– Poland is a country where 7 million cats live. They are important to us and this is not only a declaration of our heart, but also research indicating it. The Whiskas brand conducted a nationwide study as part of the “Koci Mraj” campaign, i.e. the Polish global edition of the Whiskas “Purradise” campaign, in which 80 percent Cat’s guardians answered that he would like to ask his cat a question whether he is happy, what he was thinking about. This is proof that we want our cat to be good and that he is happy – says Marzena Ignaczak, director of external contacts at Mars Polska, in an interview with Newseria.
He emphasizes that a happy cat means, among others, a responsible and caring guardian who knows the behavioral needs of his pet and satisfies them wisely.
– Each cat’s guardian should be aware of his behavioral needs, both physical and mental, thanks to which caring for him can meet these basic behavioral needs of the animal. Our animal can then achieve well -being, i.e. a state of balance between physical and mental health and the environment in which it lives – says Małgorzata Głowacka, a veterinary doctor and an animal nutrition expert at Mars Polska.
The expert also draws attention to how we play with cats. Due to the fact that they are hunting animals that live according to the hunting scheme – food – sleeping, the task of the carers is to meet the hunting need through play. It should last a maximum of a few minutes and take place no more than two or three times a day. Both excess such activities and their deficiency can cause a cat frustration.
– It is also important that the fun is part of the hunting chain: hunting – food – sleeping. So, after a few minutes of the fun session, we let the cat hunt the toy that we play with, because this is the moment when he must feel the prey thanks to sensory receptors. Then we serve a meal or a cat delicacy to go to the food stage. Later, we do not worry about our cat anymore, we allow him to rest in any way he chosen to close the hunting chain and go to the sleeping stage – explains the veterinarian.
As he points out, cats differ from each other in temperament, health, age, and also have different preferences about many situations, which affects the way they meet their behavioral needs. Some animals are more open and others are withdrawn. Some of them have a greater appetite, prefer wet food, and the others are the opposite. As caregivers, we should adapt the implementation of each need for domestic cats to their individual features.
– Meetings with a behaviorist can be very useful in the presence of animals in our home. If we notice any disturbing symptoms in a cat or so -called Unwanted behavior that we do not like, whom we cannot cope with ourselves, it is good to invite a behaviorist to our home. So that he can show us which needs of behavioral we do not satisfy our animal – says Małgorzata Głowacka.
He emphasizes that cats are not difficult animals to cooperate, but they can be more difficult to understand than dogs. Their reactions are not so obvious, which is why it requires education guardian in terms of behavioral needs of cats and reading their body language.
– With Dr. Tammie King from the Institute of Animal Science in Waltham, we have developed five basic personalities of the cat together. Defining them allows caregivers to respond in a suitable their needs in an appropriate way – says Marzena Ignaczak.
– Like people, cats have their own personalities – and this individuality shapes their behavior, from the way they interact with us, to nutrition preferences. A confident, curious cat will try something new without hesitation, while a more careful, sensitive cat will need time to adapt to the new routine. Cats are unique units that have specific needs for the genre, requiring satisfying so that they can lead a happy and healthy life. They deserve to understand them and give them the opportunity to undertake activities that meet their physical and emotional needs. Cats are intelligent creatures that usually prefer a predictable environment. They can be very sensitive, curious and playing – in their unique way – emphasizes Dr. Tammie King, a behaviorist of animals from the Institute of Animal Science of Waltham.
Five types of personality of cats in Poland were distinguished in the “Koci Mraj” campaign: active, curious, independent, fun and spoiled. The Whiskas brand in its study asked Polish cats caregivers how they assess the personality of their cat. Most – 27 percent respondents – decided that their cat had the features of a spoiled cat. Every fourth cat (26 percent) does not show a specific type of personality and shows the features of several types. Every fifth is an independent cat (19 percent), and the podium closes the curious cat (16 %). Nearly every 10. Cat is a cat for fun (8 percent), and 4 percent cats are active cats.
– On August seventh, we invited all Varsovians, those who have cats and do not have them, those who like cats and want to get to know them to the special Whiskas zone in front of the Arkadia shopping gallery in Warsaw. During this meeting in the zone, everyone could do a personality test of their cat and be transferred to his digital land of happiness. In the Whiskas zone you could talk to a behaviorist, take a souvenir photo in a photo booth and relax in the chillout zone. Everyone leaving the zone got a cat delicacy – emphasizes Marzena Ignaczak.
The cat personality test was developed in cooperation with Dr. Tammie King, an animal behaviorist from the Institute of Animal Science of Waltham. The test provides caregivers with valuable information that allows them to better understand their cats.
– The everyday life of carers with a cat is certainly much better than life without animals, i.e. without your cat. Thanks to cats, we, of course, have many duties, but we also have a lot of benefits. Thanks to the presence of animals in our homes, we can experience benefits in both physical and mental health – says Małgorzata Głowacka.
He draws attention to the fact that animals help to cope with stressful situations, which is especially important in the case of children who emotionally gain a cat at home. Many of them treat him as his trustee and his closest companion. The influence of cats on their physical health, including allergies, is also significant.
– Nowadays, every second child in school age is struggling with some allergy to the so -called Air -based air allergens. It turns out that thanks to the presence of animals in homes, we have lower predispositions for such an allergy to occur. The presence of animals in our homes is also supported by our immune system in fighting various types of viruses or bacteria associated with common infectious diseases – explains the veterinarian.
Source: Newseria
