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My 7 Month Old Kitten is Aggressive (What now?)

If you have a young kitten of 7 months (or near to that), you may be shocked to see some aggression. No doubt you are wondering

Why is my 7-month-old cat so aggressive?

Your 7-month-old cat is likely to be aggressive because she is either scared or curious. Sometimes this behavior is linked to her missing her mother and lashing out due to her lack of trust in humans because of this experience.

In older cats, this can be linked to quite a few different issues (more on this later).

Now that you know why your cat is acting aggressive, let me go on to explain other reasons for this behavior, if she will grow out of it, why your cat may be acting hyperactive and so much more. Keep reading…

Other Reasons for cat aggression?

Earlier I mentioned the main triggers for your cat’s aggression. But, there are quite a few more triggers that I need to discuss with you.

Feeling Pain

If your cat is injured or has a sensitive/tender area on their body that they do not want to be touched, they may lash out at you if you overstep the line.

When I say overstep the line, I mean come in contact with this vulnerable area, are you with me? If you fail to keep your distance then she may hiss, scratch or even bite you.

Feeling Fearful

Fear is one of the biggest triggers of aggression. Earlier I mentioned that some cats that have been separated from their mothers too early may have aggressive tendencies, right?

Well, this is the root cause of this reaction. Effectively they have no trust in you, along with other humans, and for that reason, they are likely to lash out.

Hormones Going Crazy

If you have a male cat, especially one that has not been neutered, you may notice aggression. The reason I say a male cat is due to their hormonal makeup.

They are programmed to be hostile to other male cats in a pursuit to win her for mating. This hostile behavior can also affect you as the owner as well.

Feeling stressed out

Like us humans, if cats feel stressed or uncomfortable (especially male cats), they may get aggressive (Click here to see how to stop your kitten hissing at your older cat) or unsociable. This can range from small things, such as new people in your house, a new environment or even the arrival of a new pet.

In more extreme circumstances your cat may feel under attack from a rival cat, which will stress her out. Which, in turn, will lead to aggressive behavior.

Do kittens grow out of aggression?

If you are experiencing this unsociable behavior from your cat, you may be wondering how long it will take for her to grow out of it. Or, will she ever grow out of it.

The answer is yes, you should expect her to grow out of it within approximately 18 months or so (give or take a few months). To be truthful, this is only a guide. Why? Because every cat is different.

Also, as discussed earlier, there are many reasons why your cat may even stop, but then start getting aggressive again. For example, she develops an uncontrollable pain, are you with me?

Why does my kitten bite me when I pet him?

If you have ever stroked or petted your cat and she gave you a random nip, you may be baffled. It is not always obvious why this has happened, right?

Well, there is a known reason for this. In most cases its because your cat has become overstimulated. This may sound weird, how can they get overstimulated?

For example, you may excessively stroke her, do it for too long or even stroke her in the wrong direction, are you with me?

This typically results is a reactional bite or even a hiss (Click here to see why your cat may hiss at your dad). Usually, there is a warning for this, but not always.

Why is my kitten so hyper?

If you have noticed that your cat is acting “weird”. In particular hyperactive. You may be scratching your head thinking, what could have caused this?

In most cases, this could be something quite small/subtle, such as a new person in your home, unknown houseguest (Click here to see what to do if your cat attacks your houseguest) or even a new baby.

The best thing to do is to give her some space at first. If you have been patient and she is still acting up you can try pheromones (Click here for me best pheromones for aggressive cats), catnip or even some soft music in the background.

What does it mean when a cat bites you hard?

Earlier I explained the reason why your cat may give you a quick nip. Now, in some cases, this may escalate to a hard bite. if this happens there is usually a reason for this and some telltale clues as well.

Firstly, don’t freak out, it may not have been a serious attempt to hurt you. Believe it or not, your cat may be playing with you.

The tell-tale signs of a loving bite

If your cat bites you, then runs off and looks back at you in a playful manner, this is a good sign that she wants to play games. I understand that it may hurt, but maybe she doesn’t know her own strength. This behavior is similar to pet dogs’ actions.

A Warning Sign

If this is not the case, then this is likely to be a warning to just back up and leave her alone, are you with me? Basically, you overstepped the mark, overstimulated her, and she needs space, get it? So, do what she wants, move back and give her some space.

Ways to avoid her biting or being overly aggressive

Now that you understand why cats behave reacting to aggression, and what triggers them. I want to give you some ideas on how to prevent/avoid it happening in the future.

01. Avoid using your feet/hands as toys

As much as you are tempted to play with your cat using your hands or feet, don’t do it. It may not result in anything at first, but, you are opening the invitation for her to bite you. Basically, you are asking for trouble doing this.

Instead of this use a soft toy, such as a toy mouse or laser cat toy (Click here to see why I love this one). But, in fact, any toy that you use should be kept well away from your fingers, hands and feet, are you with me?

02. Play with your cat to entertain & wear them out

As well as being cautious with how and what you use to play with them. Just make sure that you do actually play with them on a regular basis.

It may seem like a small thing, but, your cat will build a bond with you during these times. Which will lead to her trusting you. The end product is fewer chances of aggression.

03. Put a bell collar on her

Click image above for availability on Amazon

Some cats have weird habits of launching themselves at you from random locations around the house. If this is the case, you need a way to warn you that she is about to jump you.

The easiest way to achieve this is with a bell collar (Click here for availability o Amazon). This simple device will warn you if has the urge to jump on you when you least expect it.

Things to avoid with an aggressive cat

So far I have spoken to you about what you can do to help matters. However, you may be wondering if there is anything that you need to avoid to keep her relaxed, right?

Avoid punishing her

As frustrated as you may get, avoid the temptation to punish or chastise here, well not physically anyway. It may seem like a good quick fix, but long term it won’t be productive.

I say this because, acting like this is more likely to make her stop trusting you, become more fearful and you will start a vicious cycle of aggression, are you with me?

What you can do instead

Instead of punishing her, you can try and use positive reinforcement. This is a method of treating her for good behavior. This will entice her to do what you want because she wants treats. This can simply be done by using her favorite treat (Click here for my best subscription cat treat boxes) whenever she obeys you.

Related Questions:

In this section, I will answer some questions related to cats, aggression, and behavior. If you have some additional questions then drop a comment below.

How do cats show affection?

Cats show affection by using their tail. This multi-functional cat limb is used to rub against you to show she is happy. Often you may be sitting down and she will gently glide her tail on you. This is a positive indication.

Where should my kitten sleep at night?

Your kitten should have her own cat bed (Click here to see my best 5 beds for kittens). Failing that, she can have her own designated area. You should avoid sharing your bed with her if possible because she is small.

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My Roommate Wants to Get a Cat (Should I Allow it?)

If your roommate wants to get a cat you may be wondering what you should say. I am assuming its not an easy decision, or you wouldn’t be reading this, right?

Should I allow my roommate to get a cat if they want it?

Yes, you should let your roommate get a cat if it is allowed in your accommodation and you have no allergies or anxiety around cats. It will keep them happy and increase the chances of your roommate staying with you.

Now that you know it may be a good idea to let your roommate get a cat, let me go on to explain some pros and cons of having the cat in your accommodation to help you decide if you should agree to it.

Does your accommodation allow cats?

Earlier I mentioned that one of the conditions around your decision is if it’s allowed in your accommodation. This is quite important before going any further.

Rented Accommodation

If you are currently renting a house with a friend/partner, and they want a cat. The key thing is checking with your landlord first. Sometimes it may be clearly stated in your rental agreement, other times it may be vague.

If it is not clear, contact your landlord or agent to confirm where you stand first, before agreeing to get a cat with your roommate.

Student Accommodation

Student accommodation is often the same as rented accommodation. But, in some cases, you need to speak to the college/university directly, rather than a landlord.

Depending on their rules, it may even be common knowledge that pets are not allowed. Often, in designated student accommodation, for example, student dormitories, they have a no pet policy, but you will have to check for yourself.

Government-funded Accommodation

If you have government assistance, you may be living in a house owned by the government. If that is the case you need to check their policy on pets. The problem is, every local area has lightly different rules. So, there is no one size fits all policy, are you with me?

Owned Accommodation

If it is your own accommodation, then you have no real restrictions. It comes down to you if you can cope. If you have any allergies or any major reason like that, then it is a no-brainer to refuse.

But, if that is not the case, you may consider going ahead with the new cat. This is for two reasons:

• Keep your flatmate happy
• Make them more likely to stay longer.

Is there more than two people to consider?

So far I have discussed your accommodation and the reasons why you may consider going ahead with the new cat. But, if you have more than two people to decide, this can get more complicated.

Settle it with a vote

The best way to deal with this, in my opinion, is to have a vote. This is the fairest way. This is because unstructured “discussions” can usually lead to who shouts the loudest, or worse case, you all fall out, are you with me?

What are the advantages of having a cat?

Before you even consider saying yes, or no. You need to understand the advantages of owning or sharing your personal space with a cat. Let me help by listing some advantages of owning a cat…

01. Help you through hard times

One of the benefits of owning a cat is their company and unjudgmental presence. What do I mean by this? Well, if you are going through hard times, such as losing a friend or a family member, it can be beneficial to have a cat.

They are unjudgmental because they can’t talk back with an opinion that could make you feel uneasy. In fact, many cat owners love having them for this exact reason. They will listen without a response. Some owners argue that this lack of response is very therapeutic.

There have been studies carried out that concluded that cats help secrete oxytocin, which is a hormone responsible for love and helps us trust people. Others have also stated that cats can help to calm some autistic children.

02. Find a Partner

In recent studies, it has been confirmed that having a cat can increase your chances of attracting a partner. This is based on a survey done on female members of popular dating websites.

The response was that females were more likely to respond to a male profile that had a cat because it made them feel that the male was more sensitive.

03. Emotional Support

You may have wondered why there is a stereotype of lonely single librarians having a kitten, as a replacement for a partner. Well, maybe there is a reason for this.

Because a study conducted back in the early 2000s concluded that cats provide emotional support. It found that the level of emotional support was similar to having a significant other. This may be helped by cats’ reciprocating affection sent their way.

04. Reduce day-to-day stress & anxiety

Many cat owners have explained that part of their love for cats has been because of their ability to help them get through anxious times in their life.

Simply playing with their cat and open displays of affection (Click here to see why your cat may have stopped sitting on your lap), such as cuddling and holding them have made a big difference in their stress levels and anxiety.

05. Get rid of mice & Rats

One of the more obvious advantages of having a cat is pest control. When I say “pests”, I mean mice and rats. Most people are aware of cats hate for mice, in fact, it has been played up quite a lot on TV. In particular cartoons such as “Tom & Jerry”, remember them? Or am I just showing my age, ha!

06. Keep you active

I understand that cats are not as needy as dogs. But, they still need physical exercise (Click here for my 3 best cat playpens to help your cat to get more activity and exercise) and stimulation. And, a small portion of this is required their owner’s assistance. This is where you can benefit from this.

These small activities will help to keep you active and that mental boost at the same time. Similar to the boost you get from going to the gym, are you with me?

07. Backup alarm clock

We all know there are times we smash the alarm clock snooze button so many times it can become unproductive. Are you with me? On these occasions, your kitty can be a lifesaver. As she snuggles up to you on your seventh snooze alarm, it might be the thing that actually gets you up that day.

08. Low maintenance

Let’s face it, cats are relatively low maintenance. Once they have enough food,  plenty of water (Click here to see why I suggest this water fountain) and good litter tray (Click here to see why this Japenese version is best), then you are pretty much set.

09. Boosts Your bodies natural Immunity

You may or may not know that cats have a tendency to drop dander and fur around your house. While this may seem like a negative, it can also be positive.

But how? Well, this extra exposure to these things can help your body build up natural immunity. Your body is clever, it will try to defend itself with these natural defenses if it feels under attack.

10. Enjoyment & Entertainment

Depending on your sense of humor, you may find your cat is a natural source of entertainment. Why do you think these cat videos are so popular? Huh? Well, people just love watching cats antics, right?

11. Increase Responsibility (Especially for kids)

If you are a parent or could do with a boost of responsibility, then a cat will be your best bet. Why? Well, they require your assistance to be fed, cleaned up after, etc.

Therefore, if your child is given some basic tasks, such as feeding your cat once a day, it helps to keep them responsible. And, it quantifies their responsibility, so you can assess their progress, make sense?

Disadvantages of owning a Cat

Like any good thing, there are always negatives. Owning a cat is no exception. So, before you agree to take on this cat with your flatmate evaluate these disadvantages as well.

01. Cats Shed

Earlier I mentioned the benefits of cats shedding dander and fur, right? Well, it also has a bad side too. It will leave fur around your house, for you to clean up. So, bare this one in mind.

02. Smelly Cat Litter

Although cats are relatively low maintenance, especially when compared to dogs, they still need work. And the smell of their poop (Click here to understand why cats poop when you get home) is sometimes overwhelming, to be honest.

So, just understand this, if your roommate is out one day, you may need to clean up the mess, are you with me?

03. May turn off your guests

Let’s be honest, not everyone is a cat lover. And, the reality is there are some friends that may just hate cats. The problem is, there may be a small minority of your friends that may not get along with your cat (Click here to see why your cat might attack your houseguest), and it may make them less likely to pass by for some tea or coffee.

04. Vet Bills

Whilst cats are not too expensive to look after, in my opinion. they do have costs. And, in particular, is the vet’s costs. If you are unlucky and your cat (or your roommates) is sick, the costs could rack up.

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Why does my cat hiss at my dad?

If your cat is going crazy when your Dad is at your house, you may be left wondering what her problem is, right?

Why does my cat hiss at my dad?

Your cat is hissing at your Dad because she is either scared, reacting to violation of her personal space (without your dad knowing) or she has suffered from a man before and associates your dad with this pain.

Now that you know some reasons why she has reacted in this way, let me explain how so of these issues may have occurred, but more importantly, what you can do about it.

What has triggered this response to my dad?

As discussed briefly, it is one of these issues:

• Fear
• Violation of personal space
• Historical poor treatment from adult males

Fear

The number one reason for this hissing response is fear. The tricky thing is, it can be for many different reasons. So, the challenge to you is to find out what the underlying issue is.

If she only hisses at your dad, then read the next section, I have a few suggestions for this. However, if she is hissing at all men, again, I have got you, keep reading.

Violation of personal space

This one needs a bit of digging first. Did your cat start hissing the moment your Dad entered the door? If yes, skip this and move onto the next section.

If not, then there is a good chance that your dad violated her personal space. An example of this is getting to close to her while she was napping on the sofa. Or maybe he brushed past her and hurt her, without even noticing.

If its the latter, your dad may have not noticed. And, the problem is, cats take a while before they can forgive you for this (more on this later).

Historical poor treatment from adult males

Poor treatment to your kitty may be hard to detect, especially if this happened before you owned her, are you with me? If this is the case, your cat may be fearful of all men, based on this experience.

Heard the term “once bitten, twice shy?”, same thing here. To make matters worse, your cat can detect testosterone and may trigger her hissing reaction, not just to your Dad, but other males.

Should I hiss back at my cat?

No, you should not hiss back at your cat, if she hisses at you. I know, it could be tempting. But why? The reality is, its dangerous. But, let me explain.

When your cat hisses, it is her way of saying: “Oi, I am warning you, back up, or else”, are you with me? It’s your final warning.

Before what, though?

Well, if you are not sure, let me spell it out. The next step could mean her biting or scratching you (Click here to see why your cat may paw at smooth surfaces). Either of these is unwanted.

Other Reasons Cats May Hiss

In reality, there are various other reasons why your cat may hiss. For that reason, in this section, I will explain a few of them, to help you understand what may be happening with your kitty.

Medical Issues

Firstly there are quite a few medical issues that can cause your cat to hiss at you, out of sheer frustration. Such as the following:

• Dental issues
• Joint pain (Arthritis)
• Urinary Infection
• etc.

A clear indication of this is if she hisses suddenly, which seems out of character. She may be suffering a lot of pain, and this may have resulted in this reaction. If this is the case, you need to take her to the vets as soon as possible (Click here to see why I like these lightweight carriers for short journeys to the vets, etc), to find out exactly what the issue is.

Tried to Handle Her?

If you’ve been trying to handle your cat, which is a usual thing that you would do, and she has reacted with a real sharp hiss. Then this could be another telltale sign that she is feeling some pain and needs some assistance.

Changes in your home?

Another thing that can unsettle your cat and make them do unexpected behavior, such as hissing at you, is if there have been changes in their environment.

This may be the addition of a new family member, maybe you have changed home or someone has left the family home, are you with me?

The reality is, cats are creatures of habit and small things can unsettle them. These small things can make them act unreasonably in our minds, but deep down, there is a root cause problem for this.

How do you stop your cat from hissing at you?

One of the biggest mistakes cat owners make is to try and comfort their cat, while she is hissing at them. This is a desperate attempt to try and stop it from happening.

I understand this makes logical sense because in your mind this might be how you would like to be treated. However, for her, the best thing to do is to give her some space.

When I say space, I don’t mean wait a few minutes and then try and handle her again, no!

I mean at least a few hours before she may be willing to come back to her senses and willing to play with you again, are you with me?

If you’ve been patient and waited a few hours. Try and coax her back into your arms using a nice friendly treat. Or, maybe some catnip (Click here to see the crazy effects catnip has on cats), if that’s her thing.

My experience with this…

I remember when I was a child and was playing with my favorite cat. I remember walking out of a door and accidentally stepping on her tail.

I was only small at the time and it really shocked me. The hissing sound that she made quite frightened me because it was out of character for her.

I remember trying to make the same mistake most make, by trying to comfort her immediately after because I felt so guilty about it.

It didn’t go down very well. And, it taught me an important lesson, that you should take time and give your cat space in these situations.

What should you do if your two cats are hissing at each other?

If you have two cats and noticed that they are fighting or hissing at each other it is a good idea to stop it from happening. Obviously, you need to be careful that you do not put yourself in danger.

It is not a good idea to leave them to fight it out. Like in the previous section, I explained that you need to give them some time apart to recover, the same applies here.

Catnip & Treats

Other tactics that you can use to stop this happening is calming therapy, such as catnip or pheromones (Click here to see why I rated these 3 pheromone collars for aggressive cats) to try and see if it will stop them from reacting in this manner.

Will cats hold grudges?.

Yes. cat hold grudges, but it won’t last long. If your cat is hissing at you and you know you have done something to upset her, you may be wondering if she will hold a grudge.

The reality is a cat’s long-term memory is really not that great. Therefore, she will hold a grudge, but, for a very short period of time. After a few hours, it is likely that she will forgive or forget.

However, they do have memory by association. So obviously, if you start to abuse the cat, then that is a whole different matter because she won’t forget that.

So, there is no need to worry about your cat not wanting to be around you or hissing long term if you made a mistake.

Why doesn’t my cat hiss?

If you have a cat that doesn’t seem to hiss at all then this is not necessarily a problem. Maybe you have come across other cats that do this and you may be scratching your head thinking why she doesn’t do the same, right?

The reality is each cat has different ways of dealing with things. Some cats may react aggressively (Click here to see why a 7-Month-Old Kitten may act aggressively), but not necessarily hiss, are you with me?

Therefore, you need to look at the big picture. Focus on her general demeanor and behavior instead.

However, If your cat did hiss once upon a time, but now, all of a sudden, it is not hissing. Then, this is different. Because it shows a change of behavior and could be a reason to be concerned.

If this is the case then it is advisable to consult your vet to see if there is anything to be concerned about.

How does a cat hiss?

If you have ever seen a cat hiss you may be wondering how this is even possible.  Your cat will use its tongue and the arch in its upper portion of its mouth. This creates a vessel which she pushes air through at a rapid rate.

While it is doing this she typically pushes her ears down. At the same time creating an aggressive and threatening body posture by arching her back.

If you have ever been brave enough to get close to a cat while it is hissing, which I do not recommend you do at all, by the way, you would have noticed the big blast of air that comes from its mouth when she is doing this.

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Can Cats Eat Graham Crackers?

If you are a happy cat owner, and like me, you want to check everything that your cat eats. You may have wondered about graham crackers, are they a good idea?

Can cats eat graham crackers?

Yes, cats can eat graham crackers. But, it’s not recommended. This is because they are not made for cats and contain too much sugar, salt, and fat. They offer no nutritional benefit for a cat, so no reason to offer it.

Now that you know that they can eat them, but not ideal, let me go on to explain their nutritional content, the risks of feeding your cat too many crackers (in general). As well as if cats can even taste sweet foods and much more. Keep reading…

What are graham crackers?

If you have landed here wondering what Graham crackers are, then don’t panic because I will fill you in. I understand because I never grew up with these crackers, in fact, coming from the UK, I have never actually eaten one in my life.

According to Wikipedia, These crackers are a sweet type of cracker that is made with Graham flour. They often come in the form of honey or cinnamon variations.

They are quite popular in the United States and are often used in various recipes or served with other sweet snacks. They originated way back in the 1880s, so, they have stood the test of time.

Nutritional Content of Graham Crackers

The following nutritional breakdown, according to Wikipedia, is based on a 14 g measure of Graham crackers:

• Calories – 59
• Fat – 1.4 g
• Cholesterol – 0 mg
• Sodium – 67 mg
• Potassium – 19 mg
• Carbohydrates – 11 g
• Protein – 1 g

Risks of serving your cat too many crackers

So far I have explained what graham crackers contain and the fact that they are not ideal for your cat. However, you may be keen to understand what risks these crackers really pose, right?

No nutritional benefits for cats

Think of graham crackers as a treat. It is not really needed by us humans as well as cats. For cats, there are many other nutritional offerings that are more beneficial.

How many times have you had chocolate, sweet biscuit or packet of crisps last month? Exactly, probably more than you should, right? My point is, its ok in moderation, but we know these foods are not ideal for us. Same with cats and Graham crackers.

Controlling your cat’s weight

One of the biggest concerns is controlling your cat’s weight (Click here to learn how to weigh your cat to check it). Like us, cats can only eat so much per day, before they exceed their calory limit. Beyond this, it starts to make them gain weight.

If this spirals out of control it can lead to obesity (more on this later). So, I am not saying your cat will get fat from one cracker, no, that would be ridiculous. My point is, it starts bad habits, that could spiral out of control if it is not monitored.

Are Graham Crackers the same as digestives?

No, Graham crackers are not the same as digestive biscuits. However, they are quite similar. In some countries, Graham crackers are either quite rare or almost impossible to get (more on this later).

Therefore, some people wonder if they can substitute them with digestive biscuits. Because, in some countries, such as the UK, digestives are very common.

In general, digestives are sweeter than graham crackers. Also, they are not the same texture. Digestives are not as crisp as Graham crackers.

Can you get Graham Crackers in the UK?

Yes, you can get Graham crackers in the UK. However, they are quite hard to find. If you are searching for them in the UK you can find them. But, in comparison to common biscuits like digestives, they are hard to find.

This is why many cooks, who need graham crackers for a specific recipe, tend to substitute them for digestives. Within a recipe, it offers quite a good alternative, in my opinion.

Related Questions:

In this section, I am going to answer some questions related to cats, crackers, and food in general. If you have any extra questions feel free to drop me a comment below.

Can we feed biscuits to cats?

No, you should not feed biscuits to your cat. This is because they are too sweet and loaded with sugar. Too much of them can lead to an upset stomach, or even worse, diarrhea. It is acceptable as a one-off treat.

I understand that you may be tempted to offer your cat one of these as a perceived treat. But, you may be surprised to understand that cats really do not view these sweet biscuits as a treat, not like us. This is because their taste buds are different from ours (more on this later).

Is sugar harmful to cats?

No, it’s not harmful. However, if it is overused it is likely to lead to obesity, diabetes or dental decay. Sugar really has no positive benefits for a cat, and arguably the same for us humans. Therefore, choose another option.

Although this may seem a bit overhyped, the reality is, I need to be harsh to be kind. There is no real reason to be finding your kitty with sugar. Us humans are still feeling the effects, in general, from years of overeating processed sugary food to this day. So, try and leave your cat out of the loop, are you with me?

Can cats eat goldfish crackers?

Yes, cats can eat goldfish crackers. However, they are not recommended. The simple reason is, they offer very little to no nutritional value to your cat.  If your cat gets hold of one and devours it, it’s not the end of the world.

However, just because it’s not the end of the world, it doesn’t mean you have the green flag of recommendation, it needs to be avoided.

Do cats hate bitter-tasting food?

Yes, cats hate bitter-tasting food. In fact, so much so that there are products that have been created that use sour tastes to deter cats such as “bitter apple”. However, this aversion to sour tastes is important for their survival. It helps them detect poisonous food, etc.

These bitter products are useful if you want to find a way to protect furniture items or even as a clever way t train your cat what she needs to avoid touching, are you with me?

Can cats eat saltine crackers?

No, cats should not be fed saltine crackers. This is because the salt contained in them is way too much for your cat. Again, if your cat gets a taste of one, it won’t be a serious issue. But it is not recommended as regular food for their diet.

To be honest, its pretty much the same practice for Grahams crackers, which I explained earlier in this article. In moderation, yes. A weekly part of their diet? No way! Are you with me?

What are the dangers of Cat obesity?

So far I have mentioned cat obesity a few times. But, it may not be very clear why this is a real issue. Forgive me if this is obvious.

The thing about obesity, it is more than just the obesity itself, its the knock-on effects, are you with me?

Stress on their joints, etc

So, if your cat is obese, she stands a good chance of having joint or cartilage issues. This is because of the additional stress that is put on her body. In particular, her musculoskeletal system.

In addition to this, there are other risks such as arthritis (Click here for the best cat beds for this) and hip problems. And, we haven’t even discussed the biggest issues, such as diabetes and heart disease.

So, in general, it is worth taking note and avoiding these issues as much as possible. The fact is avoiding treats such as Grahams crackers, biscuits, blueberry muffins, etc. Is a great way to help to avoid these problems.

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What Does It Mean When Your Cat Pees on You?

If your cat has peed on you you (Click here to learn how to clean up the urine off your hardwood flooring) may be left scratching your head wondering why this has happened. Especially if you have had this cat for a while and it is completely out of character.

What does it mean if a cat pees on you? If your cat pees on you, its either because he is marking his territory, feeling scared, anxious or worried that you may be being claimed by another cat. Each of these requires different approaches.

Now that you know why this may be happening, let me give you more detail on each of these possibilities. Also, why scent is so important to your cat, different ways she may mark her territory in your house and much more. Keep reading…

Reasons why he has peed

The reality is there are a number of reasons that could make your cat do this. It’s difficult and frustrating, but, it’s up to you to work out which one is more relevant to your particular situation.

01. Marking its territory

If your cat is marking his territory he is more likely to rub his head against you to leave his scent on you (more on this later). However, there is a small chance that he may urinate on you for this same reason.

02. Feeling scared.

In some cases, if cats are feeling anxious or scared, they may do unexpected behaviour, such as urinating on you or refusing to go downstairs (Click here to see how to stop this). This is why some cat owners prefer cat grooming bags to make them feel less anxious while travelling around (Click here to see why I rated this).

You need to understand what may have caused your cat to get alarmed so you can help to solve the problem.

Fear of another cat claiming (or animal) you.

Along the same lines as marking its territory. Your cat may have been spooked by another cat, animal or person who they feel is trying to claim you as their owner.

In this instance, they may do irrational things such as peeing on you.

Did your cat do this to be rude?

After discovering the wet urine on your body, you may be wondering, regardless of the reasons why, if he has done this is as a vengeful attack, or even being spiteful.

The reality is if a cat pees on you, although it seems like an unacceptable show of disrespect, do not take it personally. Cats behave very differently to humans. And, in their mind, their behaviours are interpreted very differently.

Obviously, if a human being done this to us, it would be regarded as the ultimate disrespect. And, some would even fight over this.

However, for a cat it does not see urinating on an insult in this way at all. It sees it in a very practical way, simply to mark his territory and identify familiar friends (more on this later).

Why scent is so important to cats

With all this talk about urinating and marking territory, you may be wondering why their scent is so important to your cat.

Cats are very different from us, as I explained earlier. One of the main reason I say this is the fact that they use scent to identify their territory. It is also a way to identify people in their own family. Such as their own siblings or even their own kittens.

You may notice, for example, if you take your cat out for the day to the vet (Click here to see why I like the idea of using these cat carriers when heading to the vets). Then you return home. If you’re in a multi-cat household, the other cats initially mainly to smell the cat and sniff around her just to identify that it is actually her.

Obviously to us humans, this is weird because with one glance we can identify who the person is by using our vision, right?

But for cats, it’s different, they heavily rely on their scent, rather than their vision.

What ways do cats mark their territory?

Cats have a few different ways that they mark their territory. Such as urinating, rubbing against objects, or even scratching.

Rubbing

Rubbing against you is probably one of the most common things that you may notice. Why? because they routinely do this to most of us humans, right?

This is a clever way for him to use his scent glands, in his cheeks to rub against you and mark you. So that he knows who you are when you meet again.

Urinating or spraying.

Urinating (and spraying), as we mentioned before, is another way of marking his territory. But this time using urine, which has a very distinct smell.

Obviously, as we know, this is a big problem for us humans, right? Because the smell is very strong and it’s very hard to get rid of (more on this later).

Scratching and Clawing

If you are the unlucky homeowner who has a cat scratching his furniture or door frames (Click here for my best solution to stop her scratching this). And, you can fully relate to this. Cats use this technique to sharpen their claws as well as mark their territory.

What kind of urine marking is there?

There are two distinct types of urine marking that cats use:

• Horizontal
• Vertical

Vertical

Vertical urination marking is typically on a wall (or another vertical object). One leg is put in the air, with their tail erect. He then sprays urine onto the object.

Horizontal

Horizontal is what we commonly see when, for example, a big wet wee mess on a floor.

What can you do if your cat pees on your bed?

If you are unlucky and find that your cat is weeing (Click here to see 9 Reasons why your cat’s peeing in the house all of a sudden) on you while you are in your bed. You may have a big mess to clean up. The problem is, if it’s not handled properly, it can linger for months.

Cover it up (Short term tactical fix)

In the first instance, the best thing that you can do is cover your bed with plastic sheeting. This is just to keep it from getting it more wet and smelly.

This is not the solution but something to keep it under control while you work out what the root cause of the problem is, are you with me?

One tactic that you can use is to grab some of your cat’s favourite toys and place them in the area which is typically affected by the urine.

The trick here is to deter your cat from urinating in this area because it is unlikely to want to spoil its toys.

If it’s an Anxiety-related issue

If you dig into the root cause and find out it is an anxious reaction. One of the things that you can do, which is quite easy, is to give your cat a bit more attention. Make him feel calmer before you go to bed especially. This is one of the reasons some cat owners choose a cat bed for anxious cats (Click here to see why I rated this one).

What smells can deter your cat from peeing?

If you have an ongoing problem with your cat urinating or peeing in your house or even on you. You can use this to deter him. It relies on using strong smelling fragrances.

Cats have a very strong sense of smell. And, fragrances which have a very strong smell, even if they may smell delicious to you or me, can actually deter cats. This is because it’s doesn’t appeal to them.

Example of these smells

Example of these smells is natural essential oils, such as:

• Lavender
• Lemon
• or even peppermint.

These types of essential oils have very strong smells. They will deter your cat from peeing on areas such as your carpet or piece of furniture.

To implement this, all you need to do is take approximately 15 to 20 drops of these essential oils mixed with water.

Then mix it up into a spray bottle. Then spray the protected areas daily. Then monitor your cat to see if it deters him from urinating in that spot, are you with me?

Cleaning up the mess after your cat pees in a corner.

Another issue, which a lot of cat owners have, is their cat urinating in a particular corner of the room. This can become an ongoing problem.

This is because of your cat detecting its scent in this spot, and then feeling the urge to re-soil the same area over and over again.

Therefore, one of the best things that you should do is clean up the mess initially. But do it well. This is because it will remove the scent and make them less likely to return to that spot, are you with me?

I understand it is not as easy as you might think. Why? Because cat urine has quite a strong lingering smell. However, one of the best things to use is an enzymatic cleaner, some vinegar or even better a wet vacuum for cat urine (Click here to the best one, in my opinion). This can help to remove the smell for good.