(Kateryna Hliznitsova on Unsplash)
We all love our feline friends. From their quirky personalities to their cuddly nature and the subtle ways they show us affection, cats have a special charm. It’s no wonder they hold a beloved place in our hearts.
Today is International Cat Day, which raises awareness for our whiskered companions. You can show your cat you care through simple acts, according to The Spruce Pets. To celebrate this time of the year, we’ve included nine purrr-fect ways to show your cat you love them.
Give Them Special Attention
You can create a strong bond with your cat through giving them special attention. Whether it’s a lap cuddle, sharing a pillow on your bed during the nighttime, paying attention to their body language, or sitting quietly while your cat gazes over, your cat will have much to thank you for through these acts of love.
Show Your Love Through a Massage
Simply stroking your cat can provide them with an all-over feel-good massage, which can reduce their blood pressure and yours. Look out for the sweet spots that your cat likes the best, whether it’s a rub under their cheeks or a pet at the base of their tail. Touching, petting, and massaging your cat also serves as an effective way to check for fur mats, lumps, or sores that may need medical attention.
Treat Your Cat
When it comes to showing your cat some love, it’s all about the little things. With treats having different tastes, discover your cat’s favorite and have it on hand. Another way to treat your feline friend is with some catnip. The herb is a great pick-me-up for many cats and they’ll be sure to love you back when you shower them with affection and catnip.
Indulge Them With a Groom Session
Since cats can spend half of their waking hours grooming themselves, lending them a helping hand can make them feel good. It also has other benefits, including keeping their fur and skin clean. Finally, some brush time is also a bond booster for you and your cat.
Prioritize Playtime
Just like us, pets have their favorite games. Interactive games can help shy cats strengthen their confidence and bring you and your cat closer. While some cats may enjoy puzzle toys with hidden treats because they can use their brains, active cats may love cat gyms with opportunities to climb, use their claws, and hide. An empty paper bag can also work wonders for many felines.
Affection on Their Own Terms
Human body language is very different from how cats express themselves, the Irish Star reports. In a TikTok video, Cat The Vet, a vet from the UK, says cats are affectionate but they like to be on their own terms and prefer being in control. “So stroking, yes, hanging out, absolutely, but big smooshy cuddles? Maybe not so much,” Cat says.
Feed Them Small Meals
While cats love a full food bowl, it might be better for their health to provide them with smaller meals and more frequent portions. “Leaving a big full bowl of food out can encourage overeating which can lead to all sorts of health problems like obesity and arthritis,” Cat explains. “What's better and actually fits our cat's natural feeding preferences is to offer them food little and often or feeding them out of puzzle balls or treat balls, which actually encourages and mimics our cat's natural hunting behavior.”
Clean Their Litter Box
When it comes to showing your feline you love them, the placement of their litter box matters — and Cat suggests making sure there’s a view. “They like to be able to see around them when they go because remember they are vulnerable when they go to the toilet,” she shares. Cat suggests a litter tray that is at least one-and-a-half times their length, and one that is filled with sand. She adds that cleaning it out regularly is an act of true love.
Blink Slowly
Finally, you can express affection to your cat with a slow blink, according to HuffPost. While it’s long been said that blinking slowly at a cat is a way to let them know we love them and that they are safe with us, and if they slow-blink back, it’s mutual — there’s evidence to support this.
“It’s real. It’s not a myth, it’s science,” Mikel Delgado, Ph.D., a cat behaviorist and scientist, tells HuffPost. “There’s been research behind the slow blink that did suggest that cats do slow-blink in return and they do seem to respond positively to it,” he adds.
While your cat may be threatened if you stare at them, slow blinking is different and signals that you come in peace. So slow-blink away, clean their litter box, and provide your kitty with healthy small meals. The good news is there are so many ways to give your fluffball the love they deserve.
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