Strange things that cats do

Cats are very interesting animals. They have certain behavioral habits which,
although confusing to their owners, have explanatory reasons. One such act is
purring. People wonder why their pets purr – does it just mean they are happy or is
there more to it than that?

Why do cats purr?

Cats communicate using purring. A kitten and its mother will purr as a sign of
comfort and, after this, the kitten will continue the behavior through its life. Cats
usually purr when something pleases them or when they feel safe and comfortable. It
is known also that an anxious cat or one at death’s door might purr too, obviously for
different reasons.

Purring is interesting because no one is really sure how the cat’s body produces the
sound. It might be because of blood moving through the blood vessels. It might be
because of soft palate vibrations. Cat purring has been tested electromyographically,
to show the electrical activity in the muscles of the cat. This could indicate that
purring is caused when the muscles of the larynx, containing the vocal chords, are
activated. the larynx partially closing, or glottis, could be responsible for the purring
sounds.

Why does my cat rub my face?

Cats rub their chins, cheeks and bodies on everything. It might feel good to them but
that is not the primary reason for this behavior. Cats have scent glands located on
their lips, chins, mouths and foreheads. They might rub against their owner as a form
of greeting or when trying to communicate something, such as a request for food.
Cats in a group will rub against one another to swap their scents. Cats together have
a ‘colony scent’ which is useful for detecting intruders. If you bring a cat back from
the veterinarian, the other cats in the colony might growl or hiss because of the
unfamiliar scents on the returned cat. Cats recognize one another largely through
their heightened sense of smell.

Why does my cat scratch things?

Cats like to scratch (or ‘strop’) all sorts of things. Obviously you would prefer your
cat to scratch a tree or its scratching post rather than your best sofa. A cat deprived
of a tree or scratching post will strop its claws on whatever it can. Scratching gets rid
of loose nail sheath parts which cover the growing claws. Cats also have scent
glands located in their paws and the act of scratching will leave the cat’s scent on
whatever they scratch, to mark it as part of the cat’s territory. If a cat is declawed, it
will still try to scratch at things, even though they have no claws to sharpen. This
could be inbuilt habit or maybe the cat wants to leave its scent on the thing it is
scratching. Cat furniture can be a great way to allow your cat to scratch and not
destroy your furniture.

Why does my cat knead things?

Does your cat knead your lap before lying down? This is normal feline behavior. Cats
knead a surface before making themselves comfortable on it, even though this does
not make the surface more comfortable. To knead, a cat uses its two front paws. It
extends its claws and digs them into the surface in an alternating and rhythmic
motion. Kneading, or ‘milk tread’, can be traced back to kitten hood. A kitten sucking
at its mother’s teats will knead, extending its legs, to encourage the milk to flow faster
if it wants to drink faster. A cat might continue this habit into adulthood because it
associates the happiness of curling up on your lap with the safety and joy of being
with its mother. Often it is a sign of good cat health.

Who is a Cat Whisperer?

Cat whisperer is a person who can talk and
communicate with cats. Talking to a cat does
not mean in the literal sense, but it means
understanding the spoken and unspoken words
of kitty. The cat whisperer can decipher what the cat is trying to say by
understanding its physical and verbal communication. Cat whisperers can help treat
a cat emotionally and physically.

Not all cats are lucky to have caring and considerate owners. Many felines are
abused by cruel owners or mistreated by children. Cats that were once safe in the
warm chair of the living room, are abandoned by thoughtless owners. They either
end up in shelters or chased helter skelter by dogs or passing cars and people. Such
cats are emotionally and physically tortured and tend to get aggressive towards
people. Many feral cats also cannot adjust themselves in homes. These cats are
brought to normalcy and helped get used to the love and care of affectionate owners
by cat whisperers. They help build their damaged trust and respond with care and
love.

Cat whisperers have many feral cats or homeless cats around their backyards.
These cats find their way around one by one towards the cat whisperers. Cat
whisperers train and tame cats and strengthen the bond between owner & kitty.

You too can become a cat whisperer if you learn to understand the body language of
your cat. That's what I tried to do. If you too want to learn how to become a cat
whisperer and communicate with your cat, then the following tips will prove to be
useful.  You can read more in this very interesting article.

How to Become a Cat Whisperer

Cat whisperers are animal behavior therapists who help by understanding their
behavior pattern. They make the animal understand that they are respected and
loved to enforce a positive feedback. You too can learn a few tricks of the trade and
understand your kitty's day to day behavior. Who knows, the following cat
communication tips may really help you become a cat whisperer.

You should understand the body language of your cat for communicating with it. If
you find your cats ear in their normal upright position, the whiskers fanning out
straight from the face, it means she is happy and relaxed. If the cat has her lower
body close to the ground and ready to attack it means she is angry or in an
aggressive mood. You can read more on domestic cat behavior.

When the tail is either upright or relaxed and the cat is purring, means it is happy and
content. If the tail is thumping the ground or swishing and you hear her hiss or growl,
better stay away; she is in an angry mood. Other sign of aggressive cat behavior is
constricted pupils with ears flat and pulled back against the head.

A cat with eyes wide open and looking right at you means she is attentive and ready
to listen to you. Or she may be asking you 'Do you need me?'. When the eyes are half
closed it may mean she is a sleepy cat or she may want you to know, 'I trust you and
everything around me, I'm secure.' When the cats eyes are clouded it means she is ill
or may even be in a relaxed mood. Blinking and winking eyes mean she is talking to
you or even a way of saying 'I Love You'. When the cat stares at you she means she
wants you to stay away and does not wish to be disturbed. When her eye pupils are
in slits, it means she is alert and confident when she looks at you and turns away,
she probably is saying, 'it's just you'.

If your cat is frightened, she will have dilated pupils with whiskers pulled back. The
ears pulled down and may twitch. The hair on her back and tail may stand up.
Hissing, flat ears and flicking of the tail means she is annoyed. A sick cat with third
eyelid exposed indicates a sick cat. Another sign the cat is sick is a hunch back kitty
with her tail between her legs. The ears and whiskers will be droopy and will purr to
comfort herself.

You should understand these signs to communicate with your cat. Cats are complex
animals that do not lack intelligence. Each and every cat is different and an
observant owner will quickly learn to interpret the body language of their cat.

More Tips for a Budding Cat Whisperer

It's not just the body language but the feelings that you need to consider while trying
to understand your cat. If you are petting your cat and you see her wagging her tail, it
means she is happy and loves to be petted. But suddenly, you get a bite means she
wants you to stop petting that instant. If the cat is sitting and thumping and flicking
her tail it means she is ready to attack. Cat kneading on your leg means she loves
and appreciates you. Cat kneading is a habit developed in kitten hood to press the
mothers breast for milk.

When a cat rubs her head, face, paw pads, etc. on people or any object, means she is
happy and appreciates it. Cats have scent glands on their forehead, paw pads, tip of
the tip and around their anus. When she rubs herself against you, it means she is
claiming and proclaiming to the world that you belong to her. Cat are highly territorial
animals and rubbing or marking helps them claim their territories. Male cats that are
intact will mark their territories by spraying urine. You can read more on Male Cat
Behavior.

A cat scratching your sofa to shreds is an emotional outlet for cats. They may even
scratch after a nap as a way to stretch or even sharpening their claws. When cat runs
under the couch or cupboard, it is because she is searching for comfort. They also
love to climb up on trees or elevated positions as they feel safe and find it as a way of
entertainment.

These are some tips on how to become a cat whisperer. People who have developed
their skills as a cat whisperer or are natural cat whisperers, have a lot of talent. They
are able to understand the animals and bond with them emotionally. However, as a
cat owner you too can learn to understand your cat well, by knowing your cat's
unspoken words. Cats are not good at displaying their emotions like the dogs, but
prove to be good friends just the same. With a little bit of understanding and
patience, you too will get a hang of becoming a cat whisperer.
CAT LOVE
"The trouble with a kitten is that eventually it becomes a cat."
cat
"There is no snooze button on
a cat that wants breakfast
~ Anonymous