About Cat Behaviors
Cats are unique and curious creatures. As any first time cat owner will quickly discover, these feline friends have a very interesting, and often perplexing, set of behaviors. If you are unfamiliar with domestic cats, then it may be difficult to understand their behaviors, or even to determine what is normal. This guide will give you a primer on basic cat behavior.
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Types
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Cats, and especially kittens, can display a wide variety of behaviors. These behaviors usually fall into one of a few categories. As fascinating as they are, cats really have a limited number of goals. They are usually focused on eating, sleeping, playing, hunting, or socializing. Keep in mind that socializing can be either affectionate or aggressive, depending on the situation. And often, hunting and playing are combined into the same basic activity. It is also important to be able to make the distinction between normal cat behaviors and destructive or dangerous behaviors that should be addressed.
Function
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Many interesting cat behaviors are purely instinctual and would have originally served a purpose in the wild. Behaviors such as tail-twitching when stalking, teeth chattering at animals outside the window, and most play behaviors are variations on hunting behaviors in the wild. The natural curiosity of a cat is also related to their hunting instinct. Cats will often seem like they are on the prowl. Cats can also be very territorial in the wild, as evidenced by behaviors such as scratching, spraying, and rubbing. Many new cat owners are concerned about a cat's scratching activities. All cats need to scratch. Aside from using this activity to mark their territory, cats also scratch because it feels good and is necessary for keeping their nails clean and healthy. If your cat is provided with a scratching post, and her nails are trimmed regularly, you should not experience too much of a problem with scratching. Some simple training can help cats to learn how to use a scratching post.
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Significance
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It is important to pay attention to your cat's behaviors, as sudden changes can signify that something is wrong. Cats will naturally sleep most of the day. However most cats, and especially kittens, become playful for at least part of the day. Once you get to know your cat, you should be able to identify when she is acting particularly sluggish. Other behaviors to look out for are pica (eating non food objects) and wool sucking. These behavioral problems sometimes show up in cats when they feel a lot of stress in their current situation. Pica can also be a sign that your cat is lacking something in her diet. Anyime your cat is eating something that isn't food, you should consult a veterinarian. Another behavior you may want to try to understand better is meowing. Certain breeds are more talkative than others, but constant meowing is usually your cat's way of telling you something. This can simply mean that your cat wants attention, or that he needs something from you. He may be trying to tell you that he is hungry or thirsty, wants to play, or needs the litter box to be cleaned.
Identification
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If you know what to look far, you can learn a lot from your cat's body language. One indicator is your cat's tail. If your cat's tail is swishing slowly from side to side, she is very calm and relaxed. If the tail is twitching, beware - she's about to pounce! Quick upward flicks of the tail often indicate a greeting. A cat's ears are another indicator of her emotions. Ears pointed forward and out indicate alertness. When a cat is anxious or upset, her ears will twitch, and ears that are laid down flat indicate extreme annoyance and often anger.
Time Frame
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Most cat owners will discover quickly that cats tend to be very nocturnal. The quiet pet who has been sleeping peacefully all day may suddenly start tearing through the house, jumping, pouncing, and attacking imaginary monsters once the lights are out. This is very common behavior. Cats can see just as well at night, as their vision is specially developed for hunting under these conditions. Cats will often have enough pent up energy to tear through the house back and forth at full speed. Most cats can reach 31 mph if they have enough room to do so. If your cat's nighttime antics keep you awake, try to spend some time in the evening engaging your cat in play.
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