Converting IntegerField to Int or Automated Testing ensuring value > 0

I am trying to ensure some IntegerField values are nonnegative.

I have created a class like so (in the models file):

class Category(models.Model):
    name = models.CharField(max_length=128, unique=True)
    views = models.IntegerField(default=0)
    likes = models.IntegerField(default=0)

    #solution block attempts are inserted here

I want to ensure views and likes are nonnegative. The test function is:

class CategoryMethodTests(TestCase):
    def test_enusre_views_are_positive(self):
        """
        ensure_views_are_positive should result 
        True for Categories where view are zero or positive
        """
        cat = Category(name='test', views=-1, likes=0)
        cat.save()
        self.assertEqual((cat.views >= 0), True) 

I have tried the following solutions, inserted at the comment line in the Category class, with errors posted corresponding to each:

First attempt:

if views < 0:
    views = 0



TypeError: '<' not supported between instances of 'IntegerField' and  'int'

Second attempt:

if int(views) < 0:
    views = 0

TypeError: int() argument must be a string, a bytes-like object or a number, not 'IntegerField'

Third attempt:

@property 
    def ensure_views_are_positive(self):
        if self.views < 0:
            views = 0
            return views

This does not get any error message, but fails testing with:

AsssertionError: False != True

Probably because I am not calling the function anywhere. I am not really sure where to call it (and would prefer it be automated in the class).

I feel like there must be a simple way to convert IntegerField data to int so that it can be worked with in functions / testing. Is there a way to make the simple "if" statements work? (If so, how?) Or is an alternative needed? (If so, what?)

Any help is appreciated.