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.
A lovely WhatsApp message I received from a happy customer.
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.
Mika and Maya’s transition from anxious cats to happy and content.
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.
Leaving your cat to go on holiday isn’t easy. One of the many questions I’m asked is ‘Will my cat be happy whilst they’re here?’ I can’t speak for other catteries but I do everything I possibly can to make sure every cat feels safe, secure and happy. When deciding which cattery to use when going away, it’s always important to go and visit lots of different ones. As well as asking questionsyou will be able to see whether the cats, in their care, are happy or not.
How to tell if a cat is happy
Cats are experts at non-verbal communication, they can tell us things without saying a word. As long as we understand the subtle signs then we can tell if a cat is happy or not. Here are 16 different signs a cat may do to show that they are happy.
A calm cat
A happy cat won’t be alarmed by noises or movement, they feel safe and unthreatened. If they’ve been curled up enjoying a snooze then they’re not going to move if someone comes in the room, even their owners! This is the sign that is often misinterpreted by owners. They walk into the room after a holiday and want to cat to jump at them but a happy cat will stay in its bed to show how content they are.
Head rubs
Cats have scent glands on their necks and will rub against objects to mark their territory. A confident, happy cat will give head rubs to any object in its path including our legs. A cat in a home will often rub around legs to get our attention, particularly at feeding time, just be careful you don’t trip over them!
Vocalisations
Some cats are more vocal than others and can even have a different meow depending on what they want. One of my cats, Lola (a Bengal) is extremely vocal, I can have two-way conversations with her and I know what she wants depending on the tone of her meow. On the other hand, Nala (my Maine Coon) doesn’t meow at all, however, she will trill and chirp when she’s happy and excited.
Well Groomed
A happy cat will take pride in his/her appearance and keep themselves well groomed. They may also groom and lick other cats in the home or their owners to show how content they are.
Facial Expressions
Eyes, ears, and whiskers can be big indicators as to how a cat is feeling. A happy cat will often have their eyes half closed, looking sleepy. Or they may slow blink at their owners and other cats as a sign of trust and contentment. Their ears will be straight up and forward facing. Similarly, their whiskers which will be relaxed and slightly forwards, fanning outwards proudly. The position of the ears and whiskers will be different for a scared, worried or angry cat.
Position
If the cat is sitting down like a little neat bread loaf, with the front paws out of sight then it is happy. By tucking its paws under its body the cat is showing that he/she doesn’t feel threatened or on alert, they’re not preparing to move or jump away anytime soon.
Tummy on show
If a cat rolls around onto its belly it is a sign that it trusts you, it’s not an invitation to rub its belly, unless you know the cat likes that. Not all cats like their tummy to be touched but they will show it off if they are happy.
Appetite
If a cat is feeling anxious or unwell it won’t eat. At The Great Catby Cat Hotel I keep a close eye on every cat’s appetite, a relaxed cat will eat as normal. Some cats don’t always eat a lot at home which is why it’s important for me to know as much about your cat as possible before it arrives.
Kneading
If a cat ‘makes biscuits’ or kneads then it’s definitely happy. One of my own cats Trixie is a huge lover of ‘making biscuits’ and she’ll suckle at the same time. Kneading is an instinctive behaviour, nursing kittens knead in order to relax their mum which releases milk.
Playfulness
It’s common for owners to think that the older their cat gets the less likely it is to want to play. Although kittens and younger cats are definitely more playful, older cats can still have fun too. I’ve had lots of successful playtimes with older cats, once I find out what excites them they are willing to play.
Tail
If a happy cat is walking or standing then the tail would be in an upright position with a slightly bent tip. Unlike a dog, a wagging tail moving from side to side can be a sign of anger.
Fur
If a cat wasn’t happy then it would fluff up its fur so that it looked spiky, especially along its spine. Smooth fur indicates that the cat is content and doesn’t feel in danger.
Responses
It’s highly likely that when you come in from work your cat will great you with head rubs, it’s clear that it’s happy you’re home. It is the same for the cats staying in a cattery. When visiting any cattery look at the cats, if they’re happy they would positively respond to their surrogate carer.
Purring
Although purring is often referred to as a sign of happiness it isn’t always the case. The meaning of the purr depends on the context and the other signs the cat is displaying. A cat may purr when it feels frightened, it helps the cat calm down. However, if a cat shows any of the other signs mentions above and is purring then it’s definitely one happy cat.
Sits with you
Not all cats are lap cats or enjoy cuddling up next to their owners but for cats that do enjoy it then they will snuggle up with you when they’re happy. For these lap loving cats being in a cattery shouldn’t be any different to at home, they should have time to curl up with a human.
Interested
A confident cat that feels settled and at ease will often show an interest in new objects or people within the environment. This is often seen with cats who are returning to the cattery for the second or third time. The first time they arrive they are wary, however, when they arrive for another holiday they are usually much more confident and jump out of the carrier into their favourite spot in the room.
Cats can be very open with their feelings, as owners we just need to be able to read the signs. If your cat has any other ways of showing their happiness then let me know in the comments.
If you are interested in seeing how happy the cats are at The Great Catsby Cat Hotel then come and visit, just send me a message with the best times/days and I’ll show you around.
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