Your Cat Deserves To Be This Happy
September is Happy Cat Month, an awareness holiday from the Catalyst Council. They are a wonderful resource about cats. When I think of what makes a cat happy, I know it’s not about social media media cuteness like our graphic. Despite millions of adorable cat videos, we don’t always know what really makes cats happy. Cats are anthropomorphized, dressed in cute costumes for Instagram worthy posts. They are kept mostly indoors, cut off from the natural world and their instinctive nature. Cats, like all pets are reliant 100% on whatever care their owners provide. Well-meaning and even loving owners can make some very poor choices. Cats are increasingly popular family members but our fur babies still have no legal rights (except in more progressive countries like Sweden
- If we truly want our cats to be happy, let’s treat them with respect for the species that they are. They aren’t accessories, a furry mini-me, a surrogate child or the means to insta-fame.
- That means learning about what makes them tick. There are excellent books like Cat Sense: Science Reveals Feline Secrets (Read our interview with the author).
- Many cats thrive with training and most cats could use more inter-active playtime. Cats do get lonely and appreciate time spent with them even if they aren’t lap cats.
- Learn to recognize early signs of illness with a quick exam. Did you know a purring cat is not always a happy cat? Purring can be self-soothing to ease pain.Learn how to examine a cat’s skin, fur, eyes,ears and mouth
- Treats make cats happy and we feel good treating them, but staying healthy is better. Don’t wait until your cat is ill and suffering to visit the vet. A clean bill of health from a wellness visit will make both of you happy.
- Needless to say, a spayed/neutered cat is happier and healthier. Happy cat = happy human.
Thankfully there is a growing awareness for creating environmental enrichment, dietary data, behavioral advice and products that enhance a cat’s life.
Since 2011, it’s been our mandate to provide a wide scope of cat care and stay as curious as a cat. We love cuteness too but it comes with caveats like safety first.
To celebrate Happy Cat Month, we’re sharing a few of our most meaningful posts with cat happiness front and center. Your cat deserves it 🙂
One of our top 10 posts (out of 2000+) is Nine Cat Behavior Lessons updated and revised. Enjoy!
How To Keep Happy Cats This Holiday Season
Happiness Hack For Surviving Winter With Cats
What Cats Know About Happiness
What Free Gifts Will Really Make Cats Happy.
14 Comments
Maggie
Rufus is a very happy cat. He knows how to ask for (demand) what he wants very clearly and in such an appealing way that we want to do his bidding. He’s my role model! I wish Mickey Mouser could learn from him. Mickey would be happier if nothing ever changed in the house, no one ever visited us, or made any loud noises. At least he’s happy today on this quiet rainy Tuesday.
Layla Morgan Wilde
It’s funny how cats will mimic some behavior and yet remain unique to their character. Mickey is lucky to have a quiet home and much love xox
Skeeter and Izzy
Happy Cat, Happy Cat!!! Sweeter words were never spoken!
We try to keep everyone happy but sometimes due to having to take special care of an “outsider” my indoor babies get a might miffed sometimes.
Thanks for the info!
Luvs
Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang + Twig & Peanut & Romeo & the Angels >^..^^..^<~
Layla Morgan Wilde
Indeed! I know that miff. Miffiness? Is that a word? Purrs to you and the gang xox
Summer
My big wish for Happy Cat Month would be for humans to have better relationships with their kitties, and do more to understand us.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Yes, we keep wishing for that too and any positive action.
meowmeowmans
Gracie and Ava are pretty darned happy, as far as we can tell. 🙂
Layla Morgan Wilde
and lucky too! xo
ellen beck
I hope all of our brood is happy. I always like playing with them although some are more playful than others. Currently we have one acting a bit ‘off’. I ‘think’ I know what it is. His buddy the dog is old and blind and diabetic. Odin gets snappy at times as he hasn’t felt well for a bit. It is old age, and sometimes Angus irritates him.Odin never hurts him, but lately Angus’s feelings have been hurt and I think he senses Odin is a short timer now and is a bit sad.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Aw, poor Angus and it is sad. They can sense when things are off with their buddy. Hugs xoxo
Kathryn
A great reminder to know how to keep cats happy. Ched says I do everything just about right – except more baby food and more petting. I tell him I will pet him all he wants (even when he wakes in the middle of the night when I’m asleep, and I will feed him all the best food all the time, even baby food – just plain meat, nothing fancy.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Merlin used to love baby food in palliative care. I wish Clyde could have it but too glycemic for his diabetes. Purrs to you both xox
Lola The Rescued Cat
We’re very lucky to be very happy cats! We have anything and everything we could ever want.
Phil
What a lovely reminder to take the time and put our cat’s first and think about what makes them happy. Cat’s aren’t the best at letting us know when something is up, and doing something special is the least we can do for all that unconditional love!