Pleasing 4 Pets

The much loved domestic cat is renowned for bringing its owner ‘gifts’. Often these gifts, usually prey which the cat has hunted for its own amusement or entertainment are presented to their owners, an act for which a cat will expect to be given praise for, since he will consider that he has exhibited significant skill and talent in order to award you your ‘prize’.

Your prize will often be a small bird or a field mouse, but a couple in Kent recently reported that their Siamese cat had been bringing them various children’s soft toys as gifts, which they assumed he had been stealing from their neighbours children.

A feline kleptomaniac is perhaps more common than one might think, but this fact might not appease disgruntled neighbours.

If your cat brings you such unwanted gifts, you should attempt to show him disapproval for his actions and lock him out of the house for a short period with his gift and hopefully this might discourage him from bringing them home.

Once he appears to have lost interest in his stolen booty, you should allow him to enter the house, obviously without his ill gotten gains and offer him a treat by way of reward.

Ensuring that your cat has plenty of toys of his own may discourage him from continuing with such ‘cat-burgling’ antics, and set aside some time each day to play with him and his toys where possible.

The majority of household cats choose to hunt at dawn or dusk, opting to pursue weaker and smaller creatures as their prey, so these are perfect times to engage in play with him.

Domesticated felines can play a key role in your everyday life but like their human owners, cats require a certain amount of nurturing and attention.

Cats are renowned for their astuteness and intellect. They are also judged to be warm and faithful animals that will provide their owners with a great deal of companionship if they are cared for adequately.

The majority of cat owners are responsible and are aware of the importance of meeting the everyday need of their pets. But it should be remembered that even though your feline friend may give the impression of being extremely independent and self sufficient, they still look to their owners to afford adequate food and water in addition to sufficient shelter, care and companionship.

You should ensure that you provide your pet cat with a well balanced and nutritionally effective diet and take care that he always has access to clean drinking water. Cats also love to groom and be groomed, so try to brush him on a regular basis, as even short haired cats require grooming in order remove loose hairs.

Whilst it is true that cats do not require the same high levels of exercise as other domestic pets such as dogs, your cat will benefit from regular play with you, as this will provide him with both mental stimulation and physical exercise.

Caring for a pet has often been reported to enhance your sense of well being and can provide you with a natural psychological boost. Animal companions such as cats and dogs are accepting and non-judgmental friends who grant their owners unconditional love. They offer warmth and affection, and can help to improve self-esteem. A well chosen pet can bring you a sense of purpose and encourage exercise. They also offer great opportunities to meet new people and make friends. In other words, cats and dogs can have a positive influence on the emotional and physical health of their owners.

Various research and analysis has confirmed that in almost every situation, primary interaction between humans elevates the heart rate, respiration and blood pressure. By comparison, interacting with a pet typically reduces the levels of blood pressure in both the animal and their owner, this in turn can help to relieve anxiety and stress or tension since the fear of disapproval or criticism does not exist in a pet-owner relationship.

A recent survey showed that 70% those who took part sought comfort from a pet when feeling unhappy. Whilst 90 % spoke to their pets, 75% reportedly felt that having a pet increased their overall contentment.

Pets have been used as far back as the 18th century in the UK when they were found to be beneficial to the well-being of mental patients, with many tending farm animals as a form of early therapy. Today, animal-facilitated therapy programmes are used as rehabilitation for a vast range of patients, including the mentally ill, physically and developmentally disabled people, emotionally traumatized adults and children, the elderly and many terminally ill patients. There have been numerous cases of unresponsive and withdrawn patients in Psychiatric Hospitals who have begun to interact with visitors or staff after being involved in animal-facilitated therapy programmes.

But it is important to remember that the pet-owner bond is not always unquestionable and cannot be guaranteed by the fact that people and animals live together. The relationship between the two must be nurtured to ensure a bond is developed. Without this the animal may well suffer, whilst the owner will draw little or no benefit from the match.

If you are considering adopting a cat or dog, it is important to reflect on how the animal will be integrated into your everyday routine. Not all lifestyles are conducive to the ownership of a pet and you should bear in mind that your pet will be a permanent family member. That said, taking on the responsibility of a pet will reward you with the pleasurable experience of a pet-owner relationship.