Cat Behavior & Stretching

Cats are very entertaining pets.

Cats make wonderfully entertaining pets. Many people think of cats as mysterious animals. The reality is that a cat gives you straightforward indicators of what he is thinking or needing. You just have to take a little time to understand his feline clues.

Stretching

Cats stretch for the same reasons people do.

Cats spend up to 18 hours a day napping. When your cat wakes up, she takes a few moments to get limber. When stretching, she seems to be simultaneously walking forward with her front legs and backwards with her hind legs. Afterward, she will sit up, maybe yawn a little and begin to lick her fur. Most people do similar things when they first awaken (except that we may use a comb to fix our hair).

Hunting

Cats love to play hunting games.

When your cat brings home a mouse, your first instinct may be to scream and scold, but don't do it. Cats were domesticated in Egypt thousands of years ago and used to hunt and kill rodents. In Egypt, a good hunting cat was treated like a god and lavished with lots of affection. Your cat is no different from his ancestors. He is bringing you the his prey because he wants to please you and be rewarded. To help satisfy his natural hunting instincts, hide toys around the house. When he finds one and brings it to you, show your appreciation.

Clawing

Teach your cat not to sharpen his claws on furniture.

Clawing is another instinctual habit for a cat. She does this to rid her claws of dead layers or to create a visual warning of her territory. Instead of simply scolding your cat and hoping she will get the idea and stop, you need to provide her with an acceptable object to scratch, such as a carpet-covered post, available at pet stores.

Licking

Cats keep their coats ready for hunting.

Your cat licks himself for a variety of reasons. He likes to keep his coat free of tangles and loose fur, and he needs to remove any scents that are easily noticed by wild prey. If you have noticed that your cat licks himself immediately after you stroke his fur, don't be insulted; it all goes back to his hunter ancestry. He doesn't want to leave clues that may alert his prey to his presence. Animals in the wild rarely if ever encounter humans and are not used to our unique scent. If they encounter it, anaimal will run and hide, making it harder for your cat to sneak up on it.

Cleaning

Don't expect your cat to use a dirty litter box.

Cats are fastidious creatures. They do not like a dirty litter box. She will clean it out herself if necessary, or refuse to use it. If you catch your cat throwing litter onto the floor, she's just trying to do your job the only way she knows how.

References

• "277 Secrets Your Cat Wants You To Know;" Paulette Cooper and Paul Noble; 1997
• "The Cat Behavior Answer Book;" Arden Moore and Nancy Peterson; 2007
• "The Humane Society of the United States: Destructive Scratching."
• "The Humane Society of the United States: Preventing Litter Box Problems."

Resources

• "The Cat Site: Cats as Hunters."
• "The Cat Site: Cat Sleep - More Than Just a Nap."
• "Smell Myths: Can Animals Really Smell Fear?" by Sharon Lynn
• "The Armchair Biologist: Behaviors and Biological Data About North Americas Top Game Species: Minimizing Human Odor is Paramount to Hunter's Success, Part 1;" Barry Swanson