People who consider cats to be members of their family find it almost inexplicable why others despise or even harbor animosity for them.
When excessive petting overwhelms them, they usually express themselves verbally and sporadically even physically by slapping their extended claws together quickly.
- Cat-related allergies
It makes sense that those who have cat allergies won’t approach cats. They might not genuinely “hate” cats, but they might have a good reason to resent how cat hair aggravates the symptoms of their moderate to severe allergies.
In actuality, rather than cat hair or other pet hair, the triggers that cause people to respond are the coat-protective proteins produced by the cat’s skin. It is possible for persons with cat allergies to experience allergic reactions to the protein molecules that cats create in their saliva or urine.
Unfortunately, there is a misperception that only “physical dust and hair” in the air can trigger cat allergies. The general public is unaware of the underlying cause, a chemical interaction that can result in extraordinarily violent reactions. Cat allergies can be so severe as to result in anaphylactic reactions, much like the potentially fatal allergies to nuts and other foods. It can cause the airways to close off, requiring urgent medical attention.
One of the warning symptoms of a cat allergy is:
- Swollen, itchy, and watery eyes, nose, and throat. Coughing and sneezing in fits.
- Respiration reaction
- Hives or a rash
- After exposure, symptoms may take anywhere from a few minutes to many hours to manifest.
- Territorial Reach Goes Beyond the Family
Most cats would chose to discharge themselves outdoors in deep, rich garden soil if given the chance, even if that soil is in a neighbor’s yard. Outside cats may frequently leave their feces exposed as a territorial marking to interact with nearby cats. Homes close by won’t be spared because cats do not understand property lines or other yard limits.
Cats may routinely spray pee against the exterior walls and doors of other homes in the area to mark their outdoor territories, particularly if it is known that cats live there. Two unique problems arise when indoor cats either notice the cat outside through a window or detect the pungent smell of the pee spray:
Redirected aggression: If a house cat senses danger in the yard, it may react violently out of instinct at the closest cat, maybe one of its uninvolved housemates.
Territorial Spraying: In a similar vein, a cat that calls a door home would compelively mark the interior of the same door if a stranger cat is courageous enough to mark the exterior of the same door.
When someone disturbs or scares a cat, the cat will hiss or swipe at them to let them know.
3. Killing Birds
Cats must consume meat, hence they are predators. No matter whether a cat is kept indoors solely, roams freely but is owned, or is wild and stray, birds and mice are among its favorite prey.
Two national organizations, Alley Cats Allies and Alley Cat Rescue, have developed rules to maintain feral cat colonies under managed care. The cats are spayed or neutered after being captured, and after being returned to their colonies.
All managed care programs for feral cats must include feeding the cats in order to prevent them from killing wild birds for food. Alley Cat Rescue goes a step further by reserving the kittens and young adults who are only somewhat docile in their adoption facility.
Cat owners may also help, though. Songbirds and other colorful wild birds appeal to cat owners’ senses of sight and sound, and many will do whatever it takes to protect them from their feline companions. Give the cats extra activities besides interacting with animals by upgrading your outdoor area with birdhouses and other items for breeding birds. Cats do enjoy watching the bird feeders out the window.
- Biting and snatching
Cats are able to communicate their preferences and are eager to do so. Even though we may not fully understand why some people may dislike the characteristics that the majority of cats share, there are still some plausible causes for cat avoid’ance.
While still a kitten, a cat picks up aggressive scratching and biting tendencies very early on. Cats who grow up believing that their owners’ hands are toys frequently bit their owners’ hands.
People who dislike cats might have had a bad experience with a kitten when they were young. There should always be a responsible adult there to teach children and kittens about safe play boundaries. Many young families even give up their first cat as a result of this mistaken little child biting or scratching behavior.
It may serve as a reminder to your wary guests that cats may pick up new skills at any age if you teach your cats that biting and scratching are not acceptable.
- Difficult Interpersonal Relations
Due to their propensity for being unpredictable and distant with their human housemates, some people dislike cats. When someone disturbs or scares a cat, the cat will hiss or swipe at them to let them know.
Cats could come across as unappreciative in contrast to canines who are joyful and obedient. But in the wild, cats and dogs have developed very different lifestyles. Due to the cooperative nature of big game hunting, dogs evolved into family groups. Wild cats have evolved into solitary predators who hunt and fish for small creatures. The independence of cats makes them very adaptable to our changing situations and daily routines.
As long as they are socialized with people as kittens, cats can form close bonds with their humans. The most frequent cause of a self-directed, independent cat acting distantly, though, is when a new person moves into the house.
Even the timid cat keeps an eye out and assesses the visitors’ level of safety. Given enough time to adjust, a cat would normally warm up to them and accept them as a friend and trusted caregiver.
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