6 Ways to Herd Cats

There’s a pretty adorable kitty holiday happening today. It’s Cat Herder’s Day! Of course, the very name is a bit of a conundrum. As we all know, our feline friends are very independent, and don’t like being told what to do. However, Fluffy is also rather predictable. While we may never fully understand our feline friends (as explored in our article Things We Will Never Sort Out About Cats), there are still ways to influence their behavior. A local Brampton, ON vet lists a few ways you can herd cats in this article.

Boxes

Fluffy is full of adorable—and confusing—quirks. One of the most adorable and purrplexing ones is her love of boxes. Boxes work as cat magnets for almost all felines In fact, if you put an empty box down on the floor near a kitty, there’s a pretty good chance that your furry friend will hop right into it. It doesn’t matter how big the box is … or how big the cat is. Even lions and tigers love boxes!

Paper Bags

Kitties seem to like paper grocery bags for the same reasons that they enjoy boxes. Bags are small, and therefore make cats feel safe and snug. Give your furball a paper grocery bag on occasion. This will definitely keep your pet’s motor going. (It’s also pretty cute to see Fluffy peeking out at you.)

Sunbeams

Another thing cats just can’t resist? Sunbeams! Kitties don’t run on solar power, and they aren’t cold-blooded, but we’re not sure they ever got that memo. Fluffy certainly loves basking!

Reverse Psychology

Did you know that studies have proved that kitties do ignore their humans’ calls? Our feline overlords definitely have their own set of rules! One thing that may work with Fluffy is telling her to do the opposite of what you want her to do. For instance, if you don’t want her on the sofa, try telling her to jump onto it. It may just work!

Bribery

Bribery can also be very effective when it comes to guiding kitty behavior. If you don’t want Fluffy scratching your sofa, you’ll need to tempt her with something more appealing, like a cat tower.

Can Openers

The modern furball has more experience with pop-top cans than those that require can openers. However, many of our feline pals still do come running at that familiar can-opener sound.

Please contact us, your Brampton, ON veterinary clinic, if ever we can be of assistance. We may not be skilled at herding cats, but we’re great at helping keep them healthy! If you’re struggling with your cat’s behavior, consider our veterinary behavior counseling services for professional guidance on understanding and managing your feline friend’s unique personality.