10 strange cat behaviors
Cats are an inexhaustible source of curious behavior, especially for humans, who often find it difficult to find a logical reason for the things these animals do. However, science has deciphered the reasons for most of these behaviors, and it’s important to know them, as your cat may be trying to tell you something without you knowing.
If you want to know what they are and why they do them, you can’t miss this Animal Expert article. Read!
You certainly recognize the scene: you go home and your cat greets you by rubbing your body and even your face against your legs and ankles. Why are you doing this? The reasons are many: one of them is that he is glad to see you and that it is expressed; another has to do with labeling, because when rubbing the body on you, the cat recognizes you as part of its social group and claims you as one more member, which obviously must have the same smells, so it transmits them to you with this gesture.
Many keepers admit that their cats usually sleep in bathroom sinks, unable to find an explanation for it. However, there is no mystery. Think that, first of all, the sink is a small place, so some cats can associate it with some kind of burrow where they will be safe, something they love a lot.
Another reason has to do with temperature, and makes a lot of sense in summer and tropical countries. When the heat is intense, is there a cooler place than the ceramic sink? According to the cats, no.
Many cats are surprised when they start running and jumping into the house for no apparent reason. This is most common at night and in young cats, but you can also see adult cats jumping during the day. Why are you doing this? There are two main reasons.
The first is that your cat has a lot of energy stored and is bored, so a few crazy jumps and fast runs will help you have fun. When this is the case, consider offering your cat other means of entertainment so that it can release all that energy.
On the other hand, this behavior is also present when the cat is infested with external parasites, as they bite the skin to feed causing itching. When itching is unbearable or reaches an area that is difficult to access to scratch, it is common for the cat to jump back and forth because it doesn’t know what to do to do to do its needs. This also occurs when the cat has feline hypersesia syndrome, or wavy skin, a disorder that must be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.
Learn more about it in the article The Cat That Runs Like Crazy: Causes and Solutions.
Some cats like to bite and suck blankets or handkerchiefs, especially when they are wool. This is often common in prematurely weaned felines and can become compulsive behavior in some of them, becoming a stereotyping, while others only manifest it in stressful situations.
Similarly, other cats tend to chew and even eat all kinds of objects, such as plastic or cardboard. This phenomenon is called itchy syndrome and occurs when the feline has nutritional deficiencies or behavioral problems that lead to chronic anxiety, with urgent veterinary consultation in these cases.
Many cats like to lick their caregivers, either when they are in bed with them or when they put themselves on their shoulders. You’ll like the reason for this behavior: cats only clean other cats, so if your cat licks your hair, it’s because it considers you a reference figure or part of your family group.
Cats do this because, when they are young, the mother cares for them and keeps them clean, so it’s a way to strengthen the bond they have with members of their nearest circle.
Many cat owners complain that their furry friends nibbles and destroy their plants, but the feline never does so with the intention of damaging them. Although they are carnivores, cats need to eat plant foods from time to time. In nature, this need can be met when they eat the stomach of their prey, where they can find remains of semi-light plants.
Domestic cats, however, can try to make up for this shortage by nibbling their plants a little. However, you should be aware that some plants are toxic to cats, so we recommend that you make sure your plants are not toxic and learn to keep cats away from plants.
If you’ve ever caught your cat scratching the floor out of the sandbox instead of covering your faeces, you’re trying to tell him something. Cats are very demanding with the cleanliness of their sand and also with the materials you use as a substrate, so they may not like the texture you use. When this happens, the cat replaces the behavior of covering the stool, something completely instinctive, scratching the surrounding surface.
Learn here at Animal Expert the different types of cat litter and how to choose the best.
If you notice your cat repeatedly biting your back, tail or any other part of your body, be careful. This behavior can be a sign that you have external parasites, so look for these uncomfortable insects in your fur.
This behavior is also present in stressed cats that are even injured because they bite compulsively. In any case, be sure to go to the vet.
It’s not normal for cats to drag their anus across the floor, so when they do, it means something’s going on. While this may seem curious, the truth is that it is an undeniable symptom that something is not right. Stools can stick to hair, which can occur in long-haired cats or diarrhea.
However, this can also occur when the feline has intestinal parasites or inflammation of the glands. In both cases it is mandatory to visit the veterinarian.
When it comes to water consumption, all cats look different. Some drink in the bowl without any problem, others prefer metal drinkers, some barely drink water, no matter what you do, and there are cats who like to drink water from anywhere except the bowl you provided them. Among these, there are cats that like to drink from the tap.
The reasons are no stranger. First, tutors usually buy plastic containers for pets, but the truth is that this material can change the taste of water, even if it is so subtle that human language is unable to notice the change. Secondly, if you’re not a meticulous teacher, you can forget to change the water every day and the cat will refuse to drink if it stagnates.
In addition, running water attracts the attention of many cats because they feel it is cooler. If this is the case for your cat and you want me to stop drinking from the sink faucet, buy a cat fountain.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Curiosities section of the animal world.