Respect Your #Cat Day

By Ronnie Casey

Posted: 03/28/15

“Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this.” While cats cannot thank the anonymous author for this truism, they might want to thank Richard II of England, who issued an edict forbidding the consumption of cats on March 28, 1384, a day now celebrated in some circles as “Respect Your Cat Day.” Many cats would heartily agree that it is the perfect day to pay homage to the furry feline group.

So, how do we “Respect” our cats? We begin by attempting to understand their traits, foibles and unique characteristics. One commonality seen in all cats is their tongue, often described as feeling like sandpaper when one is licked by it. Filiform papillae, small, backward-facing barbs covering the center, help cats hold and scrape flesh from the bones of prey. Their spines help remove dirt and loose hair during self-grooming, thus contributing to those ever-loved hairballs. Every cat, except the cheetah, has protractible and retractable claws, a distinct advantage when stalking prey. Cats also have excellent night vision, an acute sense of smell and exceptional hearing, all of which contribute to cats being amazing hunters. Until recently, it was generally believed that only the “smaller” cats of the genus Felis (domestic, bobcats, ocelots, lynxes, cougars, etc.) purred, the exception, again, being the cheetah. However, the “big” cats of the Panthera genus (lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars) can produce sounds similar to purring while exhaling.

Much of the behavior of cats is reflective of their predatory nature. When they hunt, they either stalk prey or wait to ambush it. Most breeds of cat are fond of roosting in high places. The height is believed to not only provide an excellent location from which to pounce, but it also allows a better point from which to observe surrounding territory. Play, especially in kittens, is important because it mimics survival skills. It assists in the learning of how to stalk and capture quarry. In addition, play-fighting with cats or humans is a way to practice combat skills and to reduce the fear associated with launching attacks on other animals.

Another normal behavior is scratching. The scratching occurs for various reasons: to mark territory visually and with a scent secreted by glands located on the cat’s paws, to remove the dead outer layer of the front claws and to stretch and flex the cat’s body, feet, and claws.

Having respect for your cat is making an effort to support its natural needs. Since cats have a strong prey drive, provide toys that let them practice their hunting skills. Some will like toys they can throw around and chase after. Other cats want you to participate by using toys that you dangle and wiggle in front of them. Cat trees or kitty condos with room to scratch or climb and cubby holes to escape into, gives a cat multiple ways to exercise muscles, sharpen claws, and rise above its surroundings. Even though cats are efficient self-groomers, if they have long hair, shed a lot, or are older consider regular grooming periods. It can definitely help the hairball situation.

Cats are actually social animals and not as aloof as often claimed. It is an old myth that cats are solitary creatures who do not enjoy the company of humans or other cats. Those of us who live with cats have experienced numerous instances of them following us to the bathroom, making their way onto our laps or under our covers at night and have watched them groom and play with their other feline friends. Therefore, if you have a one cat household, consider adopting another. Today would be a perfect time, since the Tehama County Animal Care Center in Red Bluff is also celebrating “Respect Your Cat Day” by offering substantially discounted adoption fees.

Respect is defined as understanding that someone or something is important and should be treated in an appropriate way. Understanding your cat’s true character, recognizing and supporting its natural behaviors, is what respecting your cat is all about.

Ronnie Casey is vice president of PETS — Providing Essentials for Tehama Shelter. She can be reached at rmcredbluff@gmail.com. For more information about PETS, visit petstehama.org.

source