We all love our cats unconditionally. There is no doubt about that. However, any cat owner will tell you – cats can be so, so weird! Some of the things they do sometimes are beyond human comprehension. Or so we thought. In fact, many of the weird cat habits that we used to accept but never question can have some sort of explanation.
After all, humans are very odd too. We do all kinds of crazy stuff that probably leave our cats puzzled as well. Though, we often tend to have a good reason to behave a certain way, and so are our cats. (Can we just take a moment to appreciate how wonderful it is that cats and humans have each other?) All in all, our cats seem to always act only with intention. So if you want to understand your pet better, we can help. Here is the explanation behind five weird cat habits you might have observed.
Rubbing
You may think that you know what cat rubbing means, but we are here to challenge that. So, if you have a cat, it has probably done ‘rubbing’ a hundred times by now. It is when they start rubbing their heads on you. In a moment like this, you likely go “awww! They love me” and allow your cats to continue. We recognise this behaviour as a sign of affection.
Well, we are only partially right. There is a small sign of affection present, for sure. However, for the most part, by rubbing, cats show their authority over you. Your cat marks you as its territory, just as it does with furniture or other subjects. The thing is, while rubbing, they release pheromones that leave their scent for other animals. They claim things this way. So, by rubbing, they also claim their right on you.
So, on the one hand, they show their superiority over you with this habit. On the other hand, it probably means that they like you and want to keep you. Your cat doesn’t want anyone else to get you, which is a good thing! Overall, deep down, we all know that it’s not us who chose cats. It is cats who choose us.
Cat in the box
The internet is full of videos of cats trying to fit into the box. It’s all very adorable, we agree. Though, they don’t do it for our amusement. They do it for safety reasons. When in the wild, open areas make them vulnerable. A closed space just for them, like a box, means they are safe and secure. It is also a perfect hiding place before they ambush their prey.
Eating inedible products
Cats like to chew on their toys. It is no surprise. However, sometimes they go further than that. They can start eating (not just chewing) things that are inedible, like plastic, wood, or fabrics. So far, we don’t have a single explanation for this habit. Your cat can be doing it out of boredom, for all we know.
However, you might want to re-examine their diet when you spot such behaviour. Even if you feed them right, you can’t control them 24/7. For example, you may think that the best dry dog food for large breed dogs you purchase for your big pup is only for the dog, but your cat may find its way to steal some. Overall, when you notice this habit in your cat, you can watch it for a few days to see what’s up. You can also take it to the vet for a health check.
Laying on your keyboard, book, etc
This behaviour puzzles many of us. Sometimes we find it kind of annoying and always at the wrong time. They don’t bother you to intentionally annoy or be mean to you, though. They just want your attention. Even though our cats always demonstrate some coldness towards us, they still enjoy our affection. When we don’t give them our love, they come to claim their right for it. They also mark all your belongings in their scent.
Bringing hunting trophies
If your cat is allowed outdoors, you should be ready for the surprise they bring home (and we don’t mean fleas). All cats are predators. It is just the way they are. Surely, the centuries of domestication did its work, and some cats will look at a mouse passing by and do nothing about it. However, in most cases, they want to hunt every time they see a small prey.
Though, it is not the weird part yet. The weird and kind of gross habit is the need to bring you the hunt trophies. Cats don’t just bring you a dead mouse for bragging. They also don’t really expect much praise. Whenever they bring a trophy back to you, it means they accept you as one of the pack. You are with them. They want to share their success with you. It can also be a cat’s way to say “thank you for caring.” It’s similar to when we ‘hunt’ by reading things like a sheba wet cat food review when picking the best treats.
Featured image: Jackie Zhao/Unsplash
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