The Surprising Benefits and Challenges of Cat Guarding: An Overview

Are you looking for a unique way to protect your home and property? Cat guarding might be the perfect solution! Cat guarding is an ancient practice that has been used by cultures all over the world, from Europe to Asia. This article will explore the history of cat guarding, its advantages and disadvantages, and how to properly train cats for this purpose. So read on if you’re curious about cat guarding – it could be just what you need to keep your family safe!

Cat Guarding: A Comprehensive Guide

Cats are known for their independence and aloofness. But they can also be quite protective of their human family, acting as wary sentinels to keep them safe, alerting them to potential danger, and even standing guard as if they were watchdogs. This behaviour is known as cat guarding.

Signs of Cat Guarding 

When cats are on guard duty, they can show it differently. Here are some common signs that your cat is trying to protect you: 

Aggressive posturing

Cats may flare up their tail or arch their backs when feeling threatened or protected. They may raise their fur and hiss or growl as a dog would. 

Standing between you and any perceived threats

If an unknown person is approaching you or an animal outside your window, your cat may try to stand in between you two as a barrier.  

Alerting you

Your cat may become very vocal if they sense anything suspicious happening around your home. They may meow loudly to get your attention and alert you of potential danger. 

Bringing gifts

Your cat may even bring you dead animals or other kinds of presents if they feel something in the environment needs protection (i.e. mice in the house). 

The Science Behind Cat Guarding 

Scientists believe that cats have retained many of the same primal behaviours that wild cats use for protecting themselves and marking territory – both instinctive behaviours that help ensure survival in nature’s harsh conditions. Therefore, when cats exhibit these defensive behaviours around humans (or other pets), they see us as part of their tribe and want to protect us too! 

Cat guarding isn’t just about protection; it’s also about establishing dominance within a group dynamic (including humans). By staying in control through aggressive posturing, cats maintain dominance over potentially threatening animals or people, creating a sense of safety for everyone involved (including the guardian cat!). This behaviour is especially common among outdoor cats who live near areas with high populations of wild animals like raccoons or opossums, which could easily make meals out of small creatures like cats! 

Training Your Cat To Guard 

Thankfully, training your cat to guard doesn’t require any special skills – just patience and consistency! Here are some tips for teaching your kitty how to be a great protector:  

Spend time bonding with your pet

Cats need a strong bond with humans to trust them enough to take on the role of protector, so start by focusing on developing positive relationships first! Give lots of love & rewards whenever appropriate so your pet knows that being loyal & protective pays off!  

Show them what “protection” means

Demonstrate what it looks like when someone is being “protected” by holding up objects such as pillows between yourself & another person/pet (or object like a window pane) while speaking calming words & making sure not to show fear or aggression towards anyone/anything nearby. This helps teach them what it looks/sounds like when someone needs protection & helps set expectations about how they should behave during similar situations later on down the line!  

Create practice opportunities

Practice makes perfect! Create scenarios where you can simulate potential dangers, such as having friends come over wearing hats/costumes or playing pretend games, where one person pretends to be an intruder while another plays protector etc. Doing these activities regularly will help reinforce good habits & remind kitties what it looks/sounds/feels like when someone needs defending, so they’re more likely to act appropriately during real-life emergencies!  

 Benefits Of Having A Feline Protector

Having a feline protector can provide peace of mind knowing someone is always looking out for you & provides added security against potential intruders who might think twice before entering into premises guarded by an angry watchdog-style kitty! Plus, many owners report feeling safer at night knowing their furry sentinel is keeping watch all hours day & night!  Furthermore, cats often form strong bonds with those whom they are protecting, so there’s a bonus benefit of getting extra affection from cuddly companions who genuinely care about keeping us safe from harm 🙂  

Conclusion 

Cat guarding is a natural behaviour seen in felines who view their human family members as part of their tribe and want nothing more than to protect them from harm – whether real or perceived threats lurk outside our doors! With this comprehensive guide on understanding signs of guardianship, along with tips on training & benefits associated with having a feline guardian angel watching over us

Do you want the extra security of having your cat as a guardian? With Furrr.co.uk, you can ensure that your cat is insured and covered in any accidents or injuries while on duty! Don’t wait until it’s too late – get your cat insured today with Furrr.co.uk and rest easy knowing that they will be taken care of no matter what – because our furry friends are worth protecting too!