Category: cat

Sailors and cats have a long and storied history together. Egyptian sailors were probably the first to bring cats along for voyages to provide companionship and vermin control. Evidence also indicates that kitties accompanied Viking explorers ¹.

A friendly feline was often the best way to protect a ship’s rations from being broken into and destroyed by ever-present mice and rats. Sailors also often observed cats for clues about upcoming weather, as many believed cats could predict storms. Throughout history, sailors have adopted cats while in port to keep them company while away from home. Several US and Royal Navy vessels have had unofficial feline mascots.

How Did Cats Help Sailors?

Cats provided vermin control, weather warnings, and companionship. Rats and mice were often found on ships, attracted by grain stores and other rations. Rodents created problems by chewing through ropes and contaminating stored food. Effective pest control was often a matter of life or death for those traveling the high seas.

Cats also provided seafarers with information about the weather. Because cats can detect barometric pressure changes, they’re often able to sense oncoming storms. Sailors often watched cats for clues, like attempting to get off the ship, to help judge upcoming weather conditions.

But cats also offered companionship to sailors away from home and loved ones for years at a time. Ships’ cats in the modern era have often served as mascots, even during times of war. They were often treated as adored crew members and given their own kitty hammocks. Some ships had several cats, and kittens were often born on board and raised by crew members.

What Was Life Like for Ships’ Cats?

Ships’ cats were treated pretty well—most were considered full crew members. Cats that died at sea were often given sea burials with complete honors. They were important enough to spur moments of cooperation between enemy combatants. One crew asked the commander of the U-Boat, who had torpedoed their vessel, to allow them to return to their sinking ship to save their ship’s cat, Mickey. The German commander agreed and permitted the rescue action.

Are Cats Really Good at Catching Mice?

It depends entirely on the cat! Some enjoy flexing their hunting chops, and others simply couldn’t be bothered. Indoor cats that have more than enough to eat are often disinclined to stalk, kill, and eat mice they may encounter. And while they can hear and smell mice, indoor cats often don’t have access to the areas rodents like to hide, such as between walls and in crawl spaces.

Outdoor pets, on the other hand, are often quite proficient killers, responsible for killing untold numbers of small critters. Back in 2013, outdoor cats were responsible for the death of around 12.3 billion small animals and 2.4 billion birds per year in the US alone. Ownerless cats tend to be better hunters and often prey on birds, rodents, and other small creatures.

Are There Any Myths about Cats and Ships?

Some sailing legends hold that cats bring good luck, particularly polydactyl cats with extra digits. These kitties’ extra toes were believed to give them an advantage when it came to catching pests and staying on their feet in rough seas. The famous polydactyl cats who live in Ernest Hemmingway’s old house in Key West are descended from a multi-toed kitty given to the author by a ship’s captain.

Cats were also thought to have magical powers, including being able to keep ships safe in storms. Sailors believed being approached by a cat brought good luck. Bad luck ensued if a cat started towards you and then turned and walked away. Cats were also believed to be capable of summoning storms using their tails. Folklore held that cats that fell overboard summoned storms in retribution and dished out 9 years of bad luck to any survivors of their watery wrath.

Conclusion

Sailors have been bringing cats on board to provide rodent control and information about the weather for ages, but they were also taken on voyages to provide companionship during long trips. Many served as unofficial but well-loved mascots. Some cats on military vessels were considered honored crew members and often provided with cozy places to curl up and tiny hammocks to sleep in. Cats that died at sea were even given burials with full honors.

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As a cat owner, one of the most aggravating things about your feline companion is that they want to sharpen their claws and scratch everything in the house. You probably can’t count the number of times you’ve stopped your cat from clawing the couch, walls, carpet, or other furniture.

It’s nothing that cat owners haven’t dealt with since the beginning of time, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. Have you ever wondered why your cat scratches? We’ll dive into why cats scratch and give you some tips to stop it below.

What Is Considered Cat Scratching?

Scratching is when a cat takes its claws and drags them over a horizontal or vertical surface. Cat scratching is also called stropping, which is normal for your feline. However, just because it’s normal doesn’t mean that you have to put up with it.

Even though your cat’s scratching can be aggravating, it’s essential to never halt the behavior by having your cat’s claws removed. This is bad for the cat and can end in disaster if your cat gets outside, gets lost, and cannot defend itself.

You don’t want to make your cat stop the behavior altogether. Instead, you need to understand why your cat scratches everything, and then follow the tips below to get your cat to scratch something more appropriate, like a well-made scratching post.

1. Marking Their Territory

Scratching is a quick way for your feline to mark its territory. If you’ve noticed your cat scratching the front door area, the doors into the living room and other areas of the house, or even their favorite sleeping spots, it’s because they somehow feel that their territory is being challenged in those areas, and are marking the site as their own.

For example, if you find the cat clawing the couch in the den, it could be because it’s marking it with its own scent.

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2. It’s a Form of Exercise

If your cat is comfortable with his surroundings and knows it’s the boss, its scratching could be a form of exercise for the cat, especially if the cat is strictly kept indoors. A scratching session helps your cat to stretch its legs, paws, and back. It’s similar to what people do when they first wake up in the morning or from an afternoon nap.

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3. Sharpening Their Claws

Scratching is the perfect way for a cat to hone and sharpen its claws. This is how your cat removes the dead outer husk of their claws, helping to reveal the new claw underneath. This is important for your cat’s health, so make sure you have something that the cat can sharpen its claws on without getting into trouble for doing it.

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4. It’s Their Instinct

If your cat lived in the wild, it would be like its ancestors and use trees to sharpen its claws. This was done so that the cat could keep its claws clean and sharp to hunt and defend itself. Every cat has this instinct, so it’s crucial that you help your cat be able to hone their claws, keep them clean, and do what comes naturally to the feline.

How Do You Stop Inappropriate Scratching by Your Feline?

While you now understand why your cat tends to claw everything in your home, you still can’t have the cat tearing up the walls, furniture, and everything else you own, so what do you do? How do you stop your cat’s inappropriate scratching? We’ll give you a few tips to follow in the section below.

Make the Surface Unappealing

If your cat doesn’t like the surface it’s trying to scratch, it won’t use it as a scratching post anymore. You can spray the surface with a citrus scent or cover it with aluminum foil until the cat gives up on scratching that item.

Get Your Cat a Scratching Post

A scratching post is an excellent solution to your cat’s scratching problem. However, if you’ve noticed that your cat will put its entire body into the scratching, you need to purchase a scratching post that is twice as tall as your cat and made of natural fibers, such as sisal rope.

It’s also a good idea to watch how your cat scratches. Does it scratch horizontally or vertically? Once you know how the cat scratches, choose a scratching post that you know it’ll enjoy. You’ll be able to find horizontal and vertical scratching posts almost anywhere scratching posts are sold.

Final Thoughts

Cat scratching is entirely normal behavior for your feline pal, so you don’t want to discourage the cat from doing what comes naturally. However, you don’t want the cat to shred everything in your home. Following the tips above will help you curb cat scratching. However, if the tips don’t work for you, you can ask your vet for recommendations or talk to a cat behavioral specialist.

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Featured Image Credit: Melissa Sue, Shutterstock

The post Why Do Cats Scratch? Everything You Need to Know! appeared first on Pet Keen.

The heat is on! And that means it’s time to hit the pool. For cat owners, pool days can pose some questions and provoke some stress. While we may love to give our cats a place to cool off in the hot summer months, cats and water don’t always mix well. Keeping your cat safe around the pool is an important part of being a responsible, loving pet owner. Summertime can be hazardous, especially with a deep backyard pool in play. Make sure to take the necessary precautions to keep your feline friend away from any potential danger.

To help keep your bestie safe around the pool, we have compiled a list of helpful tips. Read on for seven ways to keep your cat safe around the pool during this swimming season!

The 7 Tip to Keep Your Cat Safe Around the Pool

1. Install a Pool Cover

You can’t always be around to stop your cat from falling in the pool, and because of their super feline athleticism, you can’t easily fence it off to keep cats physically away from the water. The next best thing you can do is get a pool cover.  A good-quality pool cover can prevent accidents from happening by keeping cats out of the water. If your cat does accidentally fall into the pool, having a cover will give them some support and prevents them from getting tired and struggling to keep themselves above water. Investing in a quality pool cover will help ensure that both you and your kitty have peace of mind when the swimming season arrives.

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2. Get a Pool Alarm

A great way to ensure your cat’s safety is by investing in a pool alarm. These are wireless sensors that detect when something goes into the water and will sound off an alert so you know right away if anything has gone awry—and you can spring into action. Pool alarms come in different sizes and shapes and range in price, so there’s sure to be one that fits both your budget and needs. Not only do they provide maximum security for your wet moggy, but they also give you peace of mind knowing that you have an extra line of defense against any accidents happening in the water.

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3. Put a Floatation Device on Your Cat

If your cat can’t swim but wants to get in or near the water with you consider using a floatation device or a cat life jacket. Floatation devices for cats come in many shapes and forms, with the most common being specially designed life jackets. Not only does it keep your cat afloat if they happen to fall into the water, but it also offers them a comfortable spot to relax on top of the water. The best part? Your kitty will look super stylish while they’re enjoying their day out at the pool!

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4. Teach Your Cat How to Swim

If you’re a proud cat parent and your summer home includes a pool, you may be wondering how to keep your feline friend safe. Given many cats’ natural fear of water, a cat swimming sounds unnatural, but it is possible: cats can learn to swim and to love water. Teaching your cat how to swim is one of the best ways to keep them safe in the water. Swimming can provide cats with an enjoyable physical activity that they can enjoy while spending quality time with their favorite humans.

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5. Make an Exit Point for Your Cat

Once a cat is comfortable in the water and knows how to swim, the next problem is how they get out of the pool. Human-sized steps and ladders may be impossible for your cat to use and pulling themselves up from the pool is something cats are not anatomically designed to do. To ensure your cat’s safety consider adding an exit ramp from the pool. Creating an exit ramp allows your cat access to a safe area surrounding the pool where they can rest after swimming or play before getting in.

The ramp should be wide enough that they can easily walk up and down with their natural gait as well as be made from materials that provide good traction, so they don’t slip on their way out of the water.

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6. Educate Family and Friends on Pool Safety Procedures

Pool season is in full swing and it’s a great time for you, your family, and your friends to have some fun in the sun. You can’t personally always be at the pool to watch out for your cat so, make sure everyone knows to always watch out for your cat when they are near the pool or playing outside. If they see them near the edge of the pool, remind them that cats can be very curious creatures and not to leave them alone near any body of water without supervision.

It’s also important that all family members know how to properly use any covers or fences installed around the area so that your kitty cannot get close enough to fall in.

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7. Store Pool Chemicals Securely

When you own a cat, it can be exciting to create an outdoor space for them. A pool area is one way to provide your kitty with extra entertainment and exercise; however, there are several steps you should follow in order to keep them safe. Water is not the only potential hazard for cats: the chemicals used to keep the pool clear are highly toxic. To keep your cat safe, make sure that all pool chemicals and cleaning agents are securely locked away with no access for your cat, other pets, or children.

 

Conclusion

Keeping your cat safe around the pool is an important part of being a responsible pet owner. With the right precautions and environmental modifications, you can make sure that your cat is enjoying the pool safely. As a first line of defense for when you are not around invest in a pool cover or a pool alarm. To help your cat enjoy the water you can get them a life vest or teach them how to swim. Cats can’t climb out of a pool so you should create a ramp for them to get out unassisted.

Finally, remember to always watch your cats when they are near or in the water, as accidents can happen at any time.

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Featured Image Credit: Jumpstory

The post How to Keep Your Cat Safe Around the Pool (7 Great Tips) appeared first on Pet Keen.