Table of Contents
Cat Behaviors: Why Is My Cat Doing That?
Our feline buddies like to keep things mysterious and for first-time cat parents, their cats might sometimes do things that are random and surprising.
Oftentimes though, these are common cat languages to display affection or get attention.
- Kneading: Also known as “making cookies” to some people, cat kneading on any surface they deem worthy (sometimes their humans) is a form of self-soothing and getting into that state of coziness. This behavior is usually done by kittens as they drink milk from their mama cat. In adult cats, kneading is a gesture of comfort and safety as cats are reminded of their mother’s nurturing.
- Rubbing against my leg or anything: Cats have scent glands on their body, paws, and cheeks. When they are rubbing against something, this is the feline way of marking it with their scent. For humans or other cats or animals, this is usually a form of being possessive, claiming you as “theirs” and for other cats to back off. For places, cats mark certain spaces as part of their homes, to make sure they can find their way back when necessary.
- Cat Head Butts or Bunting: The feline version of the boop. Cats rub their cheeks or head-on people or things, for the same reason as above. It is a behavior associated with marking a cat’s territory, property, or ownership.
- Urine Marking: Another form of territory marking or possessiveness, that is less pleasant than cat head butts. Urine marking is more alarming compared to cat rubbing too since this is a cat’s way of dealing with stress by claiming boundaries.
- Gifting: Cats can sometimes be generous and would gift their humans anything from leaves to a sock or a dead mouse or even a live one. One of the main reasons cats might be doing this is due to their intrinsic hunter genes. It is common for predators to hunt and bring their prey back home. These could be gifts for their “family” or a method of teaching their young (aka you, if there are no kittens) to hunt too.
Sudden Changes in Cat Behavior: What is Wrong with My Cat?
If a cat is usually friendly and happy, then suddenly shows signs of aggression, lethargy, or restlessness, this could be due to unhappiness or discomfort.
The cat might be in pain, hungry, feeling bored, or neglected, or there could be underlying medical issues that need urgent medical attention.
Alarming and abrupt changes in cat behavior
- Growling, hissing, biting, or scratching (especially if the cat is normally relaxed)
- Restlessness and/or gets up and lies down repeatedly
- Unable to jump as high or as normally as before
- Refusing to be touched, petted, or picked up
- Stopped using the litter box or doing business outside the litter box
- Urinates frequently than usual or not at all
- Eating, drinking, sleeping more than usual or not at all
- Walks with a limp
- Hides and withdraws social interaction both from humans and other animals in the household or seeks attention more than usual
- Body trembles or shakes
Facial expressions for cats with discomfort
- Tensed brows
- Blank stares
- Eyes either wide-eyed or sleepy
- Enlarged pupils
- Ears flattened, pointing to the side
- Head low
- Panting
Over or Under Grooming
Unhappy Cats tend to either overgroom or under groom as a way to cope with stress. This is a way for your cat to communicate certain discomforts in its body.
Look out for body parts that your cat might be licking, scratching, or biting too much, often this is one of the problem areas. Cats that may be suffering from ear mites will continuously be scratching their ears while cats that are highly stressed often show signs of overgrooming, usually thinning out the fur on some parts.
Cats that suddenly totally stopped grooming might be having throat or mouth concerns, as they usually use their saliva to clean to bathe or clean themselves. Common problems can be gum disease, toothache, or mouth tumor.
The condition of a cat’s fur is a way to tell its current health status as well.
- A healthy cat coat is shiny and smooth, and the skin clear and in a healthy color
- Cats with a coarse, brittle, greasy, or flaky coat might need a check-up to determine underlying health issues
- Tangled cat fur can be caused by neglect from fur-parents, particularly for long-haired cats that need constant grooming such as Himalayans or Maine Coons. Unkempt and tangled fur is uncomfortable and unpleasant for the cat and can lead to serious skin problems, infections, and infestations. Avoid this problem by having a reliable pet clipper for easy home grooming.
- Cat fur falling out can be caused by fungal infections or parasites such as flea, mites, or ringworm. It can also be due to food allergies or other health conditions such as hyperthyroidism.
In Summary
Understanding cat language is an important part of living with a cat. Just like any relationship, communication is important, and knowing what your cat is saying, and how they communicate helps deepen the bond between you too.
Decoding cat language is also critical in identifying possible discomforts or health concerns your cat might be experiencing.
Generally, cats communicate through:
- Body Language
- Vocalizations (Sound)
- Behaviors and Activities
These are essential to know and it helps easily identify what your cat is trying to communicate with you. Though at the end of the day, each cat is unique in its personality. Cats that are part of the same household or even family will not always communicate in the same way.
More than anyone, you know your cats! And it is only by spending time with your cats that you can get fully familiar with how they communicate.
Experienced cat lovers will go as far as saying that eventually, it becomes almost an instinct to know and understand your kitties!