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Cat Behaviors You Should Know!
Domestication of cats is a fairly recent event in their history on this earth. Although wild cats have been around for millions of years, they have only spent a few thousand of those as pets. As a result, they still retain some of their wild instincts. For example, cats share some of these instinctive behaviors with each other but also possess behaviors unique to their species.
Cats rely on pheromones (emit a chemical that triggers a natural behavioral response in another member of the same species) and their sense of smell to influence their behavior. This may lead to behaviors that are usually unwanted by humans such as scent marking. What Are The Instinctive Behaviors? Cats exhibit many of the natural instincts that their ancestors possessed. Some of these normal or instinctive behaviors include purring, scratching, and urine marking. Similar to dogs, cats also rely on pheromones and their sense of smell to influence their behavior. Purring The original function of purring was to enable a kitten to tell his mother that “all is well.” For example, a kitten can not meow and nurse at the same time, but can purr and nurse without a problem. The mother often purrs back, reassuring the kitten. Older cats may purr when they play or approach other cats, signaling they are friendly and want to come closer. Cats also purr when they are pleased, such as when they are petted. On the other hand, cats also purr when they are distressed. Sick and injured cats and those in veterinary offices often purr. It is thought that this is the cat’s way of reassuring and calming herself. Scratching Cats will scratch for a variety of reasons. Cats may scratch to remove the dead outer layer of their claws, mark their territory by leaving both a visual mark and a scent (cats have scent glands on their paws), stretch their bodies and flex their feet and claws, or work off energy. Since scratching is a normal behavior that cats are highly motivated to display, it is unrealistic to try to prevent them from scratching. Instead, the goal in resolving scratching problems is to redirect the scratching onto acceptable objects such as scratching posts. Pheromones Cats have scent glands on multiple places on their body including their faces and feet. On their face, the glands are located around the eyes, below the ears, and on the chin. By rubbing their face on various objects, such as legs and furniture, they are leaving their scent. Other cats passing by the object will stop and sniff, maybe even stopping to rub their faces on the object to leave their scent as well. These scent marks contain molecules called pheromones. The pheromones that come from the glands on the face usually have a calming effect on cats. Different glands secrete different pheromones which affect a number of behaviors, including reproduction and establishing territory. When cats scratch on a surface, they are not only sharpening their claws, but also leaving their scent. The same applies when they rub their chin on furniture or a doorway. Their scent is a cue for them to return periodically and scratch or rub at the same spot, leaving more of their scent. An over the counter product called Feliway is a synthetic analogue of a pheromone secreted by the facial glands of cats. This pheromone tends to have a soothing effect. It can be used to prevent unwanted urine marking behavior in the home and is also useful in new environments in which the cat is likely to spray. Urine Marking (Spraying) Urine marking is most common in non-neutered males and multi-cat households. The spraying of urine on vertical surfaces such as drapes and furniture is his way of identifying his property or covering the scent of other cats. More than 90% of cats will not start spraying if they are neutered before the spraying behavior begins. Neutering a cat for this reason is usually done before the cat is six months old. Urine marking can be controlled or stopped a few more ways. One technique to reduce spraying is to restrict the view of the outdoors. A cat’s natural response is to mark his territory when he sees another cat. Another technique is to foster a positive relationship with other cats in the household. Cats that get along are not competitive and far less likely to spray. The best way to do this is to play with the cats together and give each one equal attention. Then have the cats eat and sleep together. To reduce spraying, it is also helpful to keep a daily routine for eating and such. If a cat repeatedly sprays in one spot, then it is best to clean sprayed areas thoroughly and use a pet repellent such as Feliway. The best products have natural enzymes to devour odor-causing bacteria instead of just covering up the scent.
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Contributor's Note
References: Humane Society of the United States:
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/cat_behavior_tip_sheets
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Feliway For Cats
| Humane Society
Scratching Cat
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This intel was contributed by health
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May, 2012
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