Understand Your Cat's Behavior

Cat behavior can sometimes be difficult to interpret. Cats do not give many body language cues, which means you must be alert and know what to watch for. Cats are commonly thought to be aloof, but in truth they are creatures that like solitude and are sociable on their terms. This accounts for a lot of their behavior as their nature is to be independent. Educate yourself on what your cat's body language and vocal cues mean and you may begin to understand your cat's behavior.

Steps

Understanding Your Cat's Vocal Communication

  1. Learn what your cat's meows mean. Everyone is familiar with the cat’s meow. This all-purpose “talk” can mean many things, but primarily it means “pay attention to me as I want something from you.” Your cat may want food, attention, petting or may even be signaling that it doesn't want to be touched. Cat owners soon learn to interpret the nuances of their cat’s meowing knowing precisely what’s on their cat’s mind.
    • After spending some time with your cat, you should be able to understand the difference between your cats meows depending on a variety of variables, such as the time of day or the location of your cat when it meows.
  2. Understand your cat's purring. Purring is another familiar cat vocalization. While not all cats purr when they are happy, it is a good sign if you are actively petting your cat and it begins to purr. Just don't be discouraged if your cat never purrs, it might just not be in its vocabulary.
    • Contented cats purr, but cats in distress have also been known to purr. It is believed that purring in these situations, such as when a cat is ill, is a way for the cat to “call” for help.
  3. Learn what your cat is trying to communicate when it hisses or growls. Hissing and growling is understood to mean that a cat is afraid and/or angry. NEVER pick up a hissing or growling cat, as it may display aggression and bite you. Leave hissing or growling cats alone if you can or approach them cautiously with a thick towel and leather gloves if you absolutely need to pick them up.

Understanding Your Cat's Body Language

  1. Learn to identify when your cat is angry or afraid by paying attention to its body language. A cat will not always growl or hiss at you when it is mad or scared. An angry cat will have dilated pupils and stare at whatever it's angry at. The fur on it’s body will usually also stand on end. The tail may also flick from side to side as it holds it in an upside down U.
    • In addition, an angry or scared cat may have its ears flattened back.
    • In contrast, a friendly cat will approach you with its tail up, erect ears, and rub against your legs. It may give a friendly meow or series of meows and may even be purring.
  2. Understand why a cat rubs up against humans. Cats are affectionate and responsive creatures. To get your attention, cats will often sit close to you or brush up against your legs while meowing. This solicitation for attention is normal cat behavior. It places the cat’s scent on the recipient, helps them bond with you, and probably, although we can’t know for certain, has other significant meanings.[1]
    • When a cat rubs up on a human it’s an important bonding ritual. If your cat is rubbing up against you, don't shoo it away. Let it give you a little love and attention so that
    • This action, rubbing up against another animal to transfer scents and affection, is called allorubbing when done with another cat.
  3. Understand why your cat kneads. This is one particular behavior that leaves some owners scratching their heads. Some cats will “paddle” or “knead” their humans. This behavior is a holdover from when the cat was a kitten. Kittens knead their mother’s mammary glands as they are nursing to get the milk flowing. It is thought to be comforting for a cat to do so on a beloved human being.[2]
    • Kneading can get aggressive if your cat engages its claws while doing it. Be sure to protect yourself if you know that your cat goes overboard when kneading. Try wearing a long sleeved shirt or other protective clothing or have your cat stop when they start injuring you.

Understanding Behavior Between Cats

  1. Understand cat hierarchies. When cats live together they will naturally form some sort of a hierarchy. One cat may be dominant over another. The owner’s may not see this behavior and not understand why cats may have litterbox issues or other behavior issue at first. If watched closely, however, the dominant cat will display signs such as approaching the submissive cat with a stiff gait, erect ears, and elevating the base of the tail. The submissive cat, on the other hand, will look away, lower the ears, and frequently avoid the path of the dominant cat.[1]
    • Having a hierarchy is natural between cats. Just make sure that all of your cats are happy and healthy, no matter where they lay in the pecking order.
  2. Learn how cats might react to a new cat entering the family. Introducing a new kitten or adult cat to your current cat(s) can take some time. The resident cat or cats will probably see the newcomer as a threat, with much hissing, growling, and attempts at “running off” the intruder. This is normal behavior, but after carefully introductions and repeated exposures they should accept each other and may become good companions.[1]
  3. Understand the importance of cats relationships with each other. Although cats are said to be solitary animals, they do form bonds with each other. When two cats become close and one is lost or dies, the remaining cat may be depressed for months. A depressed cat may meow constantly or stop eating. Lots of loving and comfort is needed in this case.

Understanding Destructive Cat Behavior

  1. Understand that cats show unhappiness or displeasure is a wide variety of ways. Cats are emotional creatures. Cats can feel lonely, bored, frightened, or stressed. They show stress in a variety of ways, from vocalizing to forgetting their toilet habits. By taking the time to observe your cat you, will hopefully begin to see patterns to their behaviors and be able to more fully understand your cat companion.
  2. Make sure the cat's litter box is not causing your cat to urinate elsewhere. Not surprisingly, most cat owners know how important the litterbox is to keeping all family members, including the cat, happy. When a cat stops using the litterbox to urinate, it can become a major issue and may put the cat out of his or her home.
    • There are many reasons why a cat may fail to use the litter box. It may be as simple as the cat not liking its litter, either the texture or smell. Most cats prefer an unscented litter. An elderly cat may not be able to get into the box due to arthritis. The box may be overly dirty and need to be scooped and cleaned (with soap and water) more frequently. A sudden noise, a dog, or some other noise or animal may have scared the cat while using the litter box.
    • In a multiple cat household, a dominant cat may be keeping a submissive cat from using the box. In these cases, it is always wise to have one more litter box than number of cats. If you have two cats, you’ll need three boxes. The litter boxes should be in different spots to keep the dominant cat from guarding the boxes.[3]
  3. Look for other reasons for urination misbehavior. Urinating in odd spots, like the owner’s bed, chair, or on plastic bags, may indicate your cat has a urinary tract infection or other serious diseases. This can also occur when the owner has been away for several days indicating distress at your absence. If your cat does suddenly start urinating outside the box, it is best to consult with your veterinarian to rule out any medical causes for this behavior.[4]
  4. Understand why a cat scratches objects in your house. Cats actually scratch because they find it enjoyable and in order to manicure their claws.[5] Because scratching is so important to cats, you can't really get them to stop doing it. The best way to get a cat to stop scratching your favorite chair or sofa is to redirect their attention.
    • Give your cat a scratching post and entice it to use the post by scenting it with catnip and toys. If your cat doesn't like the scratching post, it might not be the right texture. Try attaching a different texture fabric and see if your cat likes to scratch that better.

Tips

  • With close attention you’ll come to understand your cat’s behavior.
  • If your cat misbehaves or behaves in an unacceptable behavior NEVER strike it.
  • The calmer and more relaxed you are, the calmer and more relaxed your cat will be.

Warnings

  • Never pick up or touch a growling or hissing cat.
  • If your cat hides or moves away from you it's best to leave the cat alone because the cat might hurt you.
  • Many times you will need to consult a veterinarian or animal behavioral to correct behavior.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Social Organization in The Cat: A Modern Understanding. S. L. Crowell-Davis, T. M. Curtis and R. J. Knowles. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery February 2004 vol. 6 no. 1 19-28
  2. ↑ Understanding Cat Behavior. Roger Tabor. April 30, 2003. David & Charles.
  3. ↑ Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats. Karen Overall. June 4, 2013. Elsevier Health Sciences.
  4. ↑ Merck Veterinary Manual. C.M. Cahn. S. Line. 9th Ed. John Wiley and Sons, 2005.
  5. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/destructive-scratching
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