Did you know that September is officially Happy Cat Month! A whole month dedicated to keeping cats happy. Although, as cat parents every month is happy cat month as we all want to make sure our furbabies are happy. That being said, I’m always looking for other ways to enrich my cats’ lives and keep them happy. Not just my own three house cats but the cats I look after on a daily basis. I’ve discovered reading is a purrfect way to keep our cats happy.
As every new cat arrives at The Great Catsby it’s important for me to build a trusting relationship. For many new arrivals it is scary, not only being away from their humans but they are in a strange new environment. I know that the quicker I can gain their trust and build a bond the quicker the cats will settle. And a settled cat is a happy cat, they are more likely to eat, use the litter tray as normal and return home as the same cat! Not frightened or sulking that they’ve been abandoned.
When I was looking at ways to help cats settle and be happier away from home one idea kept popping up, reading to cats! In America, there is a huge drive on reading to shelter cats, the cats in rescue waiting for a home. I know the cats I look after have amazing families and homes waiting for them at the end of the holiday but I liked the idea of spending quality, uninterrupted time with the cats. I also liked how reading can also help us to relax and unwind. If we are relaxed then the cats would sense this and react accordingly.
I tested the concept and on the anxious new arrivals to see if it would help them to settle and ultimately be happier in their new surroundings.
Tried and Tested
When Mika and Maya were booked in for a short break their owner made it clear that these house cats were very timid, even at home. They would hide when someone came to the house and it took a long time for them to trust people and new surroundings. Even when they first arrived in their new home with the owner it took a great deal of time and patience to help them adjust to their new life. Of course, their owner was extremely worried about leaving them at The Great Catsby. How would they cope away from home? Would they feel lonely and abandoned? Their owner expected all the updates and photographs to show them hiding and upset.
I always say to any anxious owner that I will do whatever it takes to make sure their cat feels comfortable and content whilst they are with me. I love a challenge. Along with my trusted tricks and strategies for dealing with anxious cats, I put my new reading theory to the test. I read to them every day, just for 10 minutes at a time. Over the course of their short stay, they slowly gained confidence and we managed to build a trusting relationship.
When their owner came to collect them they weren’t in any rush to leave, they were happy in the wall beds looking very content and relaxed.
Why should we read to cats?
Reading to cats has shown that it helps to strengthen the human-cat bond. Now, for me, as a potential stranger to your cats, this can only be a good thing. Cats love spending time with us, many crave our attention. Especially house cats that are used to company and having someone around. Taking a few minutes out of our busy days to sit down and relax will have a positive impact on our cats’ lives.
What better way to show that we care than by letting them curl up with us, whilst we get lost in a good book or catch up with the latest gossip in a magazine.
What should we read to cats?
Personally I don’t think it matters whether the cats like to listen to romantic love stories or a cat-filled adventure. By reading anything aloud our cats get to hear our calm soothing voice. When we read we tend to forget everything else around us, the tension in our bodies eases and we go into a more relaxed state.
As long as you’re reading aloud, your cat can hear your voice, then you could read whatever takes your fancy. In today’s fast-paced, constantly-on-the-go busy lives I’ll gladly accept any excuse to switch off, have a mini digital detox and unwind with a cat or two!
How do you read to a cat?
It’s really not that difficult to read to a cat. My children regularly read to our cats. My youngest likes to show pictures and make up his own stories. Whilst my eldest my child, although reluctant to read in front of me will happily read to our cats. The benefits of reading to a cat mean that it won’t be judgemental or correct you if you make a mistake.
- Find a comfy spot, a favourite chair or somewhere quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the busy family life.
- Curl up, grab a cushion or blanket if you want to be all Hygge about it.
- Create a space where your cat can join you, either on your knee or next to you.
- Pick something to read – a book (it doesn’t have to be about cats), Hello magazine, school newsletter, a trending cook book whatever you fancy.
- Start reading aloud. It will seem funny and unnatural at first but no one is listening to what you’re saying including your cat! Your cat doesn’t care if you miss out the odd word or can’t pronounce a word like hygge (hue-guh in case you were wondering!).
- Enjoy the time with your cat.
Reading At The Great Catsby
If you would like your cat to have extra one-to-one time during their holiday I do offer additional bedtime treat packages. This 20-minute session is a chance for your cat to spend some extra time with me on top of my daily visits. This additional session is for me to read to your cats, not clean the room or feed them. Just an uninterrupted, peaceful 20 mins where I curl up with them and read.
This bedtime treat session helps the cats to settle quicker and gives the cats more quality time with me. Along with reading to your cat I also include some bedtime treats and snacks of Dreamies, Webbox sticks and Lick-e-lix. 100% natural Thrive treats are available for cats that prefer a healthier option. This add on is charged at £5 per session and can be added at any time during their holiday. Send me a message if you want to add it onto your booking.