Respect Your Cat: Avoid Judging It Through Dog-Coloured Glasses

To commemorate ‘Respect Your Cat’ day that is celebrated on 28th March, we’ve prepared an article that will guide you on how to pay homage to your feline friends. This article is all about encouraging people—especially pawrents of both cats and dogs— to respect cats for who they are. These felines are purrfect just the way they are.

Because ‘respect’ is a loaded term thus we need to break it down further, so that everyone will be on the same page. It means caring about your cat’s feelings, wishes and rights, which are all critical to feline wellbeing.

We believe that the best way to respect cats is to treat them like cats—not ‘less demanding small dogs’. With pet ownership rates rising all over the world and pet cats and dogs being the top 2 most popular types of pets, many people unwittingly start to compare them. Some even ask the flawed question ‘Do dogs or cats make better pets?’. By the end of this article, you will understand why the aforementioned line of thinking is unsound and learn a more respectful alternative.

This article will:
-Debunk myths about cats
-Reinforce the fact that every cat’s personality is a complex construct
-Guide people on the right way to choose between a cat or a dog

Debunking myths about cats

In order to treat cats respectfully, we must first understand them well. Unfortunately, there is a problematic yet prevalent trend of many people believing damaging stereotypes about cats. These thought errors potentially compromise feline wellbeing which is why they must be corrected.

Myth 1: Cats are anti-social

Truth: Cats are more affectionate than what popular culture gives them credit for. Sure, cats are less effusive than dogs. As noted by a renowned cat expert, most cats are more reserved in the way they express their love for humans. They are unlikely to wag their tail or hop about eagerly when you pass by, but they can love us, bond with us, and attach to us nonetheless.

In fact, the following 2019 research study, which is based on data gathered from 108 cat research participants, suggests that cats are just as loyal to their hoomans as dogs. The researchers found that cats form attachments with their humans similar to those that dogs and even babies form!

Practical tips to respect your cat’s needs:

Cats do generally love their human companions thus they crave a certain level of affection from you. However, moderation is key. Be mindful not to go overboard because that would be over-stimulating for your cat.

What you need to do is to schedule time daily to interact with your cat while letting it have plenty of peace and quiet throughout the rest of the day. Specifically, it is recommended that you spend at least 10-15 minutes per day playing with your cat.

However, at the same time, respect your cat's need for personal space. If it shows signs of disinterest during the play session, it may indicate that playtime should come to a close soon. Do not force your cat to play with you because that would induce unnecessary stress. Your cat, despite its utterly adorable appearance, is not a toy. Rather, it is a sentient being with feelings, so you should respect its play preferences.

Additionally, meet your cat’s need for its own private space to recharge by making sure that there are several hiding spots in your home, where it can feel safe and relaxed. You can consider buying a hideaway bed for your feline which is a comfortable enclosed space where your cat can chill.

Myth 2: cats are disobedient

Truth: Cats do have a mind of their own, but with proper training you can reinforce desirable behaviours in them. Cats are not as willing as dogs to listen to their owners just to please them  because these felines are more independent creatures.

Practical tips to respect your cat’s needs:

It might be challenging and unproductive to teach complicated commands to cats. In the words of one of our writers, ‘don't try to change her nature. Don't try to "train" her to be what she isn't. The only thing that you will do is you will cause her to be depressed’.

Of course, it is not all gloom and doom. With the right training strategy, you can inculcate good behaviours in your cat and basic commands. The cornerstone to cat training is conditioning. You can harness the power of operant conditioning's positive reinforcement to encourage your cat to behave well. You can, for example, offer rewards (e.g. treats, praise, petting) immediately after your cat responds to its name. Over time, your pet will learn that it shall be rewarded if it walks over when you call its name.

Another key point: you need to be extra patient during the training sessions because your cat is probably harder to train relative to a dog. In sum, respect your cat for who it is. Let cats be cats, not ‘less demanding small dogs’.

Understanding that every pet is unique

Of course, every pet is special. Thus, the aforementioned points are just broad generalisations that may not apply to individual pets. Your cat's personality is a complex construct that is a result of multiple factors such as its species, breed (e.g. munchkin cats tend to be more extroverted than average), socialisation (e.g. whether a pet's owner treats it kindly) and chance.

Choosing between a cat or a dog

Respect cats and dogs for who they are. If you are deciding between whether to own a pet cat or dog, you should not ask the following question. ‘Do cats or dogs make better pets?’. This is because that question rests on the flawed assumption that either cats or dogs are intrinsically better than the other when both types of pets are pawsome in their own ways.

A better question to ask would be ‘Based on my personal/family’s lifestyle and preferences, would a pet cat or dog be more suitable?’, which is a more holistic frame of thought.

Visit our Pet Master and CatSmart retail outlets today

Finally, for those living in Singapore, Pet Master matches adorable puppies to the right owners, and our affiliate brand, CatSmart provides the same service for kittens. Should you wish to become a pawrent, our friendly staff at our Pet Master and CatSmart retail outlets can make your dream come true.