【新手篇】Cat Myths - Separate Fact From Fiction (1/5)

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If a cat urinates/defecates in the wrong spot, rub it's nose in it.

Not only is rubbing your cat's nose in it's urine/faeces cruel, it serves no constructive purpose. All this type of punishment will do is frighten your cat. A far more constructive method would be to try & find out why the cat has started eliminating outside it's litter tray. Sometimes, owners think they are teaching the cat a lesson by rubbing it's nose in it's urine/faeces & then placing the cat in it's litter tray. The cat will start to associate punishment with it's litter tray & avoid using it all the more. The first stop should be to your cat's vet to rule out a medical problem. If your cat gets a clean bill of health then you will have to try & work out what is preventing your cat from using it's tray. Some possible causes are:

• The tray is too dirty, easily solved by cleaning the tray out more often.

• Your cat was ambushed by another cat while in the tray.

• Your cat doesn't like hooded trays, or alternatively, your cat doesn't like open boxes.

• Your cat doesn't like the location of the litter tray. Common location problems are...the tray has been placed in a busy area. Cats like privacy when they're on the loo. Because cats are vulnerable when they are going to the toilet, they like to ensure they have an escape route, therefore some (but not all) cats will refuse to use a tray for this reason.

Cats can have cow's milk

While a lot of cats love to drink cow's milk, it's not recommended. Many cats are lactose intolerant & giving them milk will result in them getting an upset tummy. This is especially dangerous in kittens who can dehydrate quickly.

An adult cat doesn't need to drink milk at all. If you must give your cat milk, it is recommended you purchase special "cat's milk" which has been specifically formulated for cats to drink.

Cats can have fish

It is perfectly fine to give your cat the occasional treat of fish, but it should not become a part of their regular diet. Feeding too much fish can lead to Yellow Fat Disease (steatitis), caused by Vitamin E deficiency. Cats require taurine in their diet & fish doesn't provide this in sufficient amounts.

When you move house, put butter on your cat's paws to stop it from roaming & getting lost.

Putting butter on your cat's paws won't stop it from getting lost when it moves to a new home. The safest bet is to keep your cat either exclusively indoors or allow it to go out in a purpose built cat enclosure. If you absolutely must let your cat go outdoors, hold off for 2-3 weeks. Before letting your cat out, ensure it has a microchip & the details are current. You could also buy some Feliway (available from your veterinarian) & spray this around the house. Feliway is a synthetic pheromone which help calm anxious cats.

Original Website: http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-myths