Cat ownership
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Slowly blink at your cat when you make eye contact to signal that you are not a threat.
It communicates comfort and lack of danger through simulated sleepiness.
- Does not work on all cats.
- Works better with cats that already know you.
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- To calm a cat, avoid direct eye contact and yawn.1
Place double-sided sticky tape or packing tape face-up on counter edges and access points to deter cats.
The sticky texture gets stuck to the cat, causing them to hate the place.
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Avoid staring directly into a cat's eyes.
Prolonged eye contact is perceived as aggression, a challenge, or a sign of distrust, which can cause stress or lead to scratching/biting.
- Some cats do not mind being stared at while receiving scratches.
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Gently place your cat on the ground after holding them; do not drop them.
Dropping can injure their legs or key them up.
- Cats may wriggle when they have had enough, which people might misinterpret as wanting to jump down.
one person who lived it
Place a chair, bench, or perch in front of windows so pets can watch outside activity.
Watching outside provides entertainment for cats and helps dogs confirm if noises are threats.
- Some dogs may bark furiously at people outside.
- Blind dogs may stare at walls instead.
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Hiss at a cat or make a sharp 'tsh' sound to stop biting or scratching.
Cats understand the message instinctively, similar to how they hiss to blow air out.
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Get down to a cat's eye level and approach slowly with tasty treats, avoiding looming or cornering them.
Cats are less afraid when you go on your knees and can sense if you intend to grab them.
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If a cat uses claws on you, push it off the bed or nightstand to teach it to tap gently instead.
It took time, but the cat eventually learned to only tap arms carefully.
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Act indifferent or annoyed by cats to encourage them to pursue you.
Cats are drawn to those who play hard to get and feel safer with people who avoid intimidating eye contact.
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Stop petting a cat just before they show signs of boredom or try to leave.
This helps them associate you with positive attention rather than annoyance.
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Avoid using squirt bottles for discipline if the cat perceives it as a game.
One owner found it became a game and did nothing to dissuade the behavior.
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Keep cats indoors.
Indoor-only cats are safer from automobiles, psychos, coyotes, and dogs, and it prevents harm to indigenous species.
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Interpret gentle biting that doesn't break skin as a sign of affection or a 'kitty hug'.
It's a kitty version of a hug.
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Create a custom cat perch by stapling carpet to a piece of plywood and clamping it to a windowsill.
Cats love this setup.
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Yawn back at a cat when it yawns at you.
It serves as a reciprocation of comfort and trust.
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Play with dry pasta to entertain cats.
Its light weight causes it to fly fast across the floor, keeping them busy.
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Learn to read cat body language to identify overstimulation cues before they escalate to attacks.
Ignoring these long lists of cues leads to the cat swiping because it was done with the situation long ago.
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Provide high resting spots near where you spend time or near windows with outdoor activity.
Cats enjoy high vantage points to rest and watch for birds or squirrels.
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Use Dum Dums suckers as toys.
One owner found they kept attention longer than purchased toys.
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Do not chase or harass a cat; if it walks away, let it go so it remembers you as non-threatening.
Chasing frightens them, while leaving them alone builds familiarity and reduces fear.
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Interpret a cat exposing its belly as a sign of trust rather than an invitation for belly rubs.
The belly is a vulnerable spot.
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If a cat attacks during belly rubs, push firmly into its body rather than pulling away.
Pulling away encourages the cat to dig in deeper; firm pressure discourages digging.
- Stop physical contact if you see warning signs like flat ears or a flagging tail.
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View forward-pointing whiskers as a sign of a smiling or happy cat.
Whiskers going forwards is described as a smile.
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Use an automatic rotating feeder to provide meals every six hours.
This reduces nighttime waking and random harassment for food.
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Keep litter boxes empty of waste, even if you do not change the litter frequently.
Cats appreciate having an empty litter box.
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Interpret purring as potentially indicating happiness, anger, self-soothing, or pain, rather than just contentment.
Cats purr when they are happy, angry, self-soothing, or in pain.
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Do not get out of bed to feed a hungry cat at night; instead, engage in another activity first before feeding them.
Getting up immediately teaches them that this behavior gets them food.
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Accept that cats teach valuable lessons about respecting boundaries.
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