Cat Behavior

Cats have been domesticated for well over 3,000 years.* House cat behavior patterns, however, are really not all that different from wild cats.

In fact, the basic instincts and resulting patterns of activity and rest are basically the same as they were before domestication. Long before the Egyptians and African wild cats negotiated the original deal with each other of pest control for steady food and shelter, cats were hunting, stalking, and burying their feces in sandy substrate.

What at first may be seen as bad cat behavior may have a reason behind it. Here's some insight that answers some questions on why your feline friend does certain things a certain way.

Playing to Your Cat's Instincts

The current behavior of today's house cats with respect to chasing mice, grabbing ankles, playing with toys, tearing into arms with back claws, and litter box behavior have their origins in those ancient felines. Stalking and hunting behaviors are deeply ingrained and cannot be trained out of your cat.

Cheezburger

As feline parents, we act as surrogate mothers for our cats, and we encourage kitten-like dependency and play behavior that lasts into adulthood.

Underneath all that, however, our little bundles of fur are really just wild animals that have become our family members. Over the years, I have often been taken by surprise by my own thoughts when a cat turns the corner and I think "look at that... there's a wild animal living in my house!"

There's no doubt that a better understanding of cat behavior will allow you to provide better cat care for your little one. Understanding your cat's point of view and her special needs will help you to better enjoy your companion animal and treat your cat more the way she wants to be treated. This can help both of you to live a more enriched life.

Embracing your cat's wild nature is essential. Part of that is to refrain from attempting to inflict a human measurement of punishment on your cat for things she can't control.

You can't blame your cat for behaviors like the desire to hunt, or attack your feet, or for being choosy about the food she eats, or for not using a less than clean litter box. You can't blame her for going through the processes that lead to mating, including wanting to get out and meet other cats.

What you can do, instead, is play to her instincts and needs in order to create a healthy and cat friendly environment. When you do so, you'll find that your furry companion will be much better behaved.

I highly suggest you set up a cat sanctuary so that your cat has a safe and quiet place to rest and play.

It's All About the Territory

Domestic felines are extremely territorial and will defend their territory very much as they would if they lived in the wild. Cats are opportunists, and while they bond to their people and other animals they live with, they often will go wherever they find better food or amenities.

Cats mark their territory with scent glands in various areas of the body, including the face, head, and tail. They may also urine spray to mark territory.

Cat spraying behavior can become a real problem if it's happening inside the home. Stray cats may spray the outside of your house and create a defensive response in your cat, which ends up manifesting in the form of spraying indoors. There are a number of things you can do to stop spraying behavior, including reducing stress.

Most indoor cats will agree to share territory and time share specific "favorite spots" with the other cats in the house.

Disputes occur, but they're usually not major.

Aggression between two or more cats in multi-cat households is often due to territorial disputes that go unresolved.

A proper introduction in the first place can prevent a multitude of issues, but it will take some work and some refereeing on your part to resolve a cat behavior problem that has already developed.

Aggressive cat behavior may also be a result of things going on that you don't see. For example, some cats in a household will fight with each other as a reaction to stray cats near the house outside.

Cat Communication

In the wild, the ancestors of the domestic cat lived a solitary life in northern Africa. They slept, hunted, and ate alone. They covered their tracks so as not to be preyed upon, and they behaved stealthy in order to hunt and catch their food (stalking is not for the loud or clumsy). Their very job is to remain undetected, and when challenged, to either fight off an attacker or escape into hiding.

As such, they don't necessarily have a lot of signals to communicate what's going on in a number of social situations. Nevertheless, they are very sensitive creatures, and communicate in a number of ways including vocalizations, purring, and distinct body language.

These aspects of cat behavior are extremely important, since this is how your cat tells you what she wants or doesn't want, whether or not she is content, and how you should treat her.

"A cat is a very sensitive animal. How he feels is how he acts. It is therefore very important to know how your cat is feeling."

"Some cats are very vocal, and although you can't always figure out what they want, you are aware that they do want something. There are other cats who express their feelings primarily through body language, such as a wag of the tail or the ripple of a back. If you are able to decipher your cat's feelings by how he expresses them with his body, you will be in closer touch with what your cat is feeling."

"I try to help people understand their cats' day-to-day needs, so that person and cat can relate in a way that promotes the emotional and physical health of both. However, many of my cases involve cats who have already developed emotional problems. Emotional problems often trigger medical ones. That's why I feel it is so important to treat the total cat."

-Carole C. Wilbourn
Cat Therapist
Author of the book Cat Talk, What Your Cat Is Trying To Tell You

This is an excellent book and will give you a lot of insight into cat behavior and how it relates to overall quality of life for your cat. If you want to better understand cats, I highly recommend you buy Cat Talk.

Cat Behavior Tip: Learn to know when your cat is trying to tell you something. Grooming behavior after play or exercise is usually a sign that your cat wants to rest. Time to leave her alone for a while.

Feline Vocalizations

Typically, if you talk to your cat, she'll talk back, at least at some point, with a variety of vocalizations. Of course, some cats rarely talk at all, and others talk much of the time.

Some breeds, such as Siamese cats, are generally more talkative than others. Excessive meowing, however, can be a sign of illness or at the very least, something behavioral that needs attention.

If your cat suddenly becomes more vocal than normal, it may be a good idea to ask a veterinarian for help. This is especially true if you notice other behavioral changes along with the increased vocalization.

Although there are exceptions, adult cats rarely meow at each other the way they meow at us. Meow, purr, roar, and other cat sounds are not only communication for cats, but a source of fascination for people.

Senior Cat Behavior

Cats are considered to be "senior" at or above age 7. As you can imagine, older cats begin to slow down a bit. Activity levels decrease, and they may sleep a bit more.

Senior cats are subject to certain health problems, including kidney failure. Special diets are available with less protein so as not to stress the kidneys, and veterinary visits should be more often.

Some experts are saying that low protein diets, however, may make matters worse. In fact, they're saying that poor quality cat food may be largely to blame for a host of problems in later life.

Take note if you see a change in your cat's appetite, sleeping patterns, weight, or behavior. These may be signs of problems developing.

Mobility may be a problem if your cat suffers from arthritis. This may make getting in and out of high litter boxes a problem. Make sure you account for this so as not to create inappropriate elimination or litter box problems.

Walking up the stairs or climbing cat trees may become difficult, so make sure you provide a comfort zone for your kitty that is low enough to not require too much climbing.

Older cats may have trouble grooming hard to reach areas, so you may have to groom your cat more often. They also may become cranky due to physical problems of which you may not be aware.

Cats are good at hiding pain, but if you test them, they may show you they're not in the mood to be messed with and this can be an indication of disease or discomfort. If you notice behavioral changes in your senior cat, get her checked out by your veterinarian.

Breed Specific Behavior

Certain cat breeds are known to exhibit certain behaviors. Of course, each cat is an individual (there's no denying that!), but there are some typical cat behavior patterns that apply to specific breeds.

Siamese cats, for example, are known to be smart, very vocal, and very demanding of attention from their owners. Members of the Siamese breed are also known for their mischievous behavior.

Ragdolls are known to be docile and friendly. The Maine coon cat is an excellent hunter, but has a gentle demeanor. Persians are known for being very loving.

Turkish van's and Bengals are known for loving water. Some breeds are said to be more affectionate than others.

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Cat Lovers Only

*Recent evidence indicates that cats were domesticated at least 5,300 years ago, and there's some evidence that the cat-human relationship could go even further back than that.

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