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Wouldn’t it be nice to have a secret guide for decoding your cat’s behavior and language? Your cat wants you to understand him and this guide will help you just to do that.
You are not going to post that on Facebook
It’s obvious how much people love taking pictures of their cats. The pictures are on all the social media sites, personal websites, even on Christmas cards. Sometimes when photographing a cat, you see a strange glow in their eyes. Don’t worry, the camera flash is not harming your cat’s eyes. The glow you see is caused by an ultra-reflective cell layer known as tapetum lucidum, which helps cats see in dim light. Owners will do just about anything to get that perfect pose from their cat, including tempting them with their favorite toys and treats. However, once they get the picture they want, that is the end of play time and the toy lays abandon on the floor. Unfortunately, this is cruel to our feline friends. Take a little time to stay and play after the photo session is over. Both you and your cat benefit from the interaction strengthening the bond.
I know it’s your keyboard, but I am napping
Do you ever wonder what’s behind the glare when you push your cat off your keyboard? Maybe they know the reason for waking them up is so you can watch those funny cat videos. Cats need to sleep at least 12 to 16 hours each day. Also, their perfect body temperature range is higher than a human by 20 degrees. This makes that warm zone around your computer very inviting to a cat for his long nap.
Don’t touch the belly
It’s common for cats to show their stomachs. Most owners think they’re being friendly and want a belly rub when doing this. Sometimes, this is true. However, it’s possible your cat is just stretching. This is also body language for possible aggression. As a sign of defense, cats show their belly, letting possible enemies know their limbs and claws are ready for attack.
Cats need to scratch
Cats must keep their claws properly manicured in much the same way as humans maintain their nails. Scratching helps them shed dead nail sheaths to avoid disease and injury. But, nail grooming isn’t the only reason your cat needs things to scratch.
Cats, especially males, mark their territory, and scratching is one of the ways they do this. They have scent glands located in the paws, and when they scratch or stretch, they are leaving their scent telling other cats, “Back off, this is my territory.” But, for indoor cats, many times the only place to do what nature intended is on your favorite rug, chair, or the sofa. Sadly, this leads many owners to declaw their cats. This is a traumatic and painful procedure for the cat; similar to a human having their fingertips taken off.
There are many solutions for avoiding unwanted scratching on furniture and rugs. Cat scratching posts are an inexpensive alternative. You may need to try different posts to find one they like, but it’s cheaper than declawing and a lot less traumatic for the cat. Even something as simple as a small wood log is pleasing scratching post for a cat. Try sprinkling catnip on the post or use a catnip spray on it and follow-up with a treat when the cat uses the post. It’s surprising how quickly they take to using a scratching post.
Dead offerings
While cat owners find the occasional dead offering on the doorstep unsettling, and animal behavior researchers offer some reasons for these strange gifts.
Imitating the mother cat.
Helping provide for the owner in the same way as they provide food for their cat.
The hunter caught more food than he could eat and brought the leftovers to his owner.
Brings the food home to store for eating later.
Bringing food gifts to their owner is a natural behavior for cats. To stop your cat from brining
their catch home, try adding a bell to their collar. This helps warn their pray of danger,
scaring it away before the cat can catch it.
I’ll bathe myself, thank you
Cat's hair takes a long time to dry, making soaking wet fur uncomfortable for them. Cat's are also control freaks and like to have four feet on a solid surface, they do not appreciate the sensation of floating.
Cats are naturals to grooming and capable and willing to do so. They have the essential tools needed for grooming; paws, a tongue that is rough and barbed, and saliva.
While cats hate going for a swim, they need a ready supply of drinking water. This is
especially true when dry cat food is a large part of their diet. Adding canned food to their diet, which has 78 percent water, helps keep them hydrated. Regardless of the food they eat, always keep a separate bowl of water for your cat, and change the water daily.
Don’t answer with your own meow
Cats have a vocabulary consisting of a more than 20 different meows, with each one having a different meaning. Meowing is how kittens and their mothers communicate while meowing in adult cats is a way of communicating with humans. When talking to other cats, they use a variety of sounds, including squeals, hisses, and growls. Experienced cat owners know the difference between a scared or hurt meow, a hunger meow, or a “someone’s in
my territory” meow.
Even though cats understand certain human words, they don’t understand if you meow back at them. While your cat recognizes your voice, meowing back to them sounds like you are talking gibberish.
Cats hate playing dress up
The pictures are everywhere. You know the ones; Fluffy in his cute red cowboy hat, or Boots in her new sweater. While dogs like their humans dressing them up in fun little outfits, cats are not a fan. Clothing makes your cat feel confined and restricted. This is not a good feeling for your feline companion. Each square inch of a cat’s coat has more than 130,000 hairs. This keeps felines warm without covering them with a sweater or other clothing item.
It’s not cat hair causing your allergies
It’s reported that the allergic reactions to cats are double that of dog allergy reactions. Most people believe a cat’s hair causes their allergic reactions. But, cat hair is not the reason you are sneezing and coughing with itchy and watery eyes. A cat’s skin has an adhesive protein known as 'Fel d 1'; the cause of those allergic reactions.
Despite popular belief, all cat breeds contain the 'Fel protein' on their skin. Hypoallergenic cat do not exist. A few breeds produce less of the 'Fel d 1' protein than other cats and are commonly called hypoallergenic cats (like the sphynx cat).