Cautionary tips involving cats?

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
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Starting this thread to pool know-how about cats, given a thread about someone being bitten and things turning out painfully. Do you have tips to share to avoid getting bitten or scratched?

My experience: I’ve sat various cats with great results, but have never had one of my own. I tend to be very careful, because I’m afraid of being scratched or bitten. Haven’t had either happen, but I’m very wary and let cats warm up at their own speed, because each has a different personality.

I never try to pick them up till we’ve had days of warming up and they’re very social and their humans have said specifically that they enjoy being picked up and how they enjoy it.

For example, so far, I’ve cradled cats on two sits like babies, because their humans said they liked that. Even when I did that, after we’d warmed up for days, I paid close attention to the cat’s behavior, looking for signs that they wanted down.

In various cases, I’ve sat skittish cats and their humans were surprised by how much the cats loved me. That’s terrific when it happens, but I go in with the idea that the cats decide how much we’ll interact and when and how. And they’re not as obvious as most dogs or as predictable.

When I get up at night, if the cats aren’t sleeping with me, I announce that I’m going to the bathroom. That’s to give cats fair notice so I don’t surprise them.

If I arrive at a sit and the humans have already left, I talk to the cats in a soothing voice even if they’re hiding. That’s to make sure they know I’m there and yet not a threat. I never try to force a cat out of hiding or to do anything else.

Tangentially, when a sit starts, I keep my belongings safe to avoid unexpected peeing or such. Like I don’t leave stuff out and I keep my suitcase zipped and stowed. That’s because I’ve seen various social media about cats peeing or pooing in displeasure, sometimes even with their regular humans.

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A lot of common sense in your post. Let the animals (dogs too) get used to a stranger and don’t push yourself onto them too early.

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My experience: cat owner for 17 years, fostered 85 cats so far (from newborns to seniors, friendly to terrified), daily work with stray/feral cats, and pet-sat many other cats. Even with all that experience, I am still learning and hope that I don’t come across as smug and self-congratulatory.

SOCIALIZING CATS

Cats will approach a human when they (the cats) are ready, and usually when the human is ignoring them. That’s why cats often warm up to the person in the room who likes cats the least! Unless I am actively trying to socialize a cat (e.g. a fearful foster cat), I let them take their time. On a short sit with very shy cats, I don’t force interaction. It scares the cat and isn’t worth the trauma (to the cat) for just a few days.

With my fearful foster cats, I use food as the motivator. I never feed unless I am in the room, and I get closer and closer to the food as they get more comfortable. With kittens, I end up with them having to climb into my legs to get to the food bowl.

LITTERBOX (not Litter Robot or other auto litterboxes)

Cats are very fastidious and often reject a lotterbox that isn’t scooped regularly. I scoop at least daily, or more often depending on how many cats and how “productive” they are.

Litterboxes need to be completely emptied and scrubbed often, depending on usage. Eventually, plastic litterboxes degrade and can’t be cleaned properly, so need to be replaced.

If a cat is peeing/pooping outside the litterbox, it could be many reasons

  • they don’t like the litter
  • don’t like the litterbox
  • they have a medical problem
  • they are stressed/annoyed.

BODY LANGUAGE

Cat tail twitching means “stop whatever you are doing now”!

Slow blinking is a sign of love. Humans can do this to cats also, but don’t look the cat in the eyes until you know the cat is at ease with you.

Try not to approach a cat from behind or from a height. Cats like to be above the danger.

Cat whiskers, ears, eyes and tail all convey emotions: https://pethelpful.com/cats/cat-body-language-pictures

PURRING

Sign of affection, but an also mean the cat is in pain or stressed.

TOYS/HUNTING

Cats are instinctive hunters, even if they aren’t hungry. An outdoor cat will often hunt and kill (or just play with) its prey even though it has commercial cat food available. The commercial food is easier to eat, which is why the cat won’t usually eat the bird or mouse that they catch, and will just play with it.

The hunting instinct is why cats love toys that they chase and catch. The best toy I have ever found for cats is this: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/cat-dancer-original-action-cat-toy-37311. I bring one as a gift to all my cat sits.

Laser pointers are great, but finish the game by pointing the light at a treat so the cat “catches” something at the end of the game. Otherwise they get frustrated.

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Hi @Maggie8K. Some great tips. As someone that has had or looked after over a 100 cats and volunteered for a couple of cat rescues I’ve not been bitten or scratched yet. I like you have a few rules which are I always talk to scared or skittish cats even if they are avoiding me. I did a sit where one cat had never come to anyone but the HO but after 10 days of talking to him he started sitting on or next to me while working at a desk.
I always let the cat dictate when they are happy to come for pets etc.
I agree never pick up a cat (many hate it).
When you first meet a cat hold out a finger. It’s less intimidating than a hand and when ready a cat with rub their head over it in the place that cat prefers - top of head, left or right cheek.
Always give a cat plenty of room, never corner them.
I learnt alot from my first family cat Sam. He was a RSPCA rescue but had a wild side. Everything was on his terms if you didn’t want to be bit ot clawed.

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More great tips @Lassie. You’re right cats have a habit of making a beeline to humans that are ignoring them including those that don’t like cats due to the chilled energy towards them.
Finally thank you for being a foster.

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All the above plus….
Try not to look at a cat with wide open eyes - they see this as a threat. Instead, look out of the corner of your eye of through half-closed eyes (this they see as submission).

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Thanks. I have a 2-week old bottle baby coming tomorrow for the day while her foster is at work❤️

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With a cat, ignoring it doesn’t mean it necessarily will come to you. When a cat is aware that someone is staring at it or trying to get its attention the cat often perceives that ‘look’ and attention as a threat. When someone ignores a cat, often the perception is that the behaviour is no longer a threat and it will go to a person if it feels safe. Cats have legendary senses and willingly go to those they feel are of no danger. In all cases they should be left alone until they decide to be friendly.

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Absolutely all the above. We have a ‘rescue’ cat and her kitten. They’ve been living with us for just over a year. The kitten (now cat) is skittish and doesn’t let you pick her up outside but inside she’s fine, never scratched or bitten. Lady the mummy is still traumatised by living on the streets in London, she will jump up next to us for a stroke now, but I’d never pick her up unless to take her to the vet and then it’s a shuffle into the carrier. She’s never bitten, scratched or been aggressive but it’s a cat (animal); it’s nature, they scratch because they can, as for cat bites, they can be nasty but if you’ve a cat, the likelihood is you’ll possibly get bitten or scratched at some time. Our kitten hunts, kills and leaves although she did bring a large mouse indoors last summer…. To end, I’d never pick a cat up right away if I didn’t know it.

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Thanks for posting this. All my experience with cats has been through pet sitting. I’ve sat about 35 cats. They are so different from dogs who i find easy to relate to. I always try to give cats space and let them come to me.

I sat a cat for many months for a few summers in a row that was shy and hated men (my co-sitter husband and even the male member of the couple that owned her). She would hide under the bed all day. I’d lay on the floor, pull up the dust ruffle and talk to her. She would purr - which i always thought was good until i learned that cats purr from stress too. But eventually she would come and sit with me in the evening when we watched TV. So maybe my talking helped.

I don’t really understand cats, but ive come to enjoy them through house sitting. Ive learned that even the ones that act like they hate you seem to enjoy having you close by. And eventually they may come to you or not.

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Well done you. I’ve only ever looked after abandoned kittens at a cat shelter of that age. Full on bottle feeding or toileting them.

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Everyone has given such wonderful suggestions and Lassie gave a perfect overview with so many good points. As several have said :: The “soft” eyes “soft” voice approach is so crucial with cats as it is with dogs. Avoid direct prolonged eye contact, and allowing for a lot of blinking. When a cat no longer has that glassy stare, and is happily “soft eye” blinking in your company you know things are good! In a recent sit, the owners made sure that the first feeding the cats had with me was not through their automatic feeder, but given by me. So the cats would associate me with their favorite thing! That was helpful and much appreciated!

As a true cat lover and someone who has always lived with cats, I sometimes get the feeling that certain sitters choose sits with cats because they think that cats do not need much attention, are easy and can essentially just be ignored. Which makes me a bit sad, as many cats (even those that will not sit with you) love to share space with a constant, soft voice/blinky eye human companion.

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I have owned cats since I left home at the age of 18, so that makes over 50 years. I also have fostered multiple feral cats for the local animal shelters. I would never try to pick up a cat that was not my own. I let them come and sit next to me or on me if they wants. I totally agree with blinking at them whenever looking their way. If they start blinking back you know they are becoming more comfortable.

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@SRG Oh my, how true!

I see threads on the Forum in which sitters who don’t want to be home much are advised to get cat sits. That is not fair for the cats! They are very social animals.

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I don’t recall scenarios when I’d stare at any cat with my eyes wide open. Kinda weird to imagine doing that even if cats didn’t mind.

I do remember one case in particular, on my first night on a sit. One of the cats was skittish, as described. I was lying in bed and the cat was perched across the room from me, with a look that seemed like she’d be happy to kill me in my sleep.

Anyway, I drifted off and woke with her brushing against me in bed the next morning. Maybe it was simply lucky that I have squinty eyes, LOL. I gave her a few pets and didn’t push my luck for starters. She continued to warm during my sit, sweetly.

One of the various reasons I love THS: Sits have turned me into a cat freak. It’s not as if I didn’t care for them before — I just had way more exposure to dogs. But I’ve gotten to know cats well enough, with their distinct personalities, that I find them super lovable now. If I didn’t have a crazy rescue dog who’d make their lives miserable, I’d have several cats by now, because of my lovely cat sitting experiences.

I think it’s worth noting that you don’t have to have years or decades with cats to love them or to care for them. I say that to encourage other sitters who might have had limited experience with them. Just be thoughtful about how you interact with them. It’s so rewarding.

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What excellent information @Lassie thank you! I’ve had my own cats but have learnt a lot here

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My main concern as a petparent is that the sitter is watching the behavior of my cats for any sign of actual illness. Cats can go downhill fast. So if any of my guys just decide to skip a meal, I want a text because that isn’t normal for any of them. If there is vomitting, I want to know. This isn’t an abundance of caution, it’s based on my experience. I’m also a sitter and if a cat regularly vomits because they eat too fast or something, usually petparents tell sitters. But I think sitters shouldn’t assume when it comes to health issues, so I would have a thorough chat about what is normal and what isn’t for the cat before the sit starts.

I also think sitters really have to take petparent cautions about feeding tablescraps and sharing food very seriously. Many cats are on special diets or really don’t react well to human food – they aren’t dogs. It’s good for sitters to know about things that are surprisingly toxic for cats (and other pets) like xylotil. Granted, a cat is much less likely to eat something toxic than a dog is, but it could happen.

Some cats really, really, really do not like to be picked up --even by their favorite people! So that’s another question worth asking. (When I sit, I would never pick up a cat unless the cat made it extremely clear that that is what they wanted or it was an emergency situation.)

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I avoid giving sit pets “unapproved” food. Not only could they get sick, the sitter has to clean up any mess.

I sat a cat who’d nearly died of colitis a year before, so watched him closely. Another cat I sat barfed, so I checked with her humans right off. They weren’t fazed, said she barfed sometimes, shrug. Yet another sit cat had asthma, so I was prepped to give him an inhaler.

I’d always check in with their humans if anything happens health wise. If it were my pet, I’d want to know.

I just sat an elderly, sickly dog — on multiple medications — who ended up having seizures and becoming incapacitated. I spoke to her humans as I rushed her to the vet late one night. They ended up cutting their trip abroad short to say goodbye before putting her to sleep. We all got to pet and hug her, sweet pup. Miss her still. It was heartbreaking.

They wrote in their review: “We couldn’t have asked for a more caring sitter for XX. … Maggie did everything we would have done in response to a pet emergency. We felt like XX was in great hands while she was with Maggie.”

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As a cat parent for over 30 years, my main advice would be check with the home owner what is normal for their cat - in terms of behaviour, food, toilet etc - and work from that. Cats are all different - much like humans.
I’ve never met or heard of a cat that simply walked up to someone and bit them. (Unlike tragic unsolicited dog attacks - and I say that as someone who loves dogs but gets nervous round angry barking ones!)
Most scratches or bites from cats occur when:
a) a human is doing something the cat doesn’t want (giving medication / putting them in a carrier) - if you accept a sit with a cat that needs medication ask the cat parent how they normally take it. We had one much loved cat who didn’t like a tablet put in his mouth, but would just eat it if I put it on the surface next to him and tapped! One of his female companions (also much loved) was very difficult with tablets and our vet swapped us to a liquid when she needed regular medication.

b) a human is trying to hold them firmly and they want to get down - this is often an accidental scratch as they push off with those powerful back feet that happen to have claws. - tip if you’re holding a cat let them get down the second they make a move to go. Avoid holding a cat if at all possible in a situation where you couldn’t let them get down.

c) the cat has got over stimulated (beware the invitation to tickle the tummy!) - again this is usually not anger, it’s over excitement. When playing cats naturally use teeth and claws as they mimic behaviour when hunting. Play with toys that keep your fingers out of the way!

Whilst individuals have their own personalities there also some breed characteristics - we’ve had Norwegian Forest cats for over 20 years. They’re large, love attention, do gaze right into your eyes, ‘talk’ quite a bit and ours have all been very cuddly. We have two Norwegian kittens at the moment who greeted our sitter as he arrived. Our first day away he reported he’d enjoyed spending most of the day playing with them.

Hope that helps. A plea as a cat parent - please don’t let a house / location tempt you to apply for a cat sit if you’re really nervous around cats. They’ll be as miserable as you will, and I would hate to think that was happening in my home.

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Excellent advice. Medicating cats can be particularly difficult. Here is a funny take on it:THE FUNNY FILE - PMC :laughing:

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