Kim Campbell Thornton - Why Do Cats Do That?: Real Answers to the Curious Things Cats Do?

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Why Do Cats

FELINE FACTS:

KITTY CONDUCT (TRAINING IDEAS):

A Present for Me?

Most of us have always acknowledged that cats are superior creatures; now we must accept that our cats know it, too. How else can we explain their need to feed us and help teach us to hunt by bringing us gifts of captured prey?

It must concern them that we are so inept at fending for ourselves. Cats, both wild and domesticated, have innate hunting skills, nurtured at an early age by the mother cat. She brings food back to her kittens, including live prey so they can practice their killing techniques. When our cats bring us prey, it could be that they are attempting to help us survive. Even spayed females exhibit this behavior. Maybe they are redirecting their maternal instincts to us, their surrogate kittens.

There may be another reason to explain this behavior. Wild cats instinctively bring their prey back to a safe area to eat, such as a tree or den. For a domestic cat, it may seem only natural to bring his catch back to his food dish because thats where he normally eats.

When your cat lines up live bugs on your pillow at 6 a.m. or proudly brings a mouse to your feet, accept the gift gratefully. Praise him for being such a good provider before discreetly disposing of the gift.

FELINE FACT Garfield, the fat, lazy and utterly lovable cynic from creator Jim Davis, was launched June 19, 1978.

Chatter Cheese

If cats had a theme song for their daily hunting expeditions, it would no doubt be Bite the Dust by the Pussycat Dolls. Thats exactly whats going through a cats mind when he sees a potential meal outside the window. Imagine the feline frustration: I know I could get that bird, I just know it, but here I am stuck behind this window. Its enough to make a cat gnash his teeth, which is exactly what he does.

When a cat spots prey, he displays his excitement by swishing his tail and chattering his teeth. However, the chatter isnt just frustration. The chomping action is the same killing bite he would use on prey. It is like he is carrying out the attack despite his inability to reach the target.

Cats make three general types of sounds murmurs, yowls and strained, high-intensity sounds and at least 16 distinct vocalizations. Chatter falls into the category of strained, high-intensity sounds, which may come from moms training. She uses the sound to alert kittens to potential prey.

So the next time you see your cat chattering in the window, look out there with him. With your cats expertise, maybe the two of you can take up birdwatching.

KITTY CONDUCT Feed the birds and entertain your indoor cat. A bird feeder placed outside the window can provide your cat with some quality entertainment; dont worry, the birds quickly realize they are safe.

Cuckoo for Catnip

Dignity, thy name is cat. No animal has a greater sense of worth than the regal feline. From the greatest lion down to the tiniest kitten, cats display a degree of self-assurance and pride unparalleled in the animal kingdom.

One of the few times we see our cats completely lose their dignity is when they are in the throes of a catnip high. They roll and yowl, rub and roll, and roll and yowl some more. What is it about this herb that makes it so enticing to cats, so much so that they throw their much-vaunted dignity to the wind? Its the scent.

Catnip, also known as catmint, is a strongly scented herb belonging to the mint family. The effect it has on cats has led some to describe it as a feline aphrodisiac, but strictly speaking, this isnt true. The stimulating effect of this herb is caused by nepetalactone, a hallucinogenic compound that mimics the scent of a cats sex pheromones. The behavior a cat exhibits while under the influence of catnip is certainly reminiscent of his sexual behavior; even neutered cats display the same behaviors when theyre under the influence. The catnip reaction usually lasts 5 to 15 minutes; fresh catnip has the strongest effect.

KITTY CONDUCT If you would like to grow catnip for your pet, buy some catnip seeds. Fill several 4-inch pots with potting soil. Plant 10 to 15 seeds in each pot and water the soil. Place the pots in a warm, dark area for a few days until the seeds begin to sprout. Then, move them to a sunny spot and let the plants grown until theres enough for your cat to start nibbling.

Although we talk about a catnip high, the actual herb is harmless and nonaddictive to your domestic cat, although some wild cats have been known to develop an addiction to the stuff. In fact, not all cats react to its alluring scent. About one-third of the cat population is immune to catnips pleasures, as are most kittens.