If you have a cat, then you already know they are mysterious creatures. They can be moody and also very sweet and caring. Your cat can be your best friend, but sometimes your kitty may do some pretty weird stuff. If you’ve not spent a lot of time around cats, you may struggle to understand just what he is doing and why.
Let’s take a look at some common cat behavior and try to figure out why your cat does that thing he does. Understanding cat behavior is important!
Understanding Cat Behavior
Head butting – Have you ever been headbutted by your cat? He might do this right before rubbing against your leg and purring? What’s he up to? Well, it might not be the typical way that humans show their affection, but if your cat is head butting you, he’s trying to show his love. This is called “bunting” and cats do it as a sign of affection.
Blinking – Another way that cats show their affection is by blinking. This one might go unnoticed if you’re not paying attention, but the next time you’re cuddled up with your cat and you see her blinking at you, know that she’s saying she loves you. Relaxed eye blinking is like kitty kisses. Enjoy them!
Balling – Does your cat hunker down and curl into a tight little ball, putting her feet under her? This is often called “balling” and while it can be one way that your cat shows she is scared, it’s also a way to say “I want to be alone right now.” It’s just an indication that your cat doesn’t want to be bothered, and prefers to curl up with her tail and feel safe.
Understanding Cat Behavior Continued ….
Being anti-social – Here’s one cats are very well known for – just being anti-social. Does your cat hide when new people come to visit? Does he run into the back room or crawl under the bed? Is she avoiding being petted? When your cat behaves this way with strangers, it’s normal.
However, cats are social creatures and if your cat is behaving this way with you and other family members, after previously being very friendly and social, it could be a sign that something is wrong. You’ll want to take him to the vet to get him checked out.
Kneading – Does your cat knead like “making dough” on his bed, on the couch, or before taking a nap? This is also known as the “milk tread”. If this happens in a younger cat, he’s still remembering nursing from his mother.
If it happens in an older cat, he’s regressing to that time he nursed from his mom. This means the cat is happy and relaxed. If your cat is kneading with you, or against you, it means he is happy and comfortable with you and sees you like his mommy.
These are just a few cat behaviors that you might see in your feline friends. It certainly doesn’t stop there. Cats are amazing, loving animals that can do some pretty incredible things.
Holly Thomas says
My cat does all these things, he loves to knead me.