From resolving problems like urinating outside of the litter box to avoiding scratches during playtime, knowledge about feline behavior is a cat care essential.
Browse our cat behavior archives for expert-written, expert-reviewed guides that will help you troubleshoot and understand your cat’s habits, motivations, and moods.
Are you dreading taking your cat to the vet since you’re traumatized from placing your cat into a carrier? Most cat parents keep the carrier well hidden away assuming the cat hates it. However, that’s not always the case. If you merely use the carrier for trips to the vet or groomer, your cat possibly will have a negative association....
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Kittens have a powerful suckling and kneading reflex which is present from birth in all mammals, but what transpires when suckling and chewing continue into adulthood? Typically, most cats will outgrow suckling behaviour post-weaning, however, certain cats will continue exhibiting this behaviour into adulthood. Suckling later in life is often associated with felines at a higher risk of developing overattachment...
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Cats are not shy about sharing their feelings. They don’t always show the same loyalty and affection that dogs do, but many households aren’t complete without cats. Maybe the reason we are so bonded to them is because of their desire to communicate with us. Cats share their feelings in many ways, using their ears, eyes, tail, body posture, and...
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Training a cat to “Sit” is loads of fun, has many practical benefits and is the base for several cues like Shake Hands, High-Five, Stay and Sit on a Stool. Teaching a cat to “sit” on signal is likewise the foundation for petting, handling, husbandry care practices and a vital cue that might be applied to prevent undesirable behaviours like...
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Cats like humans are extraordinary beings with individual personalities, needs and preferences. It’s important to identify your cat’s temperament as cats with different characters and likings have distinct environmental and social needs required to achieve a superior quality of life. Let’s debunk how many personalities cats have, and which trait does your feline possesses based on recent scientific research. About...
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As the only recreational drug for cats, catnip (nepeta cataria) is a uniquely stimulating plant that’s almost as puzzling as cats themselves. Between 67% and 80% of the adult feline population is sensitive to catnip. Sensitive cats react to catnip by going a bit crazy—rolling around on the floor, licking up as much ‘nip as they can, rubbing their heads...
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The kitchen counter is amongst the foremost hazardous places in our home, where we keep food, sharp objects, store electrical appliances, and cook meals on a hot stove. Our cats are instinctively drawn to high places because of their innate climbing and agile nature. Cats feel most safe and secure when spotting, resting, and sleeping from high observation points. Cats,...
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Food is a vital resource and a survival mechanism for all species, but what happens when your delightful cat becomes a tiger at mealtimes? Food aggression is common in dogs with minimal occurrences reported in cats. Food aggression in cats manifests as resource guarding and is subtle in most situations, with serious contributions to obesity, heart disease, and other chronic...
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Are you frustrated, losing sleep, and thinking of giving your cat away because he or she is peeing outside of the litter box? You are not alone! House soiling outside the litter box is one of the most widespread behaviour problems cats exhibit, yet it is one of the last problems cat owners seek professional help for. Instead, cat parents...
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Cats are very good at hiding signs that they are stressed. The reason for this is because the domestic house cat evolved from the African wildcat, which was both a predator to small animals and prey to large animals, and showing signs of stress or pain would make the cat seem like an easy target to predators. Some stress is...
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