如何為愛貓營造安全感

譯/陳康

Like humans, cats have needs in order to make them feel happy and secure.To help understand the “core resources”your cat needs, think about when you move to a new apartment/house.

貓和人類一樣有著各種需求，以享受樂趣，獲得安全感。為了幫助你了解貓所需的“核心資源”，不妨想象一下自己遷入新居的場景。

2What do you do to feel comfortable and make this new place your home?Typically we clean, stock1stock 存貨，貯備，貯存（食物等）。the bathroom and kitchen, make up our bed with our own sheets and pillows, and then decorate with curtains, pictures, and personal items.

2想要過得舒適愜意，讓新居有家的感覺，你會怎么做呢？通常我們會打掃衛(wèi)生，備齊浴室和廚房用品。我們會用自己的床單和枕頭鋪好床，再配上窗簾、照片以及個人物件。

3Your cat’s needs are similar and you want to make sure you have an environment that makes your cat feel comfortable.

3你的愛貓也有類似的需求。你要給它也提供一個舒適愜意的環(huán)境。

Meeting the needs of your cat

Safe place

4Every cat needs a safe and secure place where it can retreat to so that it feels protected or which can be used as a resting area.The cat should have the ability to exit and enter the space from at least two sides if it feels threatened.Most cats prefer that the safe space is big enough to fit only themselves, has sides around it, and is raised off the ground.

滿足貓的需求

安全場所

4每只貓都需要一處安全可靠的場所，用于藏身以獲得保護，或休息區(qū)。如果貓察覺到威脅，應至少可以從兩個方向出入?？臻g大小與體型相當，四周有遮擋且高于地面，這樣的安全空間往往更受貓的青睞。

Multiple and separated key resources

5Key resources include food, water,toileting areas, scratching areas, play areas, and resting or sleeping areas.These resources should be separated from each other so that cats have free access without being challenged by other cats or other potential threats.

多樣且分開放置的關鍵資源

5關鍵資源包括食物、水、排泄區(qū)、抓撓區(qū)、娛樂區(qū)和休息或睡眠區(qū)。這些資源應分開放置，以便貓自由使用，而不會受到其他貓或其他潛在威脅的影響。

Opportunity for play and predatory2predatory捕食性的。 behavior

6Play and predatory behaviors allow cats to fulfill their natural need to hunt.Play can be stimulated with the use of interactive toys that mimic prey.Cats need to be able to capture the “prey”, at least intermittently3intermittently斷斷續(xù)續(xù)地，間歇性地。, to prevent frustration.Using food puzzles or food balls can mimic the action of hunting for prey, and provides more natural eating behavior.

游戲與捕食機會

6游戲和捕食行為可滿足貓的狩獵天性。我們可以使用模擬獵物的互動玩具來刺激貓的游戲欲望。為了防止貓產(chǎn)生挫敗感，至少要時不時地讓貓能夠捕獲“獵物”。我們也可以使用食物拼圖或漏食球來模擬狩獵行為，讓貓的進食過程更加符合天性。

Positive, consistent, and predictable4predictable可預見的，意料之中的。 human-cat social interaction

7Cats’ individual preferences determine how much they like human interactions such as petting, grooming, being played with or talked to, being picked up, and sitting or lying on a person’s lap.

與貓保持積極、持續(xù)、可預料的交際互動

7貓的個體偏好決定了它對互動行為的喜愛程度，如撫摸、梳理毛發(fā)、陪玩聊天、被抱在懷里、坐在或者趴在人類腿上。

An environment that respects the importance of the cat’s sense of smell

尊重貓嗅覺的環(huán)境

8貓使用嗅覺評估周圍環(huán)境，這一點和人類不同。它們通過摩擦臉和身體來留下氣味，利用摩擦時分泌出的自然信息素來劃定讓自己感到安全踏實的領地范圍。因此，要避免清除這些區(qū)域內(nèi)的氣味。有些氣味對貓來說意味著威脅（即陌生的動物氣味，芳香制品或清潔劑的味道），這會導致問題行為，比如不在貓砂盆里小便，亂抓亂撓等。

8Unlike humans, cats use their sense of smell to evaluate their surroundings.Cats mark their scent by rubbing their face and body, which deposits natural pheromones5pheromone 信息素（動物釋放的化學物質(zhì)，能影響或吸引其他同類生物的行為）。to establish boundaries within which they feel safe and secure.Avoid cleaning their scent off these areas.Some smells can be threatening to cats (i.e.unfamiliar animals, or scented products or cleaners)which may lead to problematic behaviors such as urinating outside of the litter box or scratching in undesirable areas.

Five items for a secure environment for your cat

Food

Predictable meal times and individual food bowls for each cat in your household.

Water

Clean fresh water in a location that is appealing to your cat.

Toilet

A convenient, clean, and private litter box to serve your kitty.

As a general rule of thumb6a rule of thumb 實用的估算方法，經(jīng)驗工作法（常依據(jù)經(jīng)驗而非準確測量）。, the number of litter boxes should be one more than the number of cats in your household.Many cats prefer a larger litter box that is one and a half times the length of their body, and at least one and a half inches deep.Litter should be scooped at least once daily.

Safe Place to Sleep

Soft bedding, as well as familiar smells and sounds, provides security for your cat.Some cats also like to be provided with soft, cozy places to hide.

為貓營造舒適環(huán)境的五要素

食物

給家里的每一只貓都安排固定的用餐時間和專屬貓碗。

水

將干凈新鮮的水置于貓喜歡的位置。

貓廁

配備方便、清潔的專屬貓砂盆。

根據(jù)經(jīng)驗來看，家里貓砂盆的數(shù)量應該比貓的數(shù)量多一個。很多貓都喜歡大一點的貓砂盆，其長度應該是貓體長的1.5 倍，深度不低于1.5 英寸。貓砂至少每天清理一次。

安全的睡眠場所

柔軟的睡墊、熟悉的氣味和聲音會讓貓有安全感。有些貓也喜歡主人給它們提供柔軟舒適的藏身之處。

Familiar Territory

Face-rubbing and scratching surfaces leaves your cat’s scent, and marks the territory with a personal touch.Be sure to supply plenty of scratching posts to encourage appropriate scratching.

熟悉的領地

貓會通過蹭臉或抓撓來留下氣味，以自己的方式標記領地。一定要提供足夠的貓抓柱來鼓勵適當?shù)淖闲袨椤?/p>

9家里的每一只貓都需要以上全套資源。有些資源可以幾只貓共享，但需要精準地評估每只貓與家里其他貓之間的關系。這些資源應設置在人較少走動的區(qū)域，避免過多噪聲（即遠離嘈雜的洗衣區(qū)）。出入通道應不少于兩個，使貓在察覺到威脅后或在緊張狀態(tài)下得以逃脫。我們還應給貓?zhí)峁┯螒虻臋C會，以滿足其捕獵和追蹤獵物的天性，為其身心提供興奮刺激。 □

9Each cat in your household needs a complete set of the resources listed above.There can be some overlap, but sharing requires that you have an accurate assessment of each cat’s relationship with the other cats in your household.These resources should be located in a low traffic areas, which is free of excess noise (i.e.not near a noisy laundry area),and has at least two ways where your cat can enter or leave.This allows your cat to flee or escape if they feel threatened or stressed.Cats also need to be provided with the opportunity to play in order to allow them to fulfill their natural need to hunt and stalk, as well as provide mental and physical stimulation.■