along with their business for so long, but still, some pet peeves bother them too. Below we have compiled a list of such things that cats hate entirely.
Loud Noises
You may have noticed that cats get startled when you drop something or if a car honks loudly. It is because cats do not like loud noises. Cats can also get disturbed by a tumultuous environment or just noise from your television. More noises such as the sound of vacuum cleaner, lawn mover, fireworks, the barking of dogs, the sound of thunderstorms all startle the cat and could cause anxiety. Cats also get agitated by high-frequency sounds like the whistling of a kettle, doorbell or alarm breaks off. On such occurrences, cats usually retreat to their safe allocated spots. Cats are always shocked when hearing such loud noises and always run very fast after hearing it based on experience. They are very sensitive when it comes to loud noises.
Strong Smells
Cats have a strong sense of smell that is even more powerful than many dogs breeds possess. And there are certain smells that you, maybe, do not know about but your cat hates. Cats typically hate the scent of citrus and would not go anywhere near citrus smells. Lavender, eucalyptus are also some of those smells which cats hate. It can also cost serious health hazards if the cat digests it. Many essential oils are also toxic to cats. Although benign, the fragrance of certain herbs like thyme, rosemary is also looked down upon by cats.
Water
If there is anything all cats owners can relate to is that cat hates water. It is a daunting task to bring a cat to take a bath. Cats naturally self groom themselves and keep themselves clean. They do not require a bath often. But still, at times, it becomes essential to bathe your feline fellow. Cats hate getting wet. It may be helpful to note that cats like a shower more than a bath, as it is more accustomed to rain. If you are going to bathe your cat, make sure to keep it short. Get plenty of towels and a pet shampoo at hand. Keep the water temperature at lukewarm and try to keep the atmosphere calm and serene. Hopefully, by following these pointers, it won’t be as challenging as perceived to be.
When You Feed them milk
Contrary to the common assumption, the majority of cats are lactose intolerant. They cannot break down the enzymes and proteins in the milk. As a result, they get bloating and risk diarrhea. It causes noticeable discomfort to a vast number of cats. So, as a pet owner, you should be careful about what to feed your cat, as it is unlikely that a cat will refuse milk on its own.
Stale Food
Unlike dogs, cats do not like stale or rotten food. If a portion of canned cat food sits in a warm atmosphere for too long, most probably, your feline creature will turn its nose to it. To avoid such situations, you may consider adjusting the portion size or change to dry foods of your cat’s choice. Changing taste also help cats, as just like humans, they also like variety in their foods. You should not be giving the same food to your cat every day, or it will result in leftovers.
Excessive Petting or Petting the Wrong Way
Cats do not like to be pet rigorously. They often prefer a light touch across their back. They also like touching on their head, behind their ears and under their chin. While petting, you should closely monitor their body language. Many a time, you may catch your feline creature lying around on its back, exposing its tummy, but nowhere should it be considered as an invitation to rub its belly. The cat is well aware of its vulnerable part, so you should proceed with caution or else get ready to get yourself scratched. In parallel, avoid touching the cat’s tail, paws and whiskers that are hypersensitive to touch. It is also important to note that while some cats like cuddling and stroking, some find it all together overwhelming. So, it is vital to understand your pet well.
Getting Ignored
Although we discussed how cats do not like being touched, they also do not like feeling ignored. They want affection just like humans but in their preferred zones and times. A cat will let you know by its actions if it feels disregarded. It will approach you itself and will rub itself to your legs and feet to get your touch. It seems like they have their moods like humans.
Direct Eye Contact
Cats hate keeping eye contact for too long. Eye contact that we perceive as a friendly gesture is threatening to a cat. Direct eye contact with a human intimidates a cat and thus upsets it. If your cat turns away your stare, it means that it is comfortable with you and does not take your stare as a threat. Cats have beautiful eyes, but you should not stare at your cat, as according to feline language, it is a threat. You would rarely see cats holding stares with each other, too.
Getting Photographed
Cats are introverted and shy creatures who do not like too much attention and certainly do not like getting clicked. Cats being sensitive to noise, the shutter sound overwhelms them. Then their retina is overly sensitive to light, so the flash disturbs them. Or it could be that they do not want that extra attention-getting clicked. So, the best practice would be to get candid shots of your favourite feline creatures without them getting aware of it. But we can relate somehow that they always get to know when someone is trying to get a picture and, they stop doing the cute face and shy away.
Not Getting Their Personal Space
Like humans, cats also need their personal space. Whenever cats feel threatened or want some privacy, it retreats to an allocated corner of your house that your cat has assigned to itself. It may be under the bed, sofa, under the stairs, behind a lamp, curtain, or anywhere quiet. You may find your cat hiding when you have guests, as cats feel intimidated around new people. Cats will also hide when they are not feeling well, so you should look out for their behaviour. Cats hiding is an instinctive behaviour but, it can also manifest something more serious. Hiding can also be a sign of underlying illness.
Dirty Litterbox
Cat’s sense of smell is 14 times greater than human beings. So naturally, these pretty feline creatures find dirty litterbox smell as obnoxious and as something to avoid. Having dirty litterboxes results in cats getting relieved on your new rug or elsewhere. It is not rocket science as we humans can not use a dirty toilet, so does our feline friends. Moreover, using a dirty litterbox can cause many health problems too. It can cause kidney, bladder or urinary tract infections in cats.
It is essential to clean the litterbox daily. Moreover, if you have more than one cat, every cat should have a clean litterbox of its own. Besides, cleaning a filthy litter box is also a threat to you.
Taking Medicine
Quite obviously, cats hate taking medicines and vet visits. But often, medication is essential so, the struggle is inevitable. Cats do not like taking medication, so the best practice is to coat the pill in food or butter. Try to keep the atmosphere as serene as possible. The tablet can be dissolved in a minimum amount of water or chicken broth and administered through a syringe without a needle. You may need to use a towel for more aggressive pets.
Car rides and Vet Visits
Some cats have travel anxiety and do not like going on car rides. Some cats spend most of their time indoors and seldom go outside. Sometimes they only leave the house for their vaccines and veterinary appointment. One reason for their repulsion towards travel could be their association between car rides and veterinary visits. They often associate displeasing incidents with their vet visit. Although these visits are stressful for the cat, it is vital to have regular checkups and vaccinations. You can make these visits less stressful by adding treats and taking along some favourite toys of your pet.
Strangers
Cats hate strangers around them as they can not tolerate being gazed upon them. Cats will often retreat to their secret spots when a new person enters your household. They take their time getting accustomed to new people. It is best to ease the transition for your pet if you are expecting a new baby in your home. Give your feline baby ample time and treats so it won’t feel neglected. There are exceptions to all things, some cats are friendly, and new people do not bother them. While meeting a cat for the first time, it is crucial to observe its body language. Let the cat sniff your hand and body and let that furry fellow approach you.
Other Cats in Their Territory
Cats are aggressively possessive of their territory. They do not like sharing space with another feline fellow. They are territorial, by nature. In a multiple cat household, you may observe them growling, hissing at each other. You may often catch them fighting over their territory. Luckily, with positive reinforcement from pet owners, they reluctantly learn to get along.
Getting Dressed Up
With Halloween season approaching, or you relish the new holiday sweater, most probably, your pet is not a big fan of dressing up. Cats hate getting dressed up in a holiday sweater or other garments. One of the reasons for this aversion could be that dress masks their smell and, they get difficulty getting their scent. Another reason could be that dress obstruct their movements. Whatever may be the reason, I think it would be best not to force getting your pet dressed up.
Getting Cradled Like a Baby
Many pet owners want to pick their cats as their babies, but it is not something most cats would like. Most cats feel trapped when holding up, and their survival instinct kicks in. They can feel agitated and stressed out. Many cats like cuddles with their owners, but there should always be a space for them to leave. By cradled like a baby, these feline babies can feel confined and pin down. Some cats significantly resist being cradled, while some same show minuscule displeasure, while some cats like being cradled.
Change
Cats and changes do not go hand in hand. Cats cannot smoothly deal with changes in their surroundings. They feel threatened with change and can often feel stressed due to it. Vacations and parties are significantly hard for them., or the introduction of a new family member. They could get stressed by the swap in their routine or environment. A change could cue their aggressive behaviour or withdrawal. Often displeased cats stop using their litter box.
If change is inevitable, you should need to ease the process for your feline baby. Try to give your cat plenty of treats and time for a smooth transition.
Cats are ideal as a pet: not too loud, not too clingy, not smelly, not very high maintenance, not too demanding, or maybe a little. They are independent creatures and require a minimum from you. Just take care of these points we discussed, and, hopefully, you will have a scratch-free relationship with your feline.
