- Cat functions:
- companionship – all studies cite this as one of two major reasons for keeping a cat. The other is to provide a home
for the cat24. - “someone” to care for
- keeps us busy – occupied mind is a healthy mind.
- something to touch – cat is likely to be always accepting – hassle free release of the need for this activity.
- focus of attention
- companionship – all studies cite this as one of two major reasons for keeping a cat. The other is to provide a home
- Benefits of cat companion:
- Stress reduction – talking to a cat is easier and more relaxing than talking to a person – mental health benefits. Talking to other people can increase heart rate and blood pressure but the opposite happens when talking to a cat25.
- focus for nurturing and care giving – release for this natural desire – mental health
- soothing to touch – mental health
- more play and laughter – mental health
- companionship – tackles loneliness
- Receiving non-judgmental affection
- develops self-esteem if good cat caretaking takes place.
- Cat owners scored higher on psychological health over non-cat owners26.
- Many cat owners need “expectation management” training and education on cat care taking.
- Certain signs indicated a higher risk of the cat caretaker abandoning their cat(s):
- cat intact (not neutered)
- cat is less than 6 months of age. Cats kept for one year or more developed a better attachment to their cat. Adequate time is needed27. Plus: commitment.
- no or little veterinary care
- cat adopted free or spur of the moment decision
- cat confined to place outside of house (i.e. basement)
- cat has “behavior problems” that are in fact “human problems” in cat care taking
- lack of human patience in allowing cat-human relationship to develop
- lack of proper expectations and/or realistic ideas on cat caretaking by a person regarding cat care taking and cat behavior leads to relinquishment – this is a major factor in cat relinquishments in my view. This points to education and more education that is required.
- Most often so called “euthanised” cats are killed. There is a difference.
- Main page: Euthanise a cat
- Main page: Humanely euthanise a cat
- Main page: Feral cats are killed not euthanised
- Main page: No kill animal shelters (part 1) – No kill animal shelters (part 2)
- Cat shelters could do much better to reduce the killing rate of cats in their charge.
- It is argued that cat keeping needs to be regulated. There are many areas where regulation could reduce abandonment and accordingly reduce the stray and feral cat populations.
- In conclusion: education and legislation plus better managed cat shelters are needed to reduce and ultimately eliminate feral and stray cat populations.
- Update Jan 2011: Young male moggies are more likely to be involved in car accidents and Moving With A Cat…stress, stress..help!
- Essay on cat parenting….get some tea ready.
- External link: Cats, Dogs and Friends
- Cat Population Control. See the video and leave a comment.
Cat aggression was my fault |
