CJ and Rex Decipher Cat Behavior

Hello to our fellow furry friends, and to the humans that love us! CJ and Rex here; again, we’re ready to share some informative content to help you better understand your pets. We realize that we often tend to write about what we know, which is primarily dog health and behavior. We’d write about the best fire hydrants to sniff but realize our readership may not find this as interesting. Nevertheless, we want to branch out into new territories by writing about cats today; specifically, how to understand feline behavior. Woof, woof.

And what better way to do this than to interview our kitty confidante, Whiskers!

CJ: Hello, Whiskers!

Rex: Woof! Thank you for stopping by!

Whiskers: Thank you both for having me-ow! Your office happens to be in the same building as my step-kitten’s SAT Prep class, so this was very convenient.

Rex: Don’t you mean CAT Prep? Woof, woof!

Whiskers: *coughs up hairball*

CJ: Anyway – we want to get to the bottom of some mysterious feline behaviors to help owners know how to handle their cat’s better. Can you start us off with a common one?

Whiskers: Sure, I can! I’ll start with scratching. Lots of owners take it personally when they see their cats scratching on their furniture or carpet; they often interpret this as a defiant act.

Rex: So, what does scratching indicate?

Whiskers: It’s simple. Cats in the wild don’t have the luxury of nail clippers; it’s instinctual to them to dull their claws by scratching trees. They also mark territory by scratching while they stretch. If your cat is scratching your furniture, this may be a sign that you haven’t given them enough places to scratch. Be sure to stock up on a few scratching posts – they don’t need to be expensive – and spread them out in your living area.

CJ: What about meowing? Can you give us a quick translation of the entire feline language?

Whiskers: Ah, this is a common misconception. The truth is that meowing doesn’t mean much to cats. In fact, adult cats don’t even meow to each other. We find the lost art of letter writing to be much more stimulating…

Rex: So why do cats always “meow” to their owners?

Whiskers: Our meows are simply a way of getting attention; it’s very childlike actually! We meow when we want food when we want to go outside, or when we want to say hello. If your cat is meowing constantly, this could be a sign that they have a medical situation that may need closer examination – so maybe take your chatty cat to the vet. If your cat is healthy and always meowing, don’t give in to their chatter. Teach your cat that meowing will not be rewarded, and they’ll stop relying on it.

CJ: Okay, last one… Why do cats seem to be more active at night?

Whiskers: Well for one, we feel that nothing good comes on TV during the day… But a more logical explanation may be the fact that all domesticated cats are descendants of the African wildcat, a nocturnal creature. It’s in our nature to find energy as the sunsets. One thing that owners can try doing to encourage their cat to sleep through the night is to tire them out. Play with your cat several times throughout the evening, and you may find that they’ll become morning people, too!

Rex: Whiskers, as always, your insight is much appreciated. Woof, woof!

And that’s all the time we have today! Thanks for tuning in for another informative discussion. If there’s a cat behavior that you’re really struggling to understand and you may think it could require medical help, call Bulverde Animal Hospital today!