Understanding Why Your Cat Behaves How He Does

Cats have many different types of behavior that express how they are feeling toward you and their surroundings. Some of them are easy to understand, while others may leave you feeling perplexed. By taking the time to really observe your cat and how it behaves, you can start to understand even their most confusing of behaviors.

Body language is one of the easiest ways to tell what mood your cat is in. If they have their ears laid back flat on their head they are mad or scared. If they are standing up and forward they are relaxed or interested. Cats that lay on their backs when you pet them are showing that they trust you, though sometimes they get overstimulated or nervous and may scratch or bite at you if you try to pet them on their belly. If their tail is lashing back and forth quickly it means they may be feeling playful or anxious, while a tail standing straight up on end is a good sign they are angry.

Some cats display behaviors that seem somewhat bizarre. They may drop their toys in their water or food dish, or bury them in the litterbox. This is actually a way of showing ownership of their items, as they consider their food and water bowls as well as the litterbox their territory. Your cat may suddenly stop using the litterbox and start peeing on the carpets, walls, or doors. This could mean they are sick, or it could also mean something is upsetting them about their environment and they want to get your attention. By going back over any recent changes you may have made in your household, you should be able to figure out what has made them so upset and fix it so they stop peeing where they shouldn’t.