Natural Pet Health

A lot of people think that cats work on their own agenda, not paying much attention to their owner – provided they have clean litter, food, and water. Cats can behave in odd manners at times, which can easily confuse their owners and make it really hard to determine what the cat wants. As much as cat behavior can be confusing, there are some ways that you can solve common cat behavior mysteries.

A common behavior that almost all cats do is pushing their heads into any type of object that will allow them to do it. You’ve probably seen your cat do this before, probably against table legs, TV stands, or another object. This can be noticed more when you have other people who own animals or those with allergies over at your house. When a cat notices this, he will rub his head against the person. In doing so, he will put a touch of saliva on the individual. In a cat’s mind, he owns what he puts his saliva on.

A lot of people believe that cats work on their own agenda, not paying much attention to their owner – provided they have clean litter, food, and water.

Cats can behave in odd manners at times, which can easily confuse their owners and make it really hard to determine what the cat wants. As much as cat behavior can be confusing, there are some ways that you can solve common cat behavior mysteries.

A common behavior that almost all cats do is push their heads into any type of object that will allow them to do it. You’ve probably seen your cat do this before, probably against table legs, TV stands, or another object.

Most cats are not aggressive towards people, but if you have one that is, it can be a nightmare. Cat bites and scratches are not normally as harmful as those from a dog, but it’s still not very nice being attacked by a cat as an adult, and even worse if you’re a child.

Although aggressive cats are nowhere near as common as aggressive dogs, there are still more than 20,000 cases of cat-scratch disease in the United States annually. If you are bitten or scratched by a cat, it’s important to clean the wounds with an antiseptic solution as soon as possible.

So, why exactly do cats turn aggressive and attack people? Well, there are several reasons:

When you first introduce a dog and cat together, 9 times out of 10 the cat will be the one that is fearful and the first to bolt away. There are of course rare exceptions, especially for smaller dogs that are poorly socialized.

I remember one of my Chihuahuas who would never go near a cat again after the very first one he came close to hissed and swatted at his little nose, tearing a big gash across it!

The manner in which a dog reacts to a new cat can fall into several categories. Some dogs will immediately perceive a cat as prey and will do everything they can to chase the cat with full intentions of hurting it.

You have settled into your favorite armchair, perhaps reading the final chapters of a gripping novel. Suddenly you are aware of the imploring stare of your cat sitting at your feet. You invite her onto your lap. Gently you begin to stroke her and your cat signals her appreciation with an audible purr.

One hand holding your book the other hand continuing to pet your mouser, you again get lost in your novel. All is well in the world with you and with your cat.

Suddenly your cat bites your hand!

Why did kitty do that? Why did she bite the hand that strokes her?

A common misconception about cats is that they are on their own agenda and simply tolerate their owner’s existence, provided there’s food and a clean litter box. The seemingly erratic behavior that cats exhibit can confuse owners and guests alike and make it difficult to tell what exactly your cat wants. However, there are some common trends that will help take the mystery out of two of the more common behaviors.

One common thing you will inevitably see your cat do is push their head into anything that will support the weight: couch legs, tables, piles of paper and, if you’re lucky, maybe even your outstretched hand. You’ll notice this behavior even more when people who either own other animals are over, or people who are allergic are visiting.

Separation anxiety disorders in cats were only discovered recently due to some research conducted by animal behaviorists. The symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs are prominent and easily observed.

Cat separation anxiety is difficult to identify and it requires a keen eye to be able to notice symptoms of separation anxiety in cats. Identification also requires an insight into cat behavior and mannerisms.

Cats are less destructive when they suffer anxiety. In most cases, they tend to follow their owners and indulge in self grooming. Sometimes the excessive licking and cleaning can cause psychogenic alopecia.

Abnormal cat behavior is usually associated with psychological stress as cats are highly emotional creatures and react to environmental changes very quickly. At the same time odd behaviors can also result from an underlying disorder or infection. For example, if your cat suddenly develops a dislike for her litter box and urinates at odd places, more likely than not it is the first sign of an infection in lower urinary tract.

High frequency and difficulty in urination are the most prominent signs of feline urinary infection. The cat feels the urge but is not able to empty the bladder and is able to pass out only small amounts at a time, usually accompanied with severe pain. It perceives the litter box to be the cause of discomfort and starts avoiding it.

Most people bring home a cat or a kitten expecting a friendly cat that will become a companion and lie cozily in the lap. It is unlikely that a cat will be confident enough to adjust easily to a new home and people. However, apart from the initial short period that the cat may take to get used to a new environment, most cats adjust easily in new homes.

On the other hand, some cats remain fearful of the new surroundings despite patient efforts of the cat owner. Su situation may be the start of a problem. If the fearful and anxious situation continues you can be sure that you have landed yourself with a stressed and unhappy cat.

Inappropriate urinary behavior in cats is normally associated with medical disorders like feline urinary infection. However, it is also true that many times it is a behavioral problem rather than a medical one.

It is only after ruling out medical causes after complete blood and urine tests that one can unequivocally state the real cause of inappropriate urinary behavior.

What we consider as abnormal may actually be appropriate when seen from the cat’s perspective. Owners train and expect their cat to always urinate in the litter box but cats, especially feral cats, are prone to mark their territory by spraying. This could be as frequent as 6 to 10 times a day.