How to Have a Better Relationship with Your Cat

Ever wonder what your cat is thinking, or do you never give it a thought? You may feel your Fluffy is cute and a terrific lap-warmer on a cold night, but is your relationship with him/her the best it can be? After many years of living with my Fluffy and numerous other felines, I can tell you what has helped me truly bond with my kitties.

Stop

Many people lead hectic lives and barely have time for family, let alone their cat. But if you've adopted a feline, your cat should be considered a part of your family, a member that deserves quality time with you - like a child or a spouse. No, I'm not suggesting you curl up next to Fluffy and read him/her a bedtime story. And I'm not suggesting you indulge in a cup of cappuccino with your cat. All I'm saying is that you should take a few minutes out of your day to pet him/her and play some kitty games. Most cats like toys that are filled with catnip. The round toys are perfect for rolling around on the floor. Your cat will not only have a ball (no pun intended) with one of these toys, but he/she will also get needed exercise chasing this catnip infused plaything around the house. One game my cat and I love to play is catch the teaser. The teaser is a flexible stick that has a cluster of colorful feathers and shiny streamers attached to the end of it. All I do is shake the stick and watch Fluffy's head bounce back and forth as he tries to swat the feathers with his paws. Another one of my cats has actually gone into the closet and pulled this toy out in order to play with it.

Look

Watch how kitty acts and try to come up with a reason for his/her behavior. I had a cat that used to bite my toes - not very hard, but hard enough to make me stop what I was doing to look at her. I would reprimand her and then go back to whatever it was I was doing, only to feel her pointy teeth sink into my toe again. After much toe nibbling, I figured out she just wanted my attention and affection, which I then gave her. From then on we grew closer. It's very easy to see the message if you just take the time to observe. My cats always let me know when they're thirsty. All they have to do is sit next to their empty water dish and glance down at it. If they're really thirsty they'll announce it -- which brings me to the next step:

Listen

One meow, one dry bowl, and two requesting eyes made me put two-and-two together. Listening carefully to the sound of your cat's meow will also help you discern the nature of the situation at hand. When my cat Rhea went into labor she jumped up onto my bathroom vanity to alert me as I applied my makeup. For a moment, I ignored her incessant meowing and look of anxiety. Then something made me glance down at the countertop after she leaped to the floor, leaving behind a drop of blood. Shouldn't I have listened to her cries from the start? Wasn't her going into labor the reason she came to me in the first place? Fortunately, the blood added to the equation of urgency and prompted me to act quickly. I assisted her with the birth of her three kittens, having to tear open a sac that held one that needed help as she wasn't breathing. I got her respiration going and realized that without my help she never would have made it into this world. All three kittens survived the birthing process and were healthy and beautiful, and my bond with them and their mother had become stronger then ever.

If you want to get better acquainted with your feline and enjoy a glorious relationship, just remember that underneath all that fur is a quiet and loving soul just waiting to connect with you -- all you have to do is stop, look, and listen.