The Unwritten Rules of Living with a Cat

Living with a cat is not just rewarding, it can be strange, funny, emotional and hilarious - sometimes all at once! There are the gentle purrs, head bumps, cuddles, and the unmistakable feeling that you have been chosen by a small, furry little creature.

Let's not get it twisted though. They have rules. You may not remember agreeing to them, and you probably weren't even consulted when they were established. Nevertheless, once a cat moves into your home, you need to know how to act.

Rule #1: The Cat Now Owns the Furniture

You may have purchased the couch. You may have spent hours selecting the perfect chair. You may even have paid an unreasonable amount of money for a comfortable bed. Unfortunately for you, though, your cat is going to take it over. This includes compressing pillows, lots of built up hair, and the dreaded scratching.

Cats sharpen their nails in the wild on trees, so when your couch presents a softer, yet still competent surface, they are naturally drawn to it. This is not a behaviour you can stop, but you can try to reduce the damage by distracting with scratching pads nearby, or spraying smells cats don't like onto the fabric.

Another suggestion we need to make is to purchase furniture specifically for your cat. Having a cat tree and proper scratching pads, etc, can satisfy their urges to scratch, jump and play enough to keep them away from your sofa!

 Rule #2: Every Box Must Be Investigated

A cardboard box is so much more than just packaging. Toddlers know this, and so do cats. It's a potential fortress, sleeping chamber, observation post, hiding place and luxury condominium.

Whenever a new box enters the house, your cat must inspect it immediately. Failure to provide access to said box is a serious violation of household protocol.

This also applies to bags of groceries or clothing. Interestingly, the more expensive the item that came inside the box, the less interested your cat is likely to be in the item itself.

Rule #3: Doors Are the Enemy

A closed door is unacceptable. We recently covered this in an article in our upcoming Fall newsletter. Cats do not like a closed door - especially a bathroom door, but in reality any closed door will be a problem. It doesn't matter where the door leads. Bedroom? Bathroom? Closet? A room the cat has never shown any interest in entering?

The moment the door is opened, however, your cat may decide they no longer wish to go through it. This is normal. It's more about control than practicality.

Rule #4: Feeding Time Is Whatever Time the Cat Says It Is

You may have a carefully planned feeding schedule and noticed your cat doesn't seem to care. It's not that they don't remember, it's that they want to eat when they feel like it. Sometimes for sport! Who could blame them?

Cats are remarkably good at remembering feeding schedules. They are considerably less interested in understanding sleeping in on weekends, holidays or your need for sleep. Just remember that fact when they look at you an hour early like they've never been fed in their life.

Rule #5: Personal Space Is a Human Concept

Are these situations familiar to you?

·      Your cat may happily sleep across the entire bed while you are left balancing precariously on six inches of mattress.

·      Your laptop keyboard is an excellent place to sit.

·      Your newspaper is apparently a perfectly comfortable bed.

·      When reading a book, your cat may determine that the only acceptable position is directly between your eyes and the page.

Rule #6: The Best Toy Is Usually the Thing You Didn't Buy

You can purchase an elaborate toy filled with bells, feathers and fascinating moving parts, and your cat will sniff it twice then play with the receipt or cardboard packaging.

They might have a $50 motorized toy, but that could never compare to the satisfaction of shredding a phonebook into an nest and lying in it.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't provide proper toys. Cats need safe opportunities to play, hunt, chase and exercise their natural behaviours. But don't be surprised if the simplest object sometimes becomes the most exciting thing in the house.

Rule #7: The Cat Must Supervise Everything

Cooking, laundry, working from home, making the bed, fixing the faucet, moving bins in the basement - everything needs a feline inspector. There is a code we humans must not be able to see because they are not shy about throwing a slap or two to keep us in line.

Cats are naturally curious animals, and many enjoy being involved in whatever their humans are doing. Unfortunately, their definition of "helping" may involve walking across the keyboard, sitting on freshly folded laundry or staring intensely at you from three feet away.

It's the thought that counts.