Cats

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.

Cats are one of the best pets to own. They are independent, smart and inexpensive. However, occasionally a cat will exhibit aggressive cat behavior. In this case, the owner must confer with his or her veterinarian to resolve the issue. If a cat is aggressive and in need of cat control, a professional can offer suggestions on how to find an appropriate solution.

Cat doctors, as well as trainers, can assist in tempering aggressive cat behavior. In addition, pet psychologists may help to root out the problem, locating it at its source. It wasn’t always considered appropriate or logical to use cat psychology. However, nowadays, pet owners realize that this may help to discover core reasons for aggressive cat behavior.

As with humans, animals learn about trust and how that trust can be broken. Abuse or abandonment by previous owners often leaves cats frightened of human contact and ready to lash out when they feel threatened. This is a primary source of aggressive cat behavior.

In order to gain cat control, a loving and accepting environment must be created. If you show a cat that you can be trusted, the cat will in turn show you kindness and affection. One of the best things you can give a cat is space. Unlike dogs, cats thrive on independent lifestyles. They do not appreciate being coddled and overly adored.

Cats have killer instincts which tell them to hunt and teach them to be cautious of strangers. If a cat seems jumpy, it is not necessarily displaying aggressive cat behavior, but rather doing what its nature tells it to do.

True aggressive cat traits and characteristics include things such as clawing humans, violently hissing as a threat to another cat or person, scratching or swatting, and pouncing upon other pets or people. These are all clues that your cat suffers from trust issues. In other words, a cat who shows these behaviors is merely trying to overcompensate for protection. With patience, knowledge, a tender heart, space and lots of love, you can show your cat a different way to live. However it is very important to learn to speak and understand CAT Language in order to react appropriately as these behaviors arise.