Taking Care of Your Cat is a Labor Day of Love …

September 1, 2025

and Love Gets No Holiday!

Theresa Gleason EdD

Caring for a cat is a unique journey, filled with purrs, playful antics, and unconditional affection. It is also a commitment that truly never takes a day off. Unlike a job with a fixed schedule, the responsibilities of cat ownership are constant, reminding us that taking care of our feline companions is truly a labor of love – and love, as they say, does not get a holiday. For many of us, cats are more than just pets; they are cherished companions, beloved show cats, and integral members of our families. Understanding a cat’s needs, from their unique behavioral patterns to their physical health, proves crucial in fostering a positive human-cat bond and preventing common issues that can impact their quality of life.^1,3 For some, there may be some misconceptions about cat behavior that can lead to less than optimal care. For instance, if you believe cats are aloof and not caring about their owners, the results can negatively affect the human-cat bond and increase behavioral issues.¹

From the moment we welcome a cat into our home, we become their primary provider. We consistently provide them with food and water every day, without fail. A cat’s food bowl must be filled, and fresh water must always be available, whether it is a fun-filled Saturday or a quiet Sunday afternoon. While we all strive for a break in routine, the health and well-being of our cats is a commitment that becomes part of our own daily schedules. In addition to providing the basic needs for our cats, and because most cats live only indoors (as advised by the Cat Fanciers’ Association), our cats may receive minimal interactive enrichment, such as playing with their humans.

We all have busy lives, whether working outside the home or having other responsibilities that pull us away from interacting with our cats. Interacting with our cats will provide needed mental stimulation to help avoid behavioral issues from developing. Cats thrive on interactive play! Take, for instance, a laser pointer they are sure to catch, or a “fishing pole” toy. Playing with our cats daily, or at least every few days, will bring them joy and give them purpose by igniting both their drive to hunt and the use of strategy to defeat their play-prey. ^{1, 4}

Beyond the basic necessities of nutrition and play, a cat owner’s duties extend to their cat’s comfort and cleanliness. Should an “accident” happen, whether a house-soiling incident, an upset stomach, or a sudden hairball found in the middle of a couch cushion, it is the cat owner who handles the cleanup. These moments, while perhaps not glamorous, are an integral part of caregiving for a cat that owners will likely experience. They reinforce the idea that our cats rely on us (and they do notice) for their every need, including their psychological needs.

Psychological needs are often communicated by our cats through behaviors. Common behavioral challenges require effort from us in how we respond. Behavioral problems are a leading cause of relinquishment and euthanasia for cats. In one study, nearly half of respondents reported that their cat had “misbehaved” by having anxiety or fear, vomiting, house soiling, and destructive behaviors like scratching furniture. House soiling is a significant concern for owners and a primary reason for cats being surrendered to shelters.¹ How cat owners respond will vary and will impact the human-and-cat bond. We know that punishment, such as hitting, using loud noises, yelling, or spraying water, does not work and is associated with even more reported behavior problems. Figuring out what drives the cat’s behavior to redirect the cat’s desired behavior is the best approach, but it takes perseverance, understanding, and may require the assistance of their veterinarian.²

While veterinary visits are essential for optimal care, the visits may also cause stress for the cat, requiring a cat owner to advocate for their unique needs to reduce stress. Cat owners rate aspects like the presence of other animals in the waiting room and the consultation itself as highly stressful for their cats.² To help cats experience minimally stressful veterinary visits, we can implement several cat-friendly measures, such as cat-only waiting rooms (if available), raised surfaces for carriers, and towels or blankets provided to cover carriers. Gentle handling techniques are also crucial, as almost a third of cat owners have witnessed “scruffing” (grabbing a cat by the nape of its neck) of their cats during a consultation, a practice associated with negative responses for the cat and owner.²

The beauty of constant and consistent care lies in the deep bond it fosters with our cats. When we embrace the fact that our cats require our attention every single day, we begin to truly appreciate the depth of our connection. During these consistent acts of feeding, cleaning, and comforting is when the labor transforms into a genuine love connection that cannot be put on hold for a vacation or ignored during a busy week. It is a continuous flow of devotion that strengthens the unique relationship between a cat and their human.

By reading articles like this one on Cat Talk, we are all striving to become better educated by increasing our knowledge and awareness of what is best for our cats. Most of us can say we have burned the midnight oil, knuckled down, or have said, “This work is back-breaking” (especially when cleaning litter boxes). Caring for cats is not always easy. Ultimately, being a cat owner means understanding that this is a fulfilling relationship with ongoing responsibilities that never waver. It is a journey of continued care and commitment for an exchange of feline affection. And while there are no days off from loving and nurturing our feline friends, every moment spent ensuring their happiness is a testament to the profound and enduring labor of feline love.

References

1. Grigg, Emma K., and Lori R. Kogan. 2019. “Owners’ Attitudes, Knowledge, and Care Practices: Exploring the Implications for Domestic Cat Behavior and Welfare in the Home” Animals9, no. 11: 978.
2. Caney, Sarah MA, Natalie J. Robinson, Danielle A. Gunn-Moore, and Rachel S. Dean. “Happy cats: stress in cats and their carers associated with outpatient visits to the clinic.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery24, no. 12 (2022): e551-e557. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36322402/
3. Kuhne, Franziska, Kerstin Hoock, Martin Kramer, and Hansjoachim Hackbarth. “Cat owners: how they keep and care for their own cats and their attitudes to stray and feral cats in Germany.” In AVS, vol. 7, p. 24. 2019. “Cat owners: how they keep and care for their own cats and their attitudes to stray and feral cats in Germany.” In AVS, vol. 7, p. 24. 2019. https://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/article/10.11648/j.avs.20190701.14
4. Adamelli, Serena, Lieta Marinelli, Simona Normando, and Gabriele Bono. “Owner and cat features influence the quality of life of the cat.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science94, no. 1-2 (2005): 89-98. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159105000511