What causes your pet feline to bring you rats and birds?
Why does your tabby like to drink directly from the faucet?
Find out as we look at Why Cats Sometimes Bite You & Other Strange Behaviors Explained.
#11 Bouts of Energy If you’ve ever seen your cat suddenly start
darting around a room, bouncing from wall to wall, you’ve probably wondered where
all that energy came from.
This is nothing to worry about as cats tend to be naturally playful and energetic.
But dealing with this energy properly is something you can help with.
Regularly playing games with your feline friends will keep your cats from going wild around
the home.
Also be sure to secure the areas where your cats like to play to make sure they don’t
knock down anything too dangerous.
#10 Chattering Cats will sometimes make an odd noise with
their teeth, with a sound imitating that of a baby goat.
This is commonly referred to as chattering.
Often times, cats will engage in this behavior when within the vicinity of birds.
It’s thought by some that this noise is closely associated with their instinctual
yearning to hunt...and the frustration of not being able to do so!
Other behavior specialists think this audible reaction to potential prey isn’t a release
of pent-up agitation, but rather a physical preparation for their jaws.
This train of thought hypothesizes that the vocal exercise warms up the jaw muscles in
anticipation of a potential coup de grace.
Regardless of the reason, this is a perfectly normal and acceptable way for your cat to
express their excitement.
Certain toys can mimic the fluttering of a bird, and using them to play with your pet
will help them answer those natural urges in a much safer, and less messy, environment.
#9 Generous Gifts Much needier and seemingly self-focused than
their companion counterparts dogs, cats can still be quite affectionate.
Their loving nature doesn’t just cease with rubbing, licking, and purring in your direction,
though as they’ll even go so far as to bring you a present!
But it may not be one you want.
Cats are known to bring mice, insects, birds, and other prey they’ve sunk their teeth
into up to their owners feet.
No need to take offense to this paw-delivered cadaver, though, as your cat means no disrespect,
quite the opposite actually.
By bringing you the spoils of their hunt, your curious critter is displaying their acceptance
of you as one of their own.
It’s a sweet gesture, but unless you want your fuzzy buddy to become the neighborhood
pest-slayer, it’s best not to encourage the behavior.
Showing extra attention when your cat brings you one of these gifts is one way to make
sure it will happen again, so try to refrain from praising the act.
Another surefire deterrent is to attach a bell to the collar of your kitty, giving would-be
targets a chance to hear your little prowler ahead of its pounce.
#8 Kneading You might have caught your cat rubbing their
paws into a blanket, pillow, or even your pant leg, seemingly massaging the surface
back and forth.
This act is called kneading and many behavioral experts attribute the action to their early
years as kittens when nursing.
The kneading process is used by the infant cats to massage the mother’s mammary glands,
physically encouraging it to produce more milk.
As an adult, the cat will engage in this behavior again when content or happy, and also as a
means of relieving stress.
It can be a calming activity for your feline, in the same way that a child may return to
sucking their thumb in stressful situations.
When your whiskered pal kneads you, think of it as your cat finding sanctuary in your
presence—like a baby to its mother!
This can be an enjoyable little interaction, but beware if your cat hasn’t been declawed,
as even in its most comfortable state your cat might still hurt you, digging its claws
in with each push of its paw.
#7 Nibbling, Chewing & Biting Whether gnawing on your knuckles or nibbling
on a bit of plastic, it may appear as though your little buddy has an oral fixation.
Depending on what they sink their teeth into, and how deep they sink them, this behavior
can be caused by a variety of reasons.
If your cat is biting your hands, it could be due to anything, whether they’re annoyed,
stressed, or just looking to play, but the main idea is to get your attention.
It’s natural for cats to gently nibble on those they need to get noticed as they will
often do so with one another growing up.
To discourage the action, simply tell your cat “No” and blow in its face to show
your displeasure.
If your cat is chewing on other items, though, you might have a bigger issue on your hands.
Chewing on inedible objects like plastic, carpet, linens, and other items is a common
sign of a condition called pica.
It can come about as a response to anxiety or gastrointestinal complications, and munching
on these things can cause serious harm to your cat’s gums and intestinal tract.
If engaging in this behavior, it’s best to take your pet to a veterinarian as soon
as possible to begin learning the next steps to take for their health.
#6 Drinking from the Faucet Ever do the dishes and have your four-pawed
companion stroll up and start drinking directly from the faucet?
Not all cats do this, but some will apparently go gaga for running water straight from the
tap.
It’s thought that this behavior is a remnant from their wild ancestors, as it is much safer
for animals to drink fresh stream water from a running source rather than a stagnant one.
Sitting water is more likely to harbor contaminated material and bacteria, increasing the odds
for a wild animal, such as a tiger or puma, to get sick.
It’s perfectly fine for your cat to do this as it offers no negative health repercussions,
however you may have a new problem at hand if you allow it too often.
Your feline friend might begin demanding faucet surface too often to the point of inconvenience.
If this happens, luckily there are plenty of options on the market for water fountains
specifically made for pets, giving your cat the constant waterfall they crave.
#5 Strange Sleeping Spots While they can get fairly active and excited,
cats can also be fairly lethargic, lounging around the home with a leisurely demeanor.
Their tendency to sleep often and in short stints of time has led to the commonly used
phrase “cat nap”.
What’s more odd than its sleepy demeanor are the locations in which your pet might
choose to snooze.
When presented with furniture-formed crevice, a small box, or even a circle formed by a
shoelace on the ground, you’re bound to see your cat comfortably curl up in the allotted
space.
Such cramped enclosures grant your pawed pal a sense of safety, just as its cousins in
the wilderness might feel secure from the dangers of the wild in a small cave or hollowed
tree trunk where it’s much harder for predators to find them.
Your cat is also likely to snuggle up with you and lay on your chest for warmth and security,
knowing you’ll protect them in lieu of a compact enclosure.
#4 Eye of the Tiger As independent as cats can behave, you’ve
probably caught them staring at you incessantly from time to time.
They might hold that stare for minutes on end, even locking eyes with you if given the
chance.
But staring right back into the face of your cat isn’t recommended as such an act is
typically regarded as an act of aggression by animals.
Your fluffy pet might not be looking for a fight, per se, but it is possible for it to
be on high alert due to something, or someone, it feels is amiss.
Other reasons for staring include simply trying to get your attention, or even as a display
of affection.
If you’ve ever seen your cat slowly blink its eyes at you while looking in your direction,
it's usually a sign of endearment in a behavior playfully referred to as “kitty kisses”.
#3 Rolling & Rubbing Territorial to a fault, domestic cats absolutely
love to rub their bodies on everything they can.
You may often find your cat bumping its head or rubbing its body against you.
This is more or less its way of telling you that it feels safe and trusts you.
In fact, when your cat does this, it trusts you so much that it wants to claim you as
its own, leaving its scent on you by way of pheromones secreted from its head.
Its fondness for you will make it accustomed to your scent as well, and as a result you
might find it rubbing up against your belongings, hoping to feel closer to you out of a sense
of security.
The ultimate sign of your kitten’s affection and comfort with you will come when it rolls
around on the ground, revealing its stomach upward in a state of vulnerability.
It’s telling you it wants to play and trusts you with its exposed underbelly, which would
be a potential weak spot to predators in the wild.
#2 Meow Variance The vocal range of cats is surprisingly wide
and as such they will use a variety of tones, chirps, growls and miscellaneous noises to
communicate.
Among the most innocent sounds is the short, sweet meow.
Meant as a greeting or friendly acknowledgement, this sound is usually accompanied with some
sort of physical display of affection, like jumping on your lap for comfort or warmly
rubbing against your leg.
Conversely, the long-winded, loud, and whining sound cats sometimes exert is much less adorable,
verging on annoying!
This noise is emitted by your cat when it’s hungry and needs nourishment before it will
quiet down.
But not all cat noises are ingrained in their DNA and some are instead taught to them by
their environment.
Cats are actually fairly skillful mimics known to imitate birds at times, and will pick up
on the way you talk to them as a sort of blueprint for their own “speaking” habits.
For example, if you should ever notice your cat speaking with infantile mannerisms, it’s
most likely due to your own use of babytalk towards your feline buddy!
#1 Up All Night Some cats are naturally attuned to stay up
all night and sleep all day.
This is often attributed to their nocturnal lineage as cats historically take advantage
of the night to stealthily stalk prey.
But late night noises can be disruptive and realistically their night-prowling ways are
unnecessary in the modern age.
In reality, your cat might just be too bored during the day, so interacting with your furry
companion might just be the answer to tiring them out by nightfall.
And for a bit of extra help putting them to bed, try feeding them a small meal before
going to sleep.
What strange behavior does your cat exhibit?
Let us know in the comments below!