Cats are a very popular pet and are widely regarded as intelligent, affectionate animals. They also have very long lifespans–up to 20 years!
A typical day in the wild for a cat involves hunting, marking territory, defending its kingdom, hiding from predators, grooming and resting.
Cats are social animals
Many people think of cats as solitary animals; they descend from wolves that lived in family groups, but in fact domesticated cats are very social. The process of domestication allows cats to be sociable and form close bonds with humans and other cat conspecifics.
A key aspect of social interactions is olfaction, or sense of smell. A kitten’s sense of olfaction helps it distinguish the scent of its mother and littermates from that of unfamiliar conspecifics, and even when cats are old, they continue to use olfaction as a means of discriminating which individuals belong in their social group.
Studies have shown that free ranging cats tend to avoid each other and their territories (Figure 4). If two cats see one another, they will wait until the other cat has passed before they go further into their territory. If they cannot avoid each other, they may fight to defend their territory. However, this is rare and often results in a mutual yield.
They need a lot of exercise
Your cat may appear to be happy to lounge around most of the time, but they need to stay active for their overall health and well-being. Besides helping them maintain a healthy weight, exercise also helps them fight off diseases like diabetes and heart disease, and improves their mental health.
The amount of exercise your cat needs will depend on their age and health, but a good baseline recommendation is 30 minutes of moderate activity every day, divided up into 10 minute sessions.
The best way to keep your cat active is to encourage them to play. This will stimulate their mind and body, prevent them from scratching the furniture or damaging your home, and build a bond with you.
They need to be groomed
Grooming your cat regularly can help them maintain a healthy, clean coat. It also helps eliminate hairballs and prevent them from ingesting excess fur and causing health issues such as itchy skin or hair loss.
If you have a long-haired cat or if they are prone to matting, grooming them on a regular basis is even more important to keep their coat and skin healthy. It is also a good way to spot any underlying lumps, bumps, and other health problems early on so you can address them before they cause your cat discomfort.
Some cats don’t like being groomed, but it is usually possible to accustom your pet to pet parent-assisted grooming sessions over time. It is also important to make the experience as enjoyable for your cat as possible by offering them plenty of treats and praise while they’re being brushed or bathed.
They need to be brushed
Cats shed their fur in cycles, so they need to be brushed frequently to keep their coats clean. This can reduce the amount of hair that accumulates in your home and reduce the likelihood of a hairball.
Brushing also helps remove dead hair from the coat that can cause matting and tangles. Regular grooming is important for cats of all breeds.
For long-haired cats, the RSCPA recommends brushing once or twice a day; for short-haired cats, one to three times a week works well.
To make your brushing sessions more enjoyable for both you and your cat, try rewarding them with treats during the process. Treats can help them associate the experience with a good thing, which can help to encourage them to want to brush again in the future.