Don't touch my owner!
Copyright Source：
Yueke
Wed, May 15, 2024
PHOTO: Yueke
When we think of protective pets, we tend to think of dogs. However, cats can be very protective of their owners and family. If they feel they or you are threatened, they may take action to try and combat the threat. But, because humans are much bigger than cats, and pose a considerable threat, protective cats will typically warn you and may try and scare the threat off, rather than directly attacking. However, some cats can be overprotective and this may manifest itself as aggression towards visitors.
Below, we look at some of the possible causes of this protective instinct and what you can do to prevent your cat from attacking visitors.
Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years. They share our homes and lives. In some cases, they work with us, especially to protect food against potential scavengers. But, for the most part, they have a reputation for being aloof and standoffish. It can seem as though they don’t really care about us at all, as long as we keep putting food down and meeting their daily requirements.
But, studies suggest that cats also rely on us for comfort and security. They form very strong bonds with their owners, similar to the bonds between humans and dogs or even babies.
Because cats form these close bonds with their humans, it means they can feel the need to protect. Cats don’t think the same way as humans, or even dogs, so this protective nature doesn’t mean that they will come rushing in to save the day by attacking perceived threats. More likely, they will try to warn you of any danger.
A protective cat may follow you around the house and even sleep with you or near you. It will likely warn you of potential danger by making noise.
Having a protective cat can seem sweet, and there are even instances of cats chasing away dogs and other potential predators to protect their humans. However, it can become a problem if a cat becomes overprotective. The cat may try and prevent other people from getting too close to you and can even attack visitors to the house or other family members if they perceive them as a threat.
Signs of an overprotective cat are similar to the signs a cat would show if they feel threatened. They will bush up their tail and the fur on their backs, making themselves appear bigger and more threatening than they are. This will be aimed at the person or other animal that they see as a threat. These can be seen as warning signs, and if the threat doesn’t go away, the cat may become more aggressive, eventually leading to scratching and biting.
Never praise or reward the cat for aggressive behavior. This teaches the cat that aggression is the desired response, and not only will they continue to show similar signs, but they could also become even more aggressive.
Don’t punish the cat for being aggressive, however. Your cat is unlikely to know what it is being punished for so it won’t rectify the problem and may cause anxiety.
Generally, you need to ignore the negative reaction by walking away from it. You can also attempt to distract the cat by providing something acceptable to attack or play with before it gets aggressive.
Studies suggest that cats are attached to their owners. They not only rely on people for their food and water but also comfort and security. So, while it might come as a surprise to the owners of aloof, independent cats, they can care very deeply about their owners.
Cats can protect their home; in the same way they might protect humans. Typically, this means they will sound an audible alarm for their humans, but it can lead to cats being aggressive towards people visiting the house and potentially even intruders. The size of human visitors means that most cats will avoid direct confrontation with people, though.
Although they can appear aloof and even a little ignorant of their human owners, cats can develop very strong bonds. As well as being reliant on their humans for food, water, and shelter, it has been discovered that they also rely on people for social bonds and security. This means that pet cats can become protective and, albeit very rarely, may even become over-protective and potentially aggressive.
Below, we look at some of the possible causes of this protective instinct and what you can do to prevent your cat from attacking visitors.
Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years. They share our homes and lives. In some cases, they work with us, especially to protect food against potential scavengers. But, for the most part, they have a reputation for being aloof and standoffish. It can seem as though they don’t really care about us at all, as long as we keep putting food down and meeting their daily requirements.
But, studies suggest that cats also rely on us for comfort and security. They form very strong bonds with their owners, similar to the bonds between humans and dogs or even babies.
Because cats form these close bonds with their humans, it means they can feel the need to protect. Cats don’t think the same way as humans, or even dogs, so this protective nature doesn’t mean that they will come rushing in to save the day by attacking perceived threats. More likely, they will try to warn you of any danger.
A protective cat may follow you around the house and even sleep with you or near you. It will likely warn you of potential danger by making noise.
Having a protective cat can seem sweet, and there are even instances of cats chasing away dogs and other potential predators to protect their humans. However, it can become a problem if a cat becomes overprotective. The cat may try and prevent other people from getting too close to you and can even attack visitors to the house or other family members if they perceive them as a threat.
Signs of an overprotective cat are similar to the signs a cat would show if they feel threatened. They will bush up their tail and the fur on their backs, making themselves appear bigger and more threatening than they are. This will be aimed at the person or other animal that they see as a threat. These can be seen as warning signs, and if the threat doesn’t go away, the cat may become more aggressive, eventually leading to scratching and biting.
Never praise or reward the cat for aggressive behavior. This teaches the cat that aggression is the desired response, and not only will they continue to show similar signs, but they could also become even more aggressive.
Don’t punish the cat for being aggressive, however. Your cat is unlikely to know what it is being punished for so it won’t rectify the problem and may cause anxiety.
Generally, you need to ignore the negative reaction by walking away from it. You can also attempt to distract the cat by providing something acceptable to attack or play with before it gets aggressive.
Studies suggest that cats are attached to their owners. They not only rely on people for their food and water but also comfort and security. So, while it might come as a surprise to the owners of aloof, independent cats, they can care very deeply about their owners.
Cats can protect their home; in the same way they might protect humans. Typically, this means they will sound an audible alarm for their humans, but it can lead to cats being aggressive towards people visiting the house and potentially even intruders. The size of human visitors means that most cats will avoid direct confrontation with people, though.
Although they can appear aloof and even a little ignorant of their human owners, cats can develop very strong bonds. As well as being reliant on their humans for food, water, and shelter, it has been discovered that they also rely on people for social bonds and security. This means that pet cats can become protective and, albeit very rarely, may even become over-protective and potentially aggressive.
Cats have many physical characteristics that make them so adorable. Whether it’s their expressive eyes, the wisps of fur on their ear tips, or tufts of toe fur, there’s no shortage of features your cat can sport that’ll make them unique.
Today, we’re going to delve deep into toe tufts to educate you on what they are, why your cat has them, which cats have them, and whether you need to keep them trimmed.
Toe tufts (sometimes called toe floofs) are bits of fur that grow between the cat’s toes. This growth is commonly found on cats with medium to long-length coats. To be considered true toe tufts, the fur should extend beyond the paw pads.
Toe tufts serve two important purposes (we think): to help with traction and protection. Before we move on, let’s just quickly note that there isn’t a lot of scientific research out there regarding toe floofs in cats. While they may have served the protective services in wild cats, our domestic, indoor felines don’t really need them, so we’ll just have to extrapolate purposes from wild counterparts. With in in mind, here you go:
Just like the hair on the rest of their body, long hairs between a cat’s toes help to protect their feet. This can be protection from either cold or harsh surfaces that may cause abrasions to the paw pads. Maine Coons and Norwegian Forest Cats have these wisps of fur to help them stay warm and traverse the snowy terrain the regions they originated from are known for. Think of the tufts as built-in snowshoes!
Toe tufts can also act like a pair of sneakers on some slippery surfaces. Again, think of cold environments where ice and snow may reign. Having a little extra traction on slippery surfaces could definitely be of benefit. As you may notice, this doesn’t always equate to slippery flooring, and toe tufts can actually make your cat slip and slide a bit more on hardwood.
While all cats (except for hairless varieties) have fur on their paws, not all breeds will have tufts between their toes. The following is a list of breeds that are more likely to sport this adorable wisp of fur. It just so happens that these breeds also tend to have medium to long hair:
There isn’t a clear “yes” or “no” answer to this question, as it depends entirely on your kitty and vet’s recommendations. In most cases, you do not need to trim your pet’s toe tufts. The exception to this rule is if the wisps of fur are causing issues like those below:
You can give the tufts a bit of a trim if it’s gotten too long and is causing your cat discomfort. Sometimes, the fur can tickle, irritating your kitty and forcing them to lick or pull at the hair to find relief. This can become a compulsion and may cause other issues, so if your kitty is licking at their paws a lot because of overgrown toe tuft fur, it’s best to give it a trim.
The long tufts can also become a magnet for kitty litter and dirt. A trim may be necessary if your cat is tracking litter and other debris throughout your home via their toe tufts.
Snow and icy conditions don’t exactly translate to hardwood flooring. If you have hardwood flooring throughout your home, you may notice your cat slipping and sliding on it excessively if their toe tuft fur gets out of control. As cute as it is to watch your cat Tokyo drift around all the corners in your home, not getting traction on the flooring can be a huge safety hazard.
Finally, you can give your toe-tufted kitty a trim if the fur becomes matted. Mats are very painful and can cause skin infections if not addressed.
Toe tufts, especially those getting a smidge too long, can be problematic for some cats. If your kitty is dealing with the issues mentioned above, you can give them a trim. Using a pair of scissors, you can carefully snip the longer hairs until they no longer cover the paw pads. You typically won’t need to go any shorter unless your kitty is getting irritation between their toes. In that case, consult your vet on the best way to treat.
There are other things you can do aside from trimming the tufts to keep your kitty safe:
Carpets aren’t for everyone and can be especially problematic if you have allergies. But carpeting and throw rugs are great anti-slip flooring options for cats with toe tufts that may slide around a bit more than other cats.
If you have tall cat trees or wall-mounted shelves for your cat, jumping onto and off these high places can be problematic for kitties with slippery toe tufts. You might consider adding grippy furnishings, such as a strategically placed chair, to the areas you know they like to launch themselves off or onto to prevent slips and falls.
Toe floofs are more than just an adorable physical characteristic. They serve a very important purpose of protecting their paws from difficult, snowy terrain. While your cat may not be traversing icy ground, they may still sport toe tufts if they’re a medium or long-haired breed.
You don’t need to step in to do any grooming on your kitty’s toe tufts unless they are clearly causing your cat discomfort in some way.