At Arcamax, we receive a great many questions regarding cat behaviors. Today we thought we'd answer some of the more popular ones under the auspices of "an informed cat owner is a better cat owner!"
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Why does your cat turn their back on you after a scolding, or if you've been gone for a while?
Typically, a person's body language when reprimanding a pet includes staring or other overtly "aggressive" behaviour. The cat usually responds in a submissive fashion. In a sense, it is telling you he has surrendered to you, as a fellow cat, and is discouraging attack. (By the way, you will get better results from a cat if you enforce his positive behavior instead of reprimanding any negative behavior).
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Why do some cats put their toys in their water or food dish?
Cats look upon their food area as part of their territory, and that particular area of their territory usually doesn't change from day to day - so the cats are likely putting their favorite toys away in a "safe" place. Some cats will consistently put away their toys when they're through playing with them - you might try putting your cat's toys in a small basket near one of his favorite spots and see if he will put them away on his own.
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Why does your cat take a small bite on your arm or cheek and hold on for a few seconds?
Some cats, when they are very happy and feeling extremely affectionate toward the Big Unfurry Cat, will gently take a piece of human skin between their teeth and hold it for a few seconds. Think of it as the feline equivalent of kissing.
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Why does your cat push its head against you?
This is a cat's way of showing affection. Some cats will turn their head, and push it against a human (or another cat).
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Why does your cat rub up against you?
Cats have scent glands along the tail, on each side of their head, on their lips, base of their tail, chin, near their sex organs, and between their front paws. They use these glands to scent mark their territory. When the cat rubs you, he is marking you with his scent, claiming you as "his." Too, he is picking up your scent. Cats rub up against furniture or doorways for the same reason - to mark the item as "his". (Urine spraying is also a territorial marking, by the way.)
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Why does a cat scratch outside the litter tray, instead of inside it?
The cat has probably had several unpleasant experiences of getting his feet soggy or dirty - make sure the litter tray is cleaned out frequently
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Why do cats roll over on their backs?
Cats roll over on their backs for a variety of reasons: if your cat flops down in front of you and rolls over on his back for a tummy scratch, it's a sign of his complete trust in you that you won't ever hurt him. Other times, he wants to play. If the cat is female and in heat, it's a form of...uhm... "kitty foreplay."
lol good stuff I noticed with one litter of kittens we had , there are three of them two girls and a boy, that they will intentionally make alot of noise in the queens room when the tv volume goes down at night. When I go in there to scold them for being so rowdy the male will IMMEDIATLY start purring so loudly you can hear it from acrossed the room. I think its his way of "soothing" the harsh tone out of my voice and at the same time trying to get what he wants which is to go play with the "big cats" in the garage at night. Somtimes it works somtimes not haha.
"Cats are Karmic, don't tick one off or it will come back three fold" Jenn~MagnificentMks
I noticed with one litter of kittens we had , there are three of them two girls and a boy, that they will intentionally make alot of noise in the queens room when the tv volume goes down at night. When I go in there to scold them for being so rowdy the male will IMMEDIATLY start purring so loudly you can hear it from acrossed the room. I think its his way of "soothing" the harsh tone out of my voice and at the same time trying to get what he wants which is to go play with the "big cats" in the garage at night. Somtimes it works somtimes not haha.
