These Are The Most Common Mistakes That Cat Owners Make

It’s a verified fact that cats are the superior pet — sorry dogs — but they can also be mysterious little beasts at the best of times. As any cat owner can tell you, knowing how to navigate the treacherous waters of meows, claws, and hidey-holes can be tricky. It's only natural that we try to treat our precious purr babies as well as possible, though good intentions don't always result in good outcomes. No matter how well-meaning you might be, your pup might be trying to send you an important signal to stop whatever you're doing.

Cats will be… cats. Always.

Much as we love to think of our feline friends as beautiful, cuddly, benign creatures, they really aren’t. Expert trackers and hunters across the board, even indoor cats can be skilled predators. So if you and your kitty share your home with other small animals, training your cat is essential. As vet Roy Cruzen told PetMD, “Try slow introductions and be sure to give them some space to avoid each other if they want to.”

Ring-a-ding-ding

Now, we all know that cats with cute collars go together like mac and cheese. And the addition of a tiny bell pushes the cute factor into the stratosphere. But as much as we love them, these animal accessories can cause our kitties a bit of a problem. Our feline friends, it seems, are a little gung-ho when it comes to ridding themselves of them – and the bits can become a choking hazard. Bye-bye cute bell.

Roughhousing

Lots of cats love a good hands-on play session. But if you’ve ever come away from the game bearing the scars of battle, there’s a good chance your feline friend is just overstimulated says website Canidae. A lighter touch during play, or using toys should save your poor hands. And arms. And legs.

We are not a-meow-sed

We all love an impromptu conversation with our feline friends. But it turns out that they might not be enjoying it as much as we are. As observed on the website of the Library of Congress, cats only meow at humans, and it’s very much a one-way conversation. They’re telling you they need something and are not expecting an answer. In fact, according to Bright Side, it just confuses them. How dare you answer back? Where is the food?