The cats that we know today have a long history dating back millions of years. Paleontologists discovered evidence of a cat with a retractable claw, Miacis, who lived about 50 million years ago. Most scientists believe that the descendants of Miacis and other prehistoric cats divided into three separate groups nearly a million years ago; the big cats (lions and tigers), the cheetahs, and the small cats (ocelots, bobcats and lynxes).

Cats come in many shapes and sizes, but the fur coat found on each feline is a big part of how they are classified. They usually fall somewhere in the categories of long-haired, short-haired, or “hairless”. Long-haired breeds include Persian, Himalayan, Maine coon, Norwegian Forest Cat and Ragdoll. Short-haired breeds include American Shorthair, American Wirehair, Siamese, Burmese, Korat and Singapore. “Hairless” cats, such as Sphinx, merely appear to be hairless. The breed actually does have a thin layer of hair covering its body.

Cats first started living with people approximately 6,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian farmers domesticated the African wildcats, Felis hybica, a natural hunter, to keep grain storage areas rodent free. Egyptians worshipped Bast, or Bastet, the cat goddess of fertility, happiness and the moon. Impressed with the cat’s natural beauty, Egyptian artists painted and sculpted them, making them cultural icons.

Although ancient Egyptians are known for their love of cats, they are not the only people who worshipped them. In Thailand, Siamese cats were sacred temple cats. In Japan, thse animals kept Buddhist temples free of mice. In Norwegian mythology, Freya (the goddess of fertility) rode in a chariot pulled by two white cats. Cats made their way to China in 5,000 BCE and to India in 100 BCE.

Throughout history, sailors and other explorers helped spread cats across the world. They realized that keeping them abroad their ships was a good way to rid their living quarters of mice. In time, it was considered lucky to keep cats on board.

When cats came to Europe in 900 BCE, they crossbred with native cat found in the British Isles, Felis silvestris. By the middle Ages, however, cats fell out of favor with most of Europe. The Catholic Church connected them and those who loved them with paganism, devil worship, and witchcraft. Superstitious people believed that cats (especially black cats) had diabolical powers. They were feared because of their nocturnal hunting habits, their ability to see in the dark and their “glowing” eyes.

In 1484, Pope Innocent empowered the Inquisition to burn all cats and cat lovers. As a result of the drastic drop in the cat population, the number of rodents increased. Millions of rats carrying fleas infected with bubonic plague spread the Black Death across Europe. When the persecution of cats ended, they began hunting rats again, and Europeans saw the advantage of having these natural hunters keep their towns’ rodent free.

In Victorian times, they were once again warmly welcomed into the home and were seen as loving companions’ pets. Victorian cats impressed artists, writers, scientists, and philosophers of the day. Queen Victoria loved cats, and because of this. Their good reputation was reaffirmed; there it remains to this day.

Some say the world can be divided into two types of people: the ones who love cats and the ones who love dogs. I don’t know if that’s true, but I do think more people would enjoy feline companionship if they understood some of that “strange” behavior cats seem to be guilty of.

So to help cats make a better name for themselves with the dog lovers of the world, let’s look at why cats act so weird some times.

Why do cats run into one room then run back where they came from?

Cats, like dogs, have a lot of energy because they were meant to be hunters. Unlike dogs, cats in the wild don’t work with a pack - they have to be solely responsible for their own survival so they need plenty of energy to sustain them for hunting. And lots of what cats hunt - birds, mice, etc. - are pretty darn fast movers.

In a home, cats don’t get to use up as much energy so they expend it by running around crazily. It’s really not so weird - I’ve seen the same behavior in at least two of my dogs.

Why do cats “knead” everything?

Kneading is the term to describe the way a cat will push down on people or material then alternate paws - almost as if they were carefully working bread dough. Cats often do this before they lay down somewhere. And sometimes the process can go on for an eternity.

Cats do this because it reminds them of those long ago memories of being a kitten. Baby cats have to use kneading to help milk come from their mothers. That means kneading reminds them of being safe, warm, comfortable, and near their mothers. It’s a pleasant feeling for them and one they want to experience before lying down for a nap.

Why do cats rub up on everything?

Cat lovers often enjoy the soft feeling of their favorite feline winding between their legs or rubbing against their ankle. They are cuddly creatures after all. Of course, it feels good to the cat, too.

But that’s not the main reason your cat loves rubbing up on people, doors, and everything else. Cats have scent glands under their chin so when they rub up on you or things in your home that scent is being transferred onto the items. The cat is basically claiming you and the rest of the house in case other cats come in - she wants everyone to know that she rules the roost.

Why are some cats affectionate while others are aloof?

Like dogs, cats have their own distinct personalities which are shaped by early experiences. An adult cat that was held and petted a great deal throughout its life will grow up to be a friendlier and more affectionate cat.

There are also other reasons, too. For example, some cats will roll over on their backs so you can rub their furry tummies with your foot or your hand. The cats usually love this! However, cats will only expose their bellies to people they trust so one reason your cat may not be showing you enough love is that she doesn’t feel quite sure about you.

Plus, you can do your part to help the relationship along. Petting your cat behind the ears is always a winner! Because cats can’t reach this spot themselves, you’ll be doing your cat a big favor. Expect LOTS of purring!

Why do cats cover their bathroom?

Remember that cats were solitary hunters in the wild, and they are much smaller than many other predators which means they could be very vulnerable. In fact, one reason cats like to be in trees and other high places is so they can see their potential enemies coming.
If a cat in the wild would leave its bathroom exposed, then predators could use the smell to more easily sneak up on them. So cats learned a long time ago to cover their bathroom in order to prevent those surprise attacks. It’s just one of many habits cats have brought into the home from the wild.

And it does actually reduce odor in the home so it’s not so bad even if the cat does sometimes end up throwing litter on the floor.

And there you have it: answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about cat behavior. If you already love cats, you can now appreciate their quirkiness more. If you’re a dog lover, then maybe now you understand why living with a cat can be such an interesting and rewarding experience.

Playing is fun, right? So why do we need to know anything else about it, surely that’s is all there is to it. Well it’s true that the main reason we might play with our cat is because it is something fun to do, but for your cat it has a far more important role and is key to their general mental and physical well being. This means that it should be something that all cat owners should spend a little more time thinking about and incorporating into their every day cat care routine, rather than as an occasional playtime.

Hunting is a instinct that is in bred into every cat, even for our domesticated feline friends, who do not need to hunt for their food, will still have a strong desire to hunt for prey. But hunting plays another important role for cats other than for finding food; it also helps to build their confidence, their agility and keeps them fit. It also would occupy a cat for most of the day out in the wild and so a cat that no longer has the opportunity to hunt every day will find itself with a lot of unfilled hours. Many cat owners will have experienced a bored or depressed cat that shows their frustration through aggressive behaviour, such as chewing or scratching the furniture or one who hides them selves a way and becomes a very shy and timid cat.

A good substitute to hunting is therefore energetic chasing, stalking and pouncing playtimes, where the cat can engage all their natural instincts into the game and feel stimulated by the play. Unfortunately just leaving a motionless cat toy lying around just doesn’t meet those requirements, so it is important for cat owners to interact with their cats during playtimes.

Ideally you should play with your cat at least a couple of times a day for about 10 to 15 minutes each time. Of course this may not always be possible but at least one playtime a day is required to keep your cat healthy and happy. Playing with your cat an hour before bedtime is a good habit to get into, especially if you have a very alert nighttime cat that frequently tries to wake you up at night. This will help to use some of that energy and encourage them to sleep afterwards. The length of playtime will very much be dictated by the cat, some may be quite happy to play for 15 minutes while others prefer shorter more frequent games.

The secret to playing with your cat is to think like your cat, do they like to stalk and pounce onto small ground creatures like mice or do they prefer to climb trees to hunt flying creatures. Your cats preference will help you to decide which sort of toys would suit them better, such as furry mice and balls for the ground hunter and feathery, colourful toys which can be dangled and simulate flight for your bird hunter.

It is also important that we make the game as realistic for your pet, simply rolling a ball along the floor will soon become boring and uninteresting. Instead make sure that the playroom is interesting, placing open paper bags around is a good way to provide plenty of hiding places to pounce from. Also vary how you manipulate the toys, for instance make some movements fast, others slow, hide the toy behind or under something. This will make the game far more realistic and exciting for your cat, who can utilise all their hunting skills like stealth, speed, agility and cunning.

Keep the toys you use with the cat hidden away after use so that they do not become to over familiar with them and lose interest. Providing new toys from time to time will help to stimulate your cat’s interest in the games and encourage more energetic play. It is also advisable not to use treats too often during playtime as this may cause weight gain over time. Treats may be helpful at first to encourage a shy or timed cat to come out and play but as their confidence grows, treats should be removed from the games.

Playing with your cat as you can see is much more than just a fun thing to do, it will promote confidence, fitness, reduce boredom and aggression and generally help in your cats over all mental and physical health. As an added bonus, regular play between you and your cat will strengthen the bond you have with each other. Your cat will associate you with fun and excitement and will seek your company out more often than with someone who just feeds them. Over all playtime will benefit everyone involved and should be encouraged throughout a cat lifetime.

Taking care of teeth isn’t just something that applies to humans. If our cats don’t get the right care, they can also suffer from dental problems. Fortunately, it’s not too hard to give your cat proper dental care. All you need is a few minutes every once in a while. Here’s how to provide the right cat dental care.

Many dental problems in cats are caused by the same thing that humans suffer from - plaque. It forms on teeth between brushing, and is made up of saliva, bacteria, and food particles. It starts out soft, but quickly hardens, becoming tartar. This brown substance is pretty unsightly, but it’s not just unattractive. When more forms, it can push up under your cat’s gums. That causes infections and lost teeth.

Prevention, as always, is the best medicine. If you avoid the formation of tartar, your cat’s teeth will be in a much better shape. Many cats will even put up with regular brushing. Start when your cat is young, and don’t bring out the toothbrush to start. Stroke the outside of your cat’s cheeks with a finger, until he or she gets used to the feeling. Once this stops being a problem, you can put a dab of cat toothpaste on your finger and allow the cat to taste it. Popular flavors include meat and poultry.

After the toothpaste and the stroking motion have been accepted, you can put a little toothpaste onto a toothbrush intended for cats. Slowly and carefully, brush one or two teeth, to get your cat used to brushing. Over the next few days, you can increase the number of teeth you brush at a time, waiting till your cat becomes willing to allow you to do so before proceeding to the rear teeth. These are the most important to brush, but stop brushing before your cat starts fussing. It’s important for your pet not to dislike tooth brushing. Eventually, you’ll be able to brush for about thirty seconds on each side of the mouth. You don’t have to worry about the inside surfaces of the teeth, which are harder to get.

In addition to brushing (if your cat will tolerate it), you should feed a diet that requires a great deal of chewing. Too much moist food can accelerate plaque and tartar buildup. Dental chews will also help clean your pet’s teeth. You can feed one or two a day to help with your cat’s dental care. Basic cat care is essential for a happy and healthy cat.