15 Strange Cat Behaviors Explained

1. Chattering

You’ve definitely heard your cat’s teeth rattle, especially when they spot a bird while looking out the window. Behaviorists believe this is due to your cat’s frustration at not being able to pursue prey outside. They may also be excited and slightly irritated.

Others believe that your cat’s odd jaw movement is a natural habit that permits their muscles to prepare for the process of killing prey. In any case, your cat’s behavior is quite typical.

2. Rubbing

When your cat rubs his head against you, he’s doing more than just giving you affection and greeting you. He’s actually performing what behaviorists term “bunting.” Pheromones are being released from his head, and this is his way of asserting control over you. He is displaying pride in the fact that you are his, just like a cat would rub on furniture to leave his smell to indicate his territory.

3. Bring “Gifts” to You

There are a few hypotheses as to why your cat is so determined to leave you their kills. Even while this may appear to be a disgusting habit, your cat is acknowledging you as a part of his group and sharing his hunting success with you. He could be thanking you for taking care of him, or he could be noticing that you pay more attention to him when he brings you rats, birds, or insects.

If you want to discourage your outdoor cat’s hunting tendency, try putting a bell on his collar to make it more difficult for him to hunt.

4. Consuming Non-Food Items

Does your cat like to chew on non-edible materials like wool, cloth, inedible plants, plastic, or metal? This could be a symptom of pica, a rare illness in cats. The cause is frequently unknown; however, some hypothesized explanations include mineral shortages, anemia, hyperthyroidism, heredity, boredom, and stress.

If your cat is exhibiting pica symptoms, it is necessary to have a comprehensive examination by a veterinarian to rule out any underlying issues.

Treatment may involve dietary changes, spraying bitterants on chewed things, offering numerous little meals throughout the day rather than one or two large meals, and providing stimulation through games, social engagement, and alternate chews.

5. Cat Kneading

When your cat grinds his paws into you and massages back and forth, he is engaging in a pleasurable feline habit. Your cat’s instinct to do this dates back to its breastfeeding days. It stimulated milk production by putting his paws on his mother’s mammary glands. When your adult cat does this, he is either content and displaying his happiness, or he is attempting to relieve stress and the habit is one to calm him down. Take it as a complement if you remind him of his mother!

6. If I Fits, I Sits

Cats’ capacity to “comfortably” wedge themselves into tight spaces never ceases to amaze or fascinate us. There are plenty of comfortable places for them to rest instead, such as the cat bed you bought them. So why do they curl up in boxes, bathroom sinks, little baskets, and so on?

Small spaces provide your cat with a sense of safety and security. They would not want to be unsecured in an open area if they were out in the wild since it would make them more vulnerable to predators. Ambush is also a natural trait in cats. They can see and observe their environment from a distance by hiding in small microscopic places.

7. Cat Eyes

Your cat’s eyes are hooked to you one minute and then he appears to want nothing to do with you the next. So, what’s the deal?

When your cat stares you down, he is most likely attempting to grab your attention. If the stare is intense, it could indicate that he is on high alert about someone or a circumstance. It is not advisable to gaze your cat in the eyes. Cats, like any other animal, perceive this as an act of aggression in preparation for a fight.

Have you ever noticed your cat blinking at you slowly? This is referred to as “cat kisses” by behaviorists. Slow blinks are your cat’s method of expressing affection and letting you know that they like and trust you. They will most likely continue to blow “cat kisses” your way if you blink gently back at them.

You couldn’t get him to look at you if your life depended on it at times. Cats, like people, value their alone time. Allow him some calm solitude when he requires it. This will increase his regard for you, and don’t worry, he will seek you out for cuddles!

8. Cat Litter Failure

The most prevalent behavioral complaint of cat owners is urinating or defecating outside the litter box, also known as inappropriate elimination. Understanding the underlying reasons of this ailment, as well as how to treat them effectively, can help alleviate frustration and reestablish the link between cat lovers and their feline companions.

Medical or behavioral factors might cause inappropriate elimination.

Common medical causes include:

  • Conditions of the bladder and urinary system, such as cystitis, infection, bladder stones, or urethral blockage (inappropriate urination)
  • Anal sac illness, colitis, or constipation (inappropriate defecation)
  • Pain or discomfort, such as arthritis or other nerve, muscle, or joint disorders

Common behavioral factors include:

  • Anxiety or stress caused by other pets or changes in the household (moving, the birth of a child, visitors, etc.)
  • Preferences for box, litter, location, and maintenance

The first step in determining the cause of incorrect elimination is to consult with a veterinarian.

While many cat owners assume their feline friends are misbehaving when they urinate or defecate outside the litter box, the cat is usually only attempting to avoid a painful trip to the litter box.

9. 2 a.m Zoomies & Cat Calls

Don’t you simply adore it when you’re fast asleep and the sound of your cat barreling down the hallway jolts you awake? Or is fluffy yowling at you when you’re attempting to sleep? Most home cats have a lot of energy that accumulates over the day and has to be released. This, combined with their nocturnal nature to hunt at night, may disrupt your sleep.

To avoid erratic sprints throughout the house in the middle of the night, we recommend frequently exercising your cat during the day. You can also try feeding him right before bed, and to deter her from hunting at night, you can give her food puzzles to keep her occupied while you sleep.

If your senior cat is overly talkative, this could indicate a dangerous but treatable disease. If this is the case, we recommend that you schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.

10. Ear-Itation

If you notice your kitty’s ears moving back and forth, it’s important to back up slowly. This is one way they exhibit their tension or nervousness. If their ears are slightly tilted erect, it indicates that they are aware and merely listening intently to their surroundings.

11. Rolling Around

Rolling around on their back exposes them to danger, so if fluffy is doing it in front of you, take it as a compliment! You have earned his trust and he feels safe around you. A roll on the floor indicates that he is attempting to engage you in some light play.

12. Are You Using That?

Magazines, computers, books, clothes you’ve laid out, you name it, your cat will lay on it while you’re using it. Your cat knows that if he lays himself down on whatever you’re looking at, he’ll get some attention.

He’s also leaving his fragrance on your stuff as a method to assert his ownership of you.

13. Remove It!

Your cat starts batting things off the table for no apparent reason and calmly watches them fall to the floor. As a cat owner, this might be a very frustrating behavior, but your cat is not just trying to annoy you.

You know what they say about cats and their curiosity? He is simply interested and perhaps bored! Although this is amusing for him, you might want to try exciting him with some new toys if you want to break him of this bad habit.

14. Taking a Drink

You walk over to the sink and turn on the water faucet, only for your cat to appear and drink from the running water. What’s the deal with that? Why chose the faucet when they have their own water bowl?

This tendency could be inherited from your feline’s wildcat ancestors. Drinking from a moving water source, such as a river, is safer in the wilderness than a stagnant water source, which could be home to germs and other contaminants. I guess your cat is just being cautious!

15. Twitchy Tails

You’re watching your cat do her thing around the house when you notice a twitch near the tip of her tail. Is that typical? Yes! It most certainly is, and it could indicate that your cat is excited or concentrated. This is most likely to occur when your cat is “seeking prey” around the house. The tail twitching should stop once your cat has calmed down.

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