Cats that have suffered abuse may have bodies that look horribly maimed and damaged, while others may come across unscathed in their physical appearance, they may have endured internal and emotional damage, which is harder to overcome. Cats who have been through physical abuse will still respond to a soft touch and soft voice, once they know the abuse is over for good.

With a emotionally abused cat you will need to be patient with him and let him know you are nothing to fear. Give the cat time to come to you, he doesn’t know whether you will hurt him or not. When he does come to you, let him sniff you, speak to him in a soothing tone of voice while you pet him. In a matter of time he will be able to trust you and come to you when you call him.

If you yell, raise your voice, incorrectly use flyswatters or water guns as disciplinary tools it can cause emotional damage. With an emotionally scrarred cat, repeating the wrong type of disipline can make the cat mean or lethargic. Mean cats are easier to work with, because they are concerned about what will become of them, while lethargic cats simply don’t care anymore.

Cats that become lethargic refuse to play, accept treats, or respond to anything you say to them.

With a lethargic cat, the best way to get him to respond is to take in a companion cat. In a matter of time a lethargic cat will seek attention, usually a scratch or a pat. When this happens, you should talk to him if a soothing voice and snuggle with him. Never raise your voice at this stage, and always let the cat know his behavior has changed for the better. 

Always be careful when moving around a lethargic cat for he hasn’t recovered from the trauma. Any sudden movement or raising your voice will only frighten the cat and drive him back into hiding. You need to continue to speak to him in a soft voice and be patient. Overtime your cat will eventually overcome this. Expect to go through a long and intensive healing period when dealing with a lethargic cat. It will take patience on your part.

On the other hand, mean cats will fight or scratch you, or run away from you. When working with mean cats, it is best to treat them gently while using a soft voice. It will only make the cat meaner if you raise your voice or use strict disipline. Don’t ever trap a cat, trapping will only further upset the cat. The cat will eventually calm down if you take your time and let him know you are there for him. 

Sadly, there are cats who have suffered horrific abuse. Abused cats need a caring owner who will provide a loving, stable home environment for them. They have been through a traumatic experience and need to be treated with tender loving care.

Are you thinking of adopting a cat? Yes, they do make great pets, but you need to understand what caring for a cat involves, before taking on the responsibility of cat ownership. 

Do you have the financial means to support a cat?

The cost of cat ownership can really add up with food, treats, toys, scratching posts, cat furniture, litter, litterboxes, flea treatment, veterinary visits, pet medications, pet insurance, cat sitters, other miscellaneous expenses.

Are you home often enough to give a cat the attention and care it needs? 

Although cats can be left alone for hours at a time, they still crave love and affection from their owners. It is important that you spend at least 15 minutes a day playing with the cat. Cats need fresh food and plenty of drinking water provided for them daily. Their litterbox needs to be scooped everyday and washed at least once a week. Plus, cats need to be combed everyday, especially longhaired cats. 

Are you willing to put up with any damage that might occur? 

Even though you can train a cat to use a litterbox and scratching post, chew on toys, still you can’t expect your home to be totally free from damage with a cat around. There’s a chance the cat may scratch your furniture, urinate or defecate, vomit on the carpet and furniture. The cat could unexpectly start chewing on things around the house that aren’t appropriate. 

Is your home suitable to accomodate a cat with?

If you have a dog or young children, you need to be certain the cat will be able to adapt to them. Also you need to catproof your home, like keeping the cat away from toxic plants and chemicals. Keeping electrical wires covered up or spraying bitter apple on the wires to prevent the cat from chewing on them.

Will you be able to care for your cat if he becomes ill? 

Cats can and do get sick like people. There’s the possibility you may have to miss a few days from work, stay up all night with your cat, give him medication, clean his eyes, ears nose, abcesses.

Are you willing to make the commitment? 

Cat adoption is not to be entered into lightly. It is something that needs to be well thought out.Cats can live well into their late teens, even twenties. A cat is not like a possession you can decide to get rid of like a household item that no longer suits you. Cat’s can suffer feelings of rejection when abandoned by their owners. You need to expect to be in it for the long haul.

If you can provide a safe, loving home envirement and enough time and commitment, then cat adoption may be an enjoyable experience for you , providing you with unconditional love and companionship for years to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you think owning a cat is expensive between the food, furniture, toys, and veterinary care you provide for him. Then you will be glad to know that’s money well spent. Cats can be good for your health. In this article you will discover the health benefits of owning a cat.

Cats Alleviate Stress

According to Dr. Adran Qureshi MD. who conducted a study at the University of Minnesota on pet owners and cardiovascular diseases. He found people who didn’t own cats were more at risk of dying of heart attacks, stroke, or chronic heart disease than those who had or have cats.

The reason being cats are great stess reducers. Having a cat curl up in you lap, or even brushing up against you while it’s purring can have a calming effect on you. Even petting a cat can lower blood pressure.

They make great non-judgmental sounding boards. Discussing your problems with your friends can make you feel even worse when they say the wrong thing, even though they mean well. Cats will let you express your feelings without the risk of negative feedback.

Cats can offer support. Researchers examined the outcome of friends, spouses and pets being present while a participant worked on unpleasant tasks, such as math problems. The participants reaction to stress was lower with pets being present than with friends and spouses. They made fewer errors with math challenges.

Beyond support, when physiological measures are factored in, people with cats have lower blood pressure, lower heart rates in contrast to people who don’t have cats.

Cats Reduce Medical Expenses

A study in Australia found that pet owners had less doctor visits and took less medications than non-pet owners. When we have less stress in our lives and feel better about ourselves, we are not as likely to be sick. Which goes to show the benefits of cat ownership can really add up.

Cats Can Lessen Allergy Risks

Children who are around dogs and cats are less susceptible to developing pet allergies later in life. On the other hand, adults who never had pets while growing up and are suddenly introduced to cats and dogs are more at risk of developing pet allergies later in life.

If the immune system goes through a high level of activity early in life, your less likely to experience problems with allergies later in life.

The good news is pet allergies are rare. Only about 2 to 15 percent of people worldwide are allergic to cats.

Something to consider – cats not only bring lots of joy and offer unconditional love in return, but they also lower your risk to allergies and heart attacks, along with a host of other illnesses.