Almost every pet owner would do anything to make his little fluffy animal feel happy and loved, but can you be sure that this is enough? Can you believe that your well-meant actions might make your cat anxious, angry or sad? The experts will explain why your behavior may irritate your beloved feline.

Having a baby

Of course, you love your baby so much and nothing can compare to that, and you love your cat as well, but what if your cat can’t love your new baby? Or at least not immediately…

“Big life changes such as moving or welcoming a new family member can be stressful for cats,” says Kristyn Vitale.

There are tips for training your cats before having a baby to help them get used to the idea of having another soul with whom you will share the love.

Changing the objects  

Changing something in your home could be dramatic for your cat. If you want to move its litter box you should do it gradually and slowly, with just a few inches per day. Try this strategy if you want to change the location of food and water as well.

Boring atmosphere

“Having a home environment that never changes can also be boring for cats,” says Vitale. “Giving your cat new toys and forms of enrichment can help stimulate their mind and may also make them more comfortable with new situations when big life changes do occur.”

Making loud noises

Before adopting a cat you should know that construction noises, fireworks, thunderstorms or other loud noises could make your cat anxious. Vitale recommends you to distract your pet when the noise happens.

Vitale says that “after the cat is a master of sitting and staying then have them do this when loud noises are occurring.” “Give them treats for engaging in the sit/stay behavior and for ignoring the loud noises. Eventually, they will learn the loud noises are nothing to be afraid of, and they will be more interested in earning treats than hiding.”

Strong odors

“They have excellent noses,” Vitale said. “Scent items with a strong odor, such as perfume or deodorizers, may be off-putting and cats may avoid locations with these scents. You can also use scents cats enjoy to attract them to locations like their scratching post.”

Dressing them up

Giving your pet some Halloween costumes and other outfits can be bad for their mood. They don’t really like to be dressed up, even though they look really beautiful and funny for us. But if you want to give your pet a special outfit, then you have to work more with it in this case.

“Work up to the cat wearing the clothing by first just putting treats on the item, so they associate it with something good. Slowly work up to the clothing being on the cat for longer and longer” says Vitale.

Petting on the belly

This behavior is often hated by cats. Dennis C. Turner, an expert in animal behavior says that “most cats don’t like to be stroked on their tummies. They will (try to) depart the scene or hit you with one of the front paws (with claws extended!), or they might bite.”

Playing with strangers

“One way to see if the cat is amicable to being pet after just meeting them is to let the cat sniff your hand and then watch how they behave. If they want to interact they will most likely approach you and engage in social behavior after sniffing you, such as rubbing on you or trying to sit with you,” Vitale says.

Picking them up in your arms

“They certainly don’t like being held against their will,” Turner says. But most cats will accept it if they trust you. “My research has shown that they accept most advances by their keepers, giving us the impression that we are in charge.”

Not having enough litter boxes

“Cats are typically more relaxed and secure in areas that have their scent. Usually, the rule is you want at least one litter box per cat plus an extra, although some cats may need more than this,” said Vitale.