Stereotypically, cats are seen as more aloof and independent than dogs. So, you might not think you need to focus on building your relationship with your cat. However, having more time with your cat can lead to a better lifetime bond if you do a few simple things, like play with them and observe their needs.

Do Cats Bond with Humans?

Experts say that yes, cats do bond with humans.

“There is, of course, a high degree of individual variability in the amount and type of attention that cats enjoy from humans,” says Dr. Marci Koski, a certified feline behavior and training consultant at Feline Behavior Solutions. “But even cats who prefer less attention can still share a bond with humans.”

What’s more, they do enjoy our company and are generally very social, albeit on their own terms, says Dr. Jill Sackman, owner of Animal Behavior Consultants.

How to Bond with Your Cat: Tips and Advice

Bonding with your cat doesn’t have to be a difficult process, though it will likely take some time up front to discover what your cat really enjoys.

“The best way to bond with your cat is to figure out what your cat likes and enjoys, then do that thing,” Koski says. From food and treats to the large variety of toys available, your cat likely has a preference. If these preferences are something you’ve never noticed, that’s a good place to start.

Just as important as things they do like, you should know what your cat doesn’t enjoy. Koski says that your interactions with your cat should be predictable and you should know things like where they like to be petted, and for how long.

“One important thing to keep in mind is that trust is a big deal to cats,” Koski says. “They need to know that when it comes to their humans, they have a choice of whether or not to interact with you, and when those interactions occur, they must be positive.”

You may love to pet and cuddle your cat while watching TV, but if your cat darts away after a short time, let them. Never force affection and interaction on your cat.

“If your cat doesn’t want to be touched, respect that choice,” Koski says. “When your cat is done being handled, let them go. That will give them a sense of choice, control, and trust with you.”

Easy Ways to Bond with Your Cat

Building on your cat-human bond doesn’t need to involve fancy, expensive toys. For the most part, it just takes some time for interaction—something many folks have in abundance during a worldwide pandemic.

“Cats know when you are paying attention to them—cats can follow your gaze, and know when you are talking to them,” Koski says.

Here are 6 ways to help improve a cat’s bond with humans:

Observe Your Cat

Both Koski and Sackman agree that the most important thing for the cat-human bond is doing activities your cat actually enjoys. Chances are your cat has a favorite toy, a favorite treat, a favorite place in your house to hang out.

If you’re not familiar with your cat’s preferences, now would be a good time to simply observe what your cat does all day.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn more about what they really enjoy,” Sackman says. “We have to get in their heads. They’re not little humans, they’re not little dogs.”

Make Time for Focused Play

Yes, everyone plays with their cats, but it might often be a more mindless activity than a focused one that benefits both parties.

“Cat families don’t spend nearly enough time, focused play time, with their kitties,” Sackman says. She suggests setting aside 10 minutes two or three times a day to play and just generally interact with your cat.

What toys you’ll use will depend on your cat’s play style. Many cats enjoy wand toys because they can play out a “prey sequence,” which is something they’d naturally do outdoors.

“The prey sequence consists of staring, stalking and chasing, pouncing, grabbing, and performing a kill bite,” Koski says. “If you’re using a wand toy, your cat is not going to associate you with prey but she’ll still know that you are the one who brings the prey out to be played with, and that can help build your bond with your cat.”

Offer Your Cat a Favorite Treat

Sometimes bonding with a cat can be as simple as offering food and treats.

“If you haven’t found a treat that your cat likes, it can be really fun to try and discover what tickle’s your kitty’s taste buds,” Koski says. “When you find something your cat enjoys, you can use that treat as a reward, or just any time you want to help build that bond with your cat.”

Offer Getaway Spaces

As we’ve established, cats generally do enjoy the company of humans. But just like humans, sometimes they need a little time away. Letting them have that time and offering the space to do so could help enhance your bond.

Koski says that homes should have spaces for cats to nap and be alone. However, she suggests using a space where cats can feel hidden but still be able to see the room so they know what’s going on around them.

“It’s important to respect that cat’s private space,” she says. “Designate certain cat caves and cubbies as ‘no humans’ zones and respect your cat’s space when she is in them.”

Pet Your Cat the Right Way

What’s the right way to pet a cat? However your cat enjoys it, and never for too long. Always watch for signs that your cat seems uncomfortable or is trying to get away.

Sackman says that many cats enjoy being petted around the forehead, face, and ears. The long strokes that humans often do aren’t something cats would do in the wild, she says.

Try Your Hand at Training

Pet parents often think about training dogs, but you should know that cats are trainable, too–and it can be a great way to bond with a cat of any age.

“Training strengthens the way a person communicates with their cat and is usually enjoyable by both parties,” Koski says.

To start, you only need something your cat considers to be a very tasty treat (for some, that could even be their kibble) and a clicker device or the ability to make a clicking sound with your mouth. The clicker or clicking sound will let the cat know they’ve done something you like.

Sackman recommends starting with a behavior your cat already does: “You want to have your cat offer the behavior and then recognize it, mark it, and treat it so they start to make that association.”

She says that most cats are food-motivated, so the best time for training is in the morning before feeding them breakfast or in the evening before feeding dinner. While many cats enjoy treats, Koski noted that others might prefer to be rewarded with praise, petting, or play.

The post 6 Easy Ways to Bond with Your Cat at Home appeared first on Great Pet Care.

On-going medical issues, like diabetes in cats, take even more consideration. From medication to possible lifestyle changes, there’s a lot to learn. The first thing to keep in mind is that many diabetic cats can lead long lives. 

“Diabetes mellitus is not a death sentence,” says Dr. Sasha Gibbons, of Just Cats Veterinary Hospital in Stamford, Connecticut. “There are many economical ways to manage diabetes.”

Feline Diabetes: Understanding Key Terms

To understand feline diabetes, you’ll first need to know some key terminology and some basic feline physiology.  Every time your cat eats a meal, your cat’s body breaks down food into sugar molecules called glucose. Glucose is then absorbed into the blood stream – it is the main sugar found in blood.  When we talk about a cat having high or low blood sugar, we are referring to their blood glucose level.

Blood glucose levels are maintained in part by a hormone called insulin. When your cat eats a meal, insulin is released from the pancreas. Insulin acts on cells throughout the body – primarily liver, muscle, and fat cells – telling them to uptake glucose into the cell. The glucose is then either used for energy or stored for later use. This keeps blood sugar levels stable and provides cells with an energy supply.

What is Feline Diabetes?

Cat diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, means that a cat’s body can’t respond to or make insulin, similar to diabetes in humans. And like humans, cats can have different types of diabetes.

Types of Diabetes in Cats

There are two types of feline diabetes.

• Type 1: An autoimmune disease where the cat’s body destroys insulin-producing cells
• Type 2: The cat’s body produces insulin, but cells have a decreased sensitivity to insulin.

Dr. Lucas White of Sunset Veterinary Clinic in Edmond, Oklahoma says that around 80 percent of cats with diabetes have type 2.

Causes and Risk Factors of Diabetes in Cats?

There’s no single cause of diabetes in cats. Several risk factors can play a role in the development of diabetes in cats. These risk factors include:

• Obesity. One of the major risk factors for diabetes in cats is obesity, with obese cats being approximately 3.9 times more likely to develop diabetes mellitus than cats of optimal weight.
• Age. Peak incidence of diabetes mellitus occurs around 10-13 years of age, though younger cats can also be affected.
• Sex. 70-80 percent of cats diagnosed with diabetes mellitus are male.
• Physical inactivity. Often linked with being overweight, physical inactivity increases a cat’s risk of developing diabetes mellitus.
• Glucorticoid administration. Use of steroid medications, especially long term use, may predispose a cat to developing diabetes mellitus.
• Cushing’s disease. Similarly, Cushing’s disease, or hyperadrenocoriticism, a condition where the body produces too much steroid hormone, may predispose a cat to developing diabetes.
• Pancreatitis. Chronic or repeated bouts of inflammation in the pancreas can destroy insulin-producing cells, leading to diabetes.
• Pregnancy. Similar to humans, cats can develop gestational diabetes due to the effects of progesterone.

Cat Diabetes Symptoms

White explains that symptoms of diabetes in cats can be hard to spot. “Cats in general can mask their symptoms of illness really well, so symptoms can be difficult to discern,” he says.

However, there are still some signs of diabetes in cats that you might see:

• Increased water intake
• Urinating more frequently
• Weight loss
• Difficulty walking
• Increased appetite

Gibbons says that increased water consumption is one of the cat diabetes symptoms that’s often seen by pet parents. “Owners will either notice their cat sitting at the water bowl more frequently, for longer periods of time, or noticing they have to fill the water bowl more often,” she says.

Diagnosing Feline Diabetes

If your cat is experiencing possible symptoms of diabetes, it’s time to head to a veterinarian. A blood test is required before a cat can be diagnosed. Exactly what kind of test will depend on your veterinarian.

Gibbons says a simple blood sugar test could cost as low as $25, but doesn’t necessarily give a true picture of a cat’s health. 

“Cats are prone to elevations in blood sugar from stress, so a solitary blood sugar reading sometimes can be difficult to evaluate,” she says, noting that a complete blood panel is often required, which could cost around $500.

Risks of Uncontrolled Diabetes in Cats

Once your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to institute a diabetes treatment plan for your cat’s health and well-being. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus makes your cat more prone to a number of other health conditions, including urinary tract infections, unhealthy weight loss, and diabetic neuropathy.

Uncontrolled diabetic cats are also at risk for developing diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening emergency condition that occurs due to a lack of insulin and increased levels of certain diabetogenic hormones. This condition requires immediate intervention by your veterinarian, but can be prevented with good insulin therapy and diabetic management.

How to Treat Diabetes in Cats

Diabetes in cats can’t be cured, but it is possible for cats with type 2 diabetes to go into remission and no longer need insulin, Gibbons says. This requires dietary changes and/or insulin therapy.

The best way for pet parents to help a diabetic cat is to listen to their veterinarian’s advice regarding diet or necessary medications.

Diabetes Medications for Cats

If a cat’s diabetes requires medication, it’s likely that insulin will be prescribed and it will need to be injected once or twice a day.

“We will instruct the pet parent in how to draw up the insulin in the syringe and how to administer it to their cat,” White says. “Most cats tolerate the injections fairly well. There are several types of insulin that can be used and your veterinarian will prescribe the type they think will work best for your cat.”

Common insulin medications for cats include:

• Insulin Glargine (Lantus)
• ProZinc
• Isophane insulin (Novolin N)

As with humans, pet medications can be pricey. Gibbons says that the types of insulin can vary greatly in cost and every type won’t work for every cat. How quickly your cat goes through a vial of insulin can depend on a number of things, including how often injections are needed. 

In addition to medication cost, pet parents should know that they may also need to pay for needles, glucometers, insulin syringes, and more frequent veterinarian visits. 

White urges pet parents to be frank with their veterinarian: “If your cat has diabetes, but the management options do not work for you, please have a honest conversation with your veterinarian about alternative options,” he says.

Cat Food for Diabetic Cats

Medications are one part of how to treat diabetes in cats. Diet is another important consideration, because it can help manage the disease and even help lead to remission. 

If your cat is diagnosed with diabetes, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription cat food diet as opposed to an off-the-shelf variety. While those foods are fine for most healthy cats, diabetic cats need a specific mix to stay healthy.

“[Prescription] diets are high protein, low carbohydrate diets,” White says. “The higher protein helps maintain lean muscle mass to help keep their glucose metabolism up and lower carbohydrates help regulate their blood glucose.”

Because most diabetic cats are overweight or obese, a healthy diet and weight loss regimen is essential to help get your cat’s diabetes into remission. Reducing your cat’s calorie intake with a prescription high protein, low carbohydrate diet and good portion control can help. It’s also important to limit treats to no more than 10 percent of your cat’s daily calorie intake to reduce the risk of excess weight gain.

Physical inactivity is another risk factor for diabetes, so encouraging your cat to exercise more can also help improve weight and glycemic control. Try offering new toys and giving your cat at least an hour of active play time with you throughout the day. Putting your cat’s food into puzzle toys or scattering it around the house for him to find is another great way to encourage your cat to move more while stimulating his natural instinct to hunt for his prey.

How to Prevent Diabetes in Cats

As an autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes in cats can’t be prevented. 

Type 2 diabetes, however, is related to a cat’s weight. So, the best prevention is keeping your pet at a healthy weight, White explains. Exercise and a balanced diet can help your cat maintain lean muscle mass, he adds.

If your cat is overweight, your veterinarian can make recommendations on exercises and diet changes that might help your cat get back to a healthy weight.

Diabetes in Cats Infographic

Related Conditions

• Kidney Disease in Cats
• Hyperthyroidism in Cats
• Feline Urinary Tract Infections
• Anemia in Cats

The post Diabetes in Cats appeared first on Great Pet Care.