Pet Talk

If you interact with your cat daily, you may observe some peculiar habits. The first step to understanding your cat is to realize that much of its behavior stems from natural instincts.

Cats in the wild don’t have nail clippers. They sharpen dull claws by scratching trees. They also scratch to mark their territory and while they stretch.

It’s impossible to stifle a cat’s need to scratch, but you can refocus their energy. If your cats have enough appropriate places to scratch, they won’t use your furniture, carpet or drapes.

Cats are inherently nocturnal. The ancestor of all domesticated cats, the African wildcat, is mostly active once the sun sets. Even an adult cat that sleeps through the night with you will wake a few times to play, eat and walk around.

To encourage your cats to sleep as much as possible during the night, try to tire them out as much as possible. Play with them throughout the evening.

You can even feed them just before your bedtime, because most cats become very sleepy after a big meal.

Cats keep themselves as clean as possible. They despise a dirty litter box and will avoid eliminating in one.

If your cats refuse to use the litter box, first take a look at their litter box. If you have more than one cat, have more than one. Scoop out the litter at least once a day, and clean the entire box with warm water and replace the litter once a week. If your litter boxes are clean, next examine the litter. Have you recently changed the type of litter? Most cats prefer a fine-grain, unscented clumping litter.

Meowing is one way that cats communicate with people; in fact, adult cats don’t meow at each other, according to the ASPCA. Certain breeds, notably Siamese, are known to vocalize more than others.

Cats meow to say hello to us, get attention, to get food or water and go in or out. When you meet their needs in response to their meow, they learn that it inspires action in their owner, so the behavior continues.

Increases in meowing also occur when they experience changes in the household, such as new companion animals, a move or when cats change from outdoor to indoor cats.

If your cat meows excessively, however, it could be a sign of an underlying medical problem. So take your cat to a veterinarian for a diagnosis.

When your cat was a kitten, it stimulated its mother’s milk flow by kneading the area around the teat while suckling. Kneading helps the flow of milk to the mother cat’s teat, so the kitten can consume more milk. Adults cats still knead their claws. It’s a sign that they are comfortable and happy.

Cats may also butt or bump their heads against you; it’s a display of love and possession, which lets other cats know you are taken, according to the ASPCA. When they rub these areas on you, furniture or any other objects, they’re marking their territory and signaling to other animals that those items belong to him. Cats will do this whether or not other animals live in the house.

This is another way that cats communicate with people. If cats bite you while you’re petting them, they’re probably irritated by being stroked, according to the ASPCA. Stop petting them and slowly move your hand away. If the cat is in your lap, take your hands away and allow him to retreat.

Cats that attack your feet as you walk by are probably bored and looking for stimulation. They may not have enough toys to play with or may want new ones. These cats can also benefit from having a feline companion to play with.

These are just a few of the ways cats reconcile their instinct in a human household. By spending time bonding with your cats, you’ll be able to pick up how they communicate needs and feelings to you.

Although there are a few trends in behavior that are universal, every cat is different. Consult your veterinarian if your cat’s behavior changes, or to decode especially aberrant behavior.