10 Questions: Why Does My Cat Do That? Multiple Choice Quiz | Animals

Answer: false

This is a very common misunderstood problem with cats. There are numerous reasons why cats eliminate outside of the litter box. One could be your cat giving a sign that something may be medically wrong. Other reasons include: 1)A marking of territory (mostly common in unaltered cats). 2)The litter box isn't clean enough (contrary to many beliefs, cats are very clean creatures). 3)Maybe the cat doesn't like the litter-type you have or the cat may prefer a box with or without a hood.

Other common reasons (I learned these with my own cats), are maybe you don't have enough litter boxes provided or the cat doesn't like the location of the box. Try moving the box somewhere else. I learned it's a good idea to provide as many litter boxes as you have cats.

For example: 2 cats=2 boxes, 4 cats=4 boxes, etc. It can take a lot of time and patience to figure out why a cat isn't using the litter box. Mostly though, it takes a lot of love and understanding of the feline world and of their nature.

Answer: all of these

Cats scratch for all of these reasons. Their paw pads have a gland that leaves a scent whenever they scratch a surface; therefore, they sometimes scratch to mark territory. This is most common in outdoor cats and big cats in the wild. They also scratch to help loosen and remove dead nail sheaths. For stretching, you might notice sometimes when your cat wakes up from a nap that one of the first things they do is scratch their scratching post (if one is provided, if not, it just may be your furniture). So, scratching is also known as a means for cats to stretch their muscles.

Answer: a sign of well-being or contentment

"Kneading" has been linked as a sign of affection because it's thought that the cat is portraying signs of wellness as they did in kittenhood with their mothers. As kittens, they knead on their mothers to increase the milk flow, and so when they continue kneading into adulthood it's believed to be a way of showing they feel loved and cared for.

Answer: false

I read about this in "Cat Fancy" magazine. From what I recall, female cats are known to do this more than males. It's a hunting trait of the female that's supposed to represent them bringing food back to their young when they're in the wild. With our cats being mostly domesticated now, they exhibit this hunting behavior with objects such as their toys to represent a kill that has been taken to a safe spot for their young to eat.

Answer: my cat doesn't want to be petted anymore

From what I've researched, this behavior is still something that's not well understood. Biting when petted varies with cats. Some cats like you to pet them to your heart's content and others don't like it at all. I also recall reading about this years ago in "Cat Fancy" magazine that it can be attributed to an arousal reaction.

This seems to be especially true for many cats who don't like their bellies rubbed. Whatever the real reasoning is behind this behavior, it's known that it's definitely a sign from your cat that the petting is no longer a pleasant feeling for them.

Answer: false

Although cats do purr when they're feeling happy and relaxed, some cats have also been known to purr even when they're feeling ill, in pain, or anxious. The theory for this is it's supposedly a form of self-comforting vocalization which can provide for faster healing.

Answer: yes

It's normal as long as your cat doesn't exhibit the same type of movements while awake. For example, if your cat was having a seizure during sleep, they most likely would have them when awake too. My cats do things such as their whiskers moving, leg twitching and teeth chattering while they're sleeping. My vet told me this is all normal, but if you at all suspect your cats' movements don't seem normal while he/she is sleeping, you should definitely consult your veterinarian.

Answer: my cat is a crepuscular creature

Cats are most active at dusk and dawn, and it's perfectly normal for them to want to play and carry on with activities at night while us humans are trying to sleep. It is sometimes possible to change this nighttime behavior if it is really bothersome for you. To try and change it, it has been suggested to schedule specific play times with your cat, especially one conducted in the evening hours approximately 1 hour before you go to bed. Remember, though, this doesn't always work with all cats.

Answer: to hide it

Some cats have a natural instinct to hide their food and cover up the scent of it to keep predators from finding it. So, this is another normal behavior some cats get from their wild roots. It is strange to see a cat do this, though, because it looks as if they're using the litter box.

Answer: my cat is most likely showing displaced aggression

This is known as displaced aggression. The cat can't get to the cat outdoors, so he/she turns their aggression on whatever may be the closest person, animal, or thing to them. Just one last thought on cats and their behaviors; before we get mad or give up on them, we should take a moment to remember where they came from. Cats do a lot of strange things we humans don't always understand and even sometimes think they should be punished for, but to the cat they don't know they've done anything wrong. Just remember it usually has something more to do with their nature than with making us mad.