Nama : Dion Erlangga

Nim : 22019145

Feline Companions

Introduction

As Sigmund Freud said, “time spent with cats is never wasted.” This is a view held by

millions of people around the world who are interested in small cats. Cats or Felis catus, have

lived side by side with humans for thousands of years, with their unique charisma and soothing

purr sounds, cats can live with other pets such as dogs.

With remarkable anatomical, physiological and behavioural similarities to their wild big cat

cousins, it’s their independent yet mellow nature (not to mention cuteness) that makes cats such

a popular pet, especially in the western world.

But people often underestimate what caring for a cat entails. Here are some of the important

things to think about before welcoming a feline into your home.

Socialisation

Cats, they can thrive as a pet and form a close relationship with their humans.

Habituation to people and other animals – as well as to different sounds, objects and physical

contact – has to be done by the age of seven or eight weeks. During this time they build up their

strength and immunity from feeding on their mother’s milk, and learn to play and use their litter

tray under her guidance. When entering the adult phase, cats usually mark their territory so that

other cats can recognize it. By rubbing their body against an area or shooting urine into a certain

area (usually done by male cats). This bond between humans and cats is one that includes mutual

understanding, emotional support, and mutual friendship, making cats not only pets but also

cherished members of the home.

Independent Spirits

Cats often live their lives isolated from looking for food/hunting, shelter and cats also

don't like crowded places because the noise produced by crowds can create stress for cats. Cats

usually live alone, even when other animals live in pairs until one of them dies, cats will

continue to live alone even when the cat mating season comes, therefore cats are called animals

that can live independently.

Medical Needs and Nutritional

Cats are supreme and opportunistic hunters, which can lead to pressure on their prey

species, as well as on you as an owner to prevent such killings.

Be prepared to put some effort into finding a cat food which meets their approval as cats can be

very picky eaters. You may even want to consider the type of bowl you feed them from as cats

sometimes suffer from whisker stress.

You will need to have them microchipped at a young age and vaccinated annually – and the

choice and optimal time to neuter will require some thinking through. Cats can be a stress

reliever for humans, according to scientists a cat's purr can make stressful thoughts subside

because of the frequency produced by a cat's purr. Apart from that, cats are also associated with

reducing heart disease and low blood pressure, and can be a person's emotional support.

Fun Fact about Cats

 Cats have 32 muscles in each ear, allowing them to redirect and detect sounds

exceptionally well.

 Cats have four rows of very sensitive whiskers.

 Cats have no collarbone -this makes them very flexible.

 Cats spend approximately 30% of their waking hours grooming themselves.

 “American Shorthair” is the designation reserved for pedigreed cats, while similar-

looking cats of mixed or unknown origin are called “domestic shorthairs.”

 Cats are unable to move their jaws sideways.

 Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs have only about ten!

 Cat whiskers are so sensitive they can detect the slightest change in the air current.
  Cats have 26 baby teeth and 30 permanent teeth.

 Did you know that the “shhh” sound we make could sound like hissing to your cat? It

could inadvertently cause a fear or stress reaction in your cat rather than what you may

have intended.

 Some cats are naturally quite vocal, and sometimes they do this because of stress or fear.

Be careful about rewarding an unwanted behaviour with food unless you want to

continue feeding your cat upon their request. They quickly learn what works for them.

Try redirecting the unwanted behaviour into playtime or some other form of positive

reward such as petting if your cat enjoys this.

According to Psychology

Psychology said Despite the perception that cats are aloof, they exhibit profound

attachment behaviors to their owners, which are akin to the attachment that children feel for

their parents. Experts suggest that cats harbor a wide range of personality types, including

being shy, bold, confident, friendly, or nervous. Cats are prolific predators. Chinese

researchers estimate that in China, for example, free-ranging cats kill at least 1.48 billion

reptiles, 1.61 billion invertebrates, 1.61 billion fish, 2.69 billion birds, and 3.61 billion

mammals. Free-ranging neutered cats tend to be less active and tend to stop marking their

territory with urine spray. Cats are remarkably intelligent animals and possess object

permanence, working memory, and long-term memory to help with their hunting. To mentally

stimulate your cat, experts recommend setting up scavenger hunts for treats, playing hide and

seek with their favorite toys, and playing shell games using empty cups. If cats are not handled
 by 14 weeks of age, they become fearful and aggressive towards humans. Even holding a

kitten for as little as five minutes per day between zero and seven weeks can help them better

socialize with humans. As some cats mature, they become less amenable to petting that lasts

more than a few seconds. They can lash out if petted excessively, and instead prefer other

forms of attention. Cats will hunt prey even when not hungry. To limit hunting behaviors,

kittens can be raised with potential prey such as small birds or other pet animals. Cats not only

fight with other cats but can be aggressive in other ways, such as controlling access to food,

perches, litter boxes, and owner attention. The victim cat then becomes withdrawn.When

aroused by a cat or other animal, cats can project aggression on another cat or person. When

cats are in this aroused state, they should not be touched, as they can cause serious injury.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cats can be friends or family in the household because cats can provide

good feedback to humans or employers who keep them, therefore if someone has a high level of

stress it would be advisable to have a cat. There are also cats that can live independently so

humans can leave them to go to work. Don't be afraid of what will happen when your cat is at

home alone because cats are also equipped with strong senses. In my opinion, keeping a cat is

not a bad thing to have as a friend or family member.

References :

https://theconversation.com/five-things-to-consider-before-getting-a-feline-companion-177267

https://www.annexvet.com/fun-facts-feline-companions/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-red-light-district/202209/15-important-facts-

about-

cats#:~:text=Despite%20the%20perception%20that%20cats,confident%2C%20friendly%2C%20

or%20nervous.