Cat owners know that every feline has its own distinct personality, but there are certain guidelines that pet owners should be aware of.
Insider consulted with veterinarians and veterinary technicians in order to highlight a few things that cat owners sometimes get wrong.
From exposing them to harmful houseplants to accidentally training them to scratch humans, here are a few of the worst things you can do to your furry friend:
Never force attention on your cat.
Allow your cat to come to you for affection and learn to understand when it wants to be left alone. Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
Veterinarian Wendy Hauser told Insider that pet owners should never force a cat to socialize or cuddle when they are not in the mood.
“Cat owners should not force attention on cats. Though cats enjoy human attention, they like it in smaller doses than dogs, and on their own terms. Owners should respect this basic need of their feline friends and never force attention on them, such as holding them against their will,” said Hauser.
Never bring plants or flowers into your house without first checking to be sure they are not poisonous to cats. Lilies, which are often found in flower bouquets, are highly toxic to cats and consumption of any part of this plant can lead to kidney failure and death,” veterinarian and author Ruth MacPete told Insider.
Lilies are so toxic to cats that even sipping the water in a vase containing Lilies can lead to kidney damage.
For a more complete list of plants that are poisonous to cats, check the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center site.
Don’t let your cat play with yarn or string.
That classic picture of a kitten batting around a ball of yarn is actually a dangerous scenario. Shutterstock
Animal nutritionist with PurringPal and former veterinary technician Jaimee Alsing told Insider that yarn is an unsafe toy for cats.
“Ingesting yarn or string can cause what veterinarians call a linear foreign body. Intestines become scrunched and knotted as they attempt to pass the yarn. This results in the death of sections of the intestines that must be surgically removed,” said Alsing.
Toys that have been certified as cat-safe are a far better option for feline fun. Consult your vet if you’re unsure about the appropriateness of any of your pets’ toys.
Owners should not teach their cats to “hand play.”
Cats might begin to think your fingers are toys. Shutterstock
Whether it’s a laser pointer or a light cord, cats love to bat at things that move their way.
But during playtime owners should avoid using their own hands as lures.
“Owners should never ‘hand play’ with their cats. This is because cats are hardwired to chase and hunt prey. When humans teach their cats that hands are appropriate objects to be hunted, the outcome is generally unpleasant and potentially dangerous for both the human and the cat,” said Hauser.
A more appropriate way to play with your cat is to use an inanimate object (usually a toy) as the go-between.
Never directly punish your cat, whether you plan on tapping their butt or using a loud sound.
It might make your cat avoid you. iStock
Longtime dog owners who adopt a cat for the first time may be shocked to learn that training a cat to behave isn’t as straightforward as with their canine cousins.
For starters, Hauser told Insider that directly reprimanding your cat could have unwanted consequences.
“Cats should never be directly punished, verbally or physically. Where some owners will clap their hands, stomp their feet, or jingle coins in a can to teach a dog that their behavior is unacceptable, this method will backfire with a cat,” said Hauser. “Cats are highly sensitive to loud noises and raised voices, finding them scary. They can perceive the person making these noises as a threat, and will begin to avoid them.”
If your cat is displaying behavior that you find unacceptable, it might actually be perfectly healthy behavior that simply needs an appropriate outlet.
For example, cats who are constantly leaping onto countertops and tables may benefit from having a cat tree or dedicated high perch so that they can see what is going on around them.
And cats who like to scratch may stop destroying the furniture if given a scratching post or a toy they can sink their claws into.
Avoid feeding your cat only dry food
Avoid feeding your cat only dry food…