Cat, the psychologist’s guide to make him happy

mHave you heard of epimeletic, syllegic, somesthetic drive? They are some of the lesser known “feline motivations”, as he tells them Elena Angeli, alias the @lapsicologadeigattiin his book Lwith the right (g) attitude. Manual to really enter the mind of the cat (Gribaudo). Psychologist and psychotherapist, graduated as a “feline relationship consultant”, in her life she deals with cats with behavioral disorders. But her advice, on Instagram and in the book, is very useful to owners of every order and type of apartment feline. Here then are some of the most curious information that she dispenses to her readers.

The feline motives

Let’s start again from the feline motivations: we all know the predatory and courtship one. Angels lists 12. Including, in fact, Epimeletics (instinct to take care of your puppies), Sillegic (pleasure to take objects and take them elsewhere), Somesthetics (pleasure and awareness in using one’s body). “If the motivations are not satisfied,” explains the author, “they will be the basis of behavioral disorders.”

Tree cats and bush cats

You know: cats like to hide and hole up. But also climbing and looking at the world from above. Both, but not every cat the same. “Learning to know your cat means being able to indulge his nature and make him happier,” explains Angeli. So, for example, those who live with bush cats will have to leave cardboard boxes at their disposal, igloo-type kennels and give free access to sheltered ravines. For tree “types”, the multi-level scratching posts are helpful window hammocks and various kennels positioned on the upper floors. And some sympathy for the feline instinct to climb, climb, climb everywhere.

Cat games

An interesting chapter of the book is devoted to game, essential for the cat for various reasons: frommental activation to the expression of ethological reasonspassing through the improvement of the relationship with the owner. The author lists various possible types of game and proposes home solutions for “playing” them. It goes from Predatory (with cat fishing rod) insideExploratory (with boxes arranged in bunks), from Ceachtive (for example: how can you get croquettes from a box full of holes?) at Performative (the cat wheel or any activity that pushes the cat to make physical movement).

Angeli also specifies that the game sessions they must have a beginning, when the cat shows that he is ready to play, a development and an end, when the cat makes it clear that he is tired (at that point, it is better not to insist). Between the two extremes, a ban on cell phones and “human” thoughts.

Mojito, Napoleon and wallpaper: the three types of feline personality

The last chapter of the book is dedicated to manifestations of discomfort. Angeli lists the most common forms of anxiety disorder (separation, cohabitation, closed environment, de-territorialization) and suggests some treatment possibilities. Not only on the “anxiety” front, cats also resemble us in the dynamics that are created between them based on personality.

There are three feline personality archetypes, as identified by jackson galaxy, famous American feline behaviorist, and reported in the book.

The Mojito cat, who “comes to welcome you on the doorstep even if you are a guest”.

The cat Napoleonterritorial, which mostly deals with patrolling its spaces.

The wallpaper cat, submissive, who flees to the most hidden corners at the first ring of the doorbell. A problematic cat then? “His emotional delicacy can be experienced as a resource, not as a problem,” assures the psychologist.

Coexistence and incompatibility between cats

Of course, the coexistence of this type of cat with other similar ones can be complicated: he will easily have the role of “victim in multicat dynamics”. That is, it could be mobbed or bullied. Well yes, certain concepts and phenomena that we consider very human are also valid in the feline universe.

What to do in a situation like this? The psychologist invites a treat both victim and bully with the same attitude, without missing pampering sessions, play or food for anyone. And not to exclude the possibility that there may be between two cats such an incompatibility as to justify their separation. Humans divorce too, right?

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