Does your cat confuse you?
PET BULLETIN
‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society
Gloria Towle
Board Member
We would like to thank everyone who came out to support our annual Paws for the Cause Walk on May 30. We will have more details and share some photos with next week’s article!
Never growing up with cats, I was more than a little unprepared when several new additions came to our home from the Central Aroostook Humane Society — a rambunctious brown tiger named Willie and a very standoffish gray tiger named Annie. Who knew that cats “weren’t” all the same?
I couldn’t have imagined that each cat has their own personality, attitudes and finicky ways. Cat behavior can really be confusing at times since cats behave in odd manners much of the time. People just assume that cats just have their own agenda, as long as they get their food, water, and have clean litter to use.
The most common behavior of cats is when a cat pushes or rubs their head into any type of object or person that allows them to do so — whether it’s against table legs, chairs, the corner of a sofa, a wall, people’s legs, etc. You probably know what I mean, especially when they try to rub on your legs when you’re walking and very often will come close to tripping you. Willie will dart out in front of your feet in anticipation that you are heading to his food bowl; this happens with any movement — any time after 7 p.m. and he feels that it’s bedtime and feeding time.
This behavior is especially true when you have a person, that owns other animals, that visits. They also sense when people don’t like cats and they especially try to mark them — and people with allergies.
This kind of cat behavior is seen as a way for a cat to mark people and objects with their familiar scent. By rubbing and pushing his head onto things, he transfers a touch of saliva onto the object or person. When a cat does this, it means they own you and you belong in their territory. Cats usually repeat this behavior all the time, on the same places, since the scent will fade.
Another cat behavior that I’m sure you have noticed is when your cat is spending a lot of time by the windows and make very strange noises, sounds and weird movements. Usually the cat’s bottom jaw starts chattering. It looks pretty funny and bizarre but don’t worry, your cat probably is just looking at a bird, cat, or insect. Your furry friend is just simply acting out the hunter instinct in him.
As most of you already know, cats love to pounce on things. They pounce on your legs when you are walking or sitting for no apparent reason and then run away. Some cats get sneaky by hiding behind a curtain and then pouncing when you walk by. Don’t worry they’re not trying to scare you to death, they just love to play and sometimes they get bored and they think this is fun.
The longer you own your cat, the more you will know about cat behavior and see why they are behaving the way they do. Cats do tend to behave in strange ways and sometimes they do this to get attention. As long as you pay attention to your cat, you will have a better understanding of their behavior; and as long as you keep them healthy and happy, you will have no problems. You can check out other interesting information on tips-for-cats.com.
Please stop by and visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society and check out the available felines that are available for adoption. Our hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, closing noon to 12:30 p.m. for lunch. You can also check us out at petfinders.com or on Facebook. Please be responsible, spay/neuter!
