What cats want?
What do our cats want? To answer this question, we have to guess and
analyze each type of cat under different conditions because of the cats
themselves cannot give us direct answers:
- Each type of cat as a whole.
- Eeach cat individually in its house.
As we know, cats have a strong individual character and each cat is a
personality.
Cats can be very different, from calm and shy to cheeky and demanding.
Many factors influence character formation, including heredity, life
experience, and the environment.
What do we mean by, "wanting”?
We can also speak of more “complex” definitions, in the sense that we do
when we ask children what they would like to eat? We hardly expect to hear the
answer: “a plate of soup” — that would be something more “a lot, a lot of
chocolate” — desire is above need and does not always correspond to what is
really useful and necessary for children.
Cats definitely need food, but they can also want smoked salmon if they
have a choice.
They need shelter, but they can get the most comfortable place in the
house, a chair by the fireplace.
Specialists concerned with animal welfare and studying their needs at
the most basic level has formulated what is called the “five freedoms.”
It all started with the observation of farm animals, whose whole life
depends entirely on humans — the animals themselves is not independent, they do
not have the opportunity to choose a way of life themselves. The same goes for
pets, and the way we keep them. I will formulate these “five freedoms.”
- Be freed from hunger and thirst because they have access of fresh food and water to keep them healthy and active;
- Lack of discomfort — after all, they have optimal living conditions, shelter and a place to sleep and rest;
- Freedom from pain, injury and illness through preventive measures or timely diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to manifest natural behavior, which is achieved by providing sufficient space, suitable conditions and favorable facilities, and a society of its kind.
- The absence of fear and stress is ensured by appropriate care and appropriate conditions and relationships to avoid mental suffering.